SAP AG and Open Applications Group Announce BAPI Compliance with Open Applications Group Specifications

CHICAGO, USA and Walldorf, Germany - August 25, 1997

Today SAP AG and Open Applications Group, Inc., a non-profit industry consortium comprised of the world's leading enterprise applications companies, announced that they have agreed to collaborate even closer in order to accelerate the specification and adoption of enterprise application integration standards.

Underlining its commitment to support Open Applications Group standards, SAP AG, a founding member of the Open Applications Group, has committed to partner with TSI International Software Ltd. to make all relevant BAPIs compliant with the Open Applications Group Integration Specification (OAGIS). That means all relevant BAPIs will also be provided as OAGIS Business Object Documents.

The Open Applications Group recognizes SAP's BAPI initiative as an important development in interoperability and endorses this initiative. SAP will submit relevant BAPI specifications to the Open Applications Group's member submission process and the Open Applications Group will consider these submissions for inclusion in its specifications. The Open Applications Group has always welcomed specific input from all of its members, and the input from SAP's BAPI's are a part of this ongoing activity.

"As a founding member of the Open Applications Group, SAP is committed to open application interoperability," said Prof. Dr Hasso Plattner, spokesman of the SAP executive board. "With this new initiative, companies will have even greater capability to integrate SAP applications with their environment."

"We are delighted to see that SAP will make all relevant BAPI's compliant with OAGIS," said Paul Margolis, Chairman of the Open Applications Group. "SAP has always been a strong contributor to the Open Applications Group specification process and a leader in developing open application interfaces. With our expanded collaboration, SAP and the Group have an opportunity to leverage our resources to help customers do a better job of integrating their enterprise applications."

SAP will leverage its existing partnership with TSI Software to provide compliance with Open Applications Group Integration Specifications (OAGIS). TSI Software will use its MercatorÒ for R/3 software to create a mapper for the OAGIS BODs and the BAPIs. TSI Software is a partner in SAP's Complementary Software Program and the company’s Mercator for R/3 was the first ALE translator certified by SAP. To date, Mercator for R/3 has been successfully utilized at over 50 SAP customer sites to reduce the time and cost of building R/3 interfaces with legacy and third party applications. "Mercator for R/3 is a sophisticated, proven product which leverages SAP's Business Framework strategy, so partnering with TSI Software is a way for SAP to create additional value for it's customers and to deliver BAPIs compliant with OAGIS," said Hartmut Schaper, Program Director Business Framework at SAP.

About The Open Applications Group, Inc.

The Open Applications Group, Inc. is the leading enterprise application software vendor industry association in the world. The Open Applications Group's mission is to promote the interoperability of enterprise applications through the development of integration specifications and promoting the development and implementation of software in compliance with the specifications.

OAGIS Release 5, Open Application Group’s most recent specification, provides robust functionality for the most needed ERP integration functions, including Core Financial, Human Resources, Manufacturing, and Logistics applications.

The corporate membership of the Open Applications Group includes many of the largest enterprise application vendors in the world, including American Software, CGI Systems, Inc., Computer Associates, CODA, IBM Manufacturing Solutions, J.D. Edwards & Company, Marcam Solutions, Inc., NEC C&C Systems Group, Oracle Corporation, PeopleSoft, QAD, SAP AG, Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG, Texas Instruments, and TSW International.

The Open Applications Group headquarters is at 401 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. For further information on the Open Applications Group or membership inquiries, contact the Open Applications Group at 312 527 6799. The Open Applications Group's web site address is http://www.openapplications.org.

About SAP

SAP is a market and technology leader in client/server enterprise application software, providing comprehensive solutions for companies of all sizes and all industry sectors.   Cultivating innovative technologies on a solid foundation of business experience, SAP delivers scalable solutions that enable its customers to continually improve upon best business practices. SAP products empower people to respond quickly and decisively to dynamic market conditions, helping businesses achieve and maintain a competitive advantage.

Founded in 1972, SAP is based in Walldorf, Germany, and employs more than 10,500 people at offices in more than 40 countries that are dedicated to providing a high level of support and service for the more than 9,800 installations of R/3 worldwide.

About TSI International Software Ltd.

TSI International Software Ltd. is a leading provider of software for "business application integration" for the seamless connection of computer applications. TSI Software’s flagship product, Mercator, is an important component of an array of business application integration solutions. These include transformation of electronic commerce data to and from applications, integration of Web applications with back-office systems, and integration of enterprise applications, such as SAP’s R/3, with legacy and third party applications.

TSI Software’s products are in productive use worldwide by companies integrating their internal applications or conducting business electronically. TSI Software is headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut and is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TSFW. More information on TSI Software can be found on the Internet at www.tsisoft.com.

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