SAP: The Business Software Specialist

History and Contributions

SAP, short for “Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing,” was founded in 1972 in Walldorf, Germany. Over the years, it has become a true industry leader, driving innovation and growth in enterprise application software.

In the early days, SAP focused on developing business applications for financial accounting. However, its vision extended far beyond that. Ten years later, the company branched out into three markets of the future: mobile technology, database technology, and cloud. To rapidly become a key player in these new domains, SAP acquired some of its competitors, including:

1. Business Objects: Acquired in 2007, Business Objects strengthened SAP’s analytics and business intelligence capabilities.
2. Sybase: In 2010, SAP acquired Sybase, a leader in mobile database technology, enhancing its mobile offerings.
3. Ariba: The acquisition of Ariba in 2012 expanded SAP’s procurement and supply chain management solutions.
4. SuccessFactors: In the same year, SAP acquired SuccessFactors, a cloud-based human capital management platform.
5. Fieldglass: Fieldglass, acquired in 2014, bolstered SAP’s contingent workforce management solutions.
6. Concur: In 2014, SAP purchased Concur, a travel and expense management software provider.

Business Acquisitions

SAP’s acquisitions strategy continued over the years:

• Qualtrics International: In 2018, SAP acquired Qualtrics, a global leader in experience management, for $8 billion. This move strengthened SAP’s customer experience offerings.
• Taulia: In January 2022, SAP acquired Taulia, a leading provider of working capital management solutions. Taulia’s solutions improve liquidity and cash flows for companies, further expanding SAP’s Business Network.
• AppGyver: In February 2021, SAP acquired AppGyver, a pioneer in no-code development platforms. This allowed SAP to help customers and partners adapt their IT systems efficiently and optimize application usability.
• Signavio: In January 2021, SAP acquired Signavio, a leader in enterprise business process intelligence and process management. Signavio’s suite complements SAP’s existing process intelligence software, providing holistic process transformation solutions for customers.
• Emarsys: In 2020, SAP acquired Emarsys, a leading omnichannel customer engagement platform provider. Emarsys’ modern, cloud-native platform with AI-based automation and analytics capabilities enhanced SAP’s marketing offerings.

Financials and Top Stockholders

As of the latest available data, SAP’s total assets are substantial, reflecting its global reach and influence. Unfortunately, I don’t have the exact figure at this moment. However, SAP’s stockholders include institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. The exact list of top stockholders may vary over time due to market dynamics.

In summary, SAP’s journey has been marked by innovation, strategic acquisitions, and a commitment to helping businesses thrive in the digital age. Its impact on the enterprise software landscape remains profound.