Unicode is an international character-encoding scheme that is used by modern standards such as HTML and XML, and in programming languages such as Java and ABAP 6.10, to enable global, multilingual Internet data communication and systems integration. This article will help managers, administrators, and developers assess whether the newer SAP Unicode systems fit their specific requirements, how these Unicode systems might offer key systems integration advantages, how a Unicode SAP system can be integrated into an existing landscape, and the key considerations when preparing to install a Unicode system from SAP.