It is a decidedly different atmosphere heading into this year’s annual SAP conference, SAPPHIRE Now in Orlando next week. In contrast to the recessionary mood of 2009, I expect this year’s event to reflect the renewed optimism that we see in our own customers.  Here are four topics that will likely generate a lot of discussion  on the event floor.

Mobility.  Smart phone apps that enable the mobile workforce were always going to be a key feature of the conference.  Then SAP announced its plans to acquire Sybase—further amping the conversation about mobile computing.  Sybase is regarded by many as a database company, but its mobile technology is a centerpiece of the SAP deal.  As SAP SAP CTO Vishal Sikka commented, the mobile Internet is “10 times larger than the desktop Internet,” and SAP sees “upcoming generations of business workers who are completely connected and entirely mobile.”

Integration.  The discussion around mobile Internet, in a way, reinforces one of the core value propositions of SAP software, and that is, the integrated suite of solutions the company offers to provide businesses with a 360 degree view of customer activity.  Many businesses are learning that the silo’ed SaaS solutions that they rent to save on expense, don’t always easily integrate with other parts of their business very cost-effectively.  SAP solutions and partners that help companies solve their integration woes have a big advantage in today’s marketplace.

Immediacy of ROI.  At RunE2E, our focus from day one has been on rapid, non-complex deployment that speeds time to value. Especially in the CRM space, business owners are focused on lean projects that minimize upfront cost and deliver quick results.  During Sapphire, we’ll be involved in several case studies that showcase our approach, and in particular, our hosted, private cloud deployments that save customers time and money.

SAP resurgence.   As always, the health and well-being of the host will be widely discussed, and this year, SAP can point to a number of positive developments that bode well for the world leader in business software. After a down year in 2009, the company’s financial outlook is decidedly strong (SAP Returns to Growth and Profits in the First Quarter) and its aforementioned acquisition of Sybase is forward thinking.  Partners and customers alike should come away from SAPPHIRE Now with renewed confidence about SAP and their own investment in SAP solutions.