ILOG previously had separate offerings for both kinds of optimization software, and it has spent the last three years merging them. Optimization software essentially helps business make supply chain decisions and other determinations. For example, the software can help an airline determine how many new jets it will need or help an automaker figure out how to structure its assembly line.
Customers also can break problems into pieces to be solved separately.
SAP's experience Beta customer SAP AG is integrating ILOG's product into its own APO 3.0 product for supply chain management. Michael Lipton, director of supply chain consulting for SAP's Supply Chain Center in Boston, said Concert Technology is more flexible and powerful than past optimization solutions. The product enables Arzoon to provide a seamless interface between complex optimization systems and what the client sees on the front end. Calif. The two optimization methods attack problems differently. Larry Lapide, vice president of supply chain strategies for AMR Research Inc. in Boston, said advanced planning and scheduling software is a multibillion dollar market.