Software also needs to support shorter product development cycles from the idea phase all the way to launch, Agassi said. Additionally, multiple user experiences need to be supported, with SAP embedding processes into multiple environments such as Microsoft's Excel and Outlook.

"Instead of forcing you into SAP, we let you use it anywhere you go, your way," said Agassi.

The CIO role, meanwhile, is evolving into a chief IT officer, who looks to reduce cost of IT, and the chief process innovation officer, who assesses impacts of changes.

Also at Software 2006 on Wednesday, Symantec CTO Mark Bregman cited the need for Symantec to evolve toward the Web 2.0 paradigm, with the company focusing on protecting user relationships.

"We're framing a lot of this around the idea of Security 2.0," Bregman said. "The real change here is dealing with confidence and trust," instead of just protecting systems and information assets, Bregman said.