SAP

SAP SE is a European multinational software company with a 50-year history of success. In 1972, five entrepreneurs in Germany (Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Hans-Werner Hector, Klaus Tschira, and Claus) founded the company with a vision of creating standard application software for real-time business processing. This was a breakthrough concept that would revolutionize the way businesses operate. Today has grown to become one of the world's largest software companies, with over 200 million users worldwide.

SAP's primary focus is on developing software to help businesses manage their operations more effectively. Its flagship product is SAP ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), which integrates business processes such as accounting, human resources, procurement, and inventory management. Other products include customer relationship management (CRM) software, supply chain management (SCM) software, and analytics software.

SAP serves a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, finance, healthcare, retail, and more. Its software is used by large corporations as well as small and medium-sized businesses around the world. The company has a global presence, with offices in more than 130 countries.

In recent years, SAP has expanded its offerings to include cloud-based software as well as mobile apps to support remote work and enable employees to work more efficiently from anywhere. The company has also invested in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide more intelligent and personalized solutions for its customers.

SAP SE is a German multinational software corporation that has been providing enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations for several decades. 

In 1972, SAP SE was founded by five former IBM employees - Dietmar Hopp, Claus Wellenreuther, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, and Hans-Werner Hector. Seven years later, SAP SE launched its first software product, in 1979. R/2 was an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system designed to help companies manage their financial and accounting processes. The launch of R/2 marked a significant step forward for SAP SE and solidified its position as a software industry pioneer.

In 1981, SAP SE expanded into international markets by opening offices in the United States and other countries. This helped the company establish a global presence and reach new customers, leading to further growth and success. In 1988, SAP SE went public, listing on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges. The IPO was a huge success, raising over $1 billion and making SAP SE one of the most valuable software companies in Europe. This allowed the company to continue its growth and expansion into new markets.

In 1992, SAP SE launched R/3, which was a major upgrade to its ERP system. R/3 was a client-server system that allowed companies to access the software from a variety of devices and locations. This innovation helped SAP SE cement its position as a leader in the software industry. During the 1990s, SAP SE also established partnerships with other software companies, including Microsoft and Oracle. These partnerships helped expand the company's offerings and reach new customers. Additionally, SAP SE began acquiring other companies, such as Steeb and Cimpa, in order to expand its product offerings and increase its market share.

In 2001, SAP made a significant move by acquiring TopTier Software, a leading maker of web portal software. This acquisition was aimed at expanding SAP's product offerings and capabilities in the field of customer relationship management. The acquisition allowed SAP to provide its customers with a more comprehensive suite of software solutions that could help them manage their customer relationships more effectively. In 2003, SAP introduced its NetWeaver platform, a game-changing technology that allowed businesses to integrate their various software systems and applications. This move helped SAP become a leader in the field of service-oriented architecture, allowing businesses to take advantage of a more flexible and efficient IT infrastructure. With SAP NetWeaver, businesses could now better manage their IT systems, streamline their business processes, and improve their overall operational efficiency.

In 2008, SAP appointed Leo Apotheker as its new CEO, succeeding Henning Kagermann. Apotheker's appointment marked a new era for SAP, as he implemented significant changes to the company's organizational structure and product offerings. He was committed to expanding SAP's reach into new markets, and he emphasized the importance of innovation and growth. In 2007, SAP acquired Business Objects, a leading provider of business intelligence software. This acquisition helped SAP strengthen its position in the market for analytics and data management, allowing it to provide its customers with a more comprehensive set of software solutions. With Business Objects, SAP was able to help businesses make better decisions based on data-driven insights.

In 2010, SAP launched HANA, a high-performance in-memory database technology that revolutionized the way businesses managed their data. SAP HANA provided businesses with faster access to data, allowing them to gain real-time insights into their operations. This technology helped SAP compete more effectively with other enterprise software vendors, and it cemented its reputation as a leader in the field of data management. Also in 2010, Leo Apotheker resigned as CEO of SAP after less than a year in the position. His resignation was a response to criticism from investors and customers about the company's direction and performance. His departure marked a challenging time for SAP, as the company struggled to find a new leader who could help it navigate the changing business landscape. After Apotheker's resignation, Jim Hagemann Snabe and Bill McDermott were appointed as co-CEOs of SAP. They led the company through a period of growth and expansion, focusing on cloud computing and mobile technologies. Under their leadership, SAP continued to innovate and adapt to changing customer needs, solidifying its position as a leading enterprise software provider.

In 2011, SAP acquired SuccessFactors, a leading provider of cloud-based human capital management software. This move helped SAP expand its offerings in the area of talent management and human resources, allowing it to provide businesses with a more comprehensive suite of software solutions. With SuccessFactors, SAP could help businesses better manage their workforce and improve their overall operational efficiency. In 2015, SAP launched S/4HANA, an intelligent ERP system built on the SAP HANA platform. This system helped businesses simplify their operations and gain real-time insights into their operations. With S/4HANA, businesses could now manage their finances and supply chain.

In 2020, Christian Klein was appointed as CEO of SAP, succeeding Bill McDermott. Klein has focused on simplifying SAP's product portfolio and shifting the company's focus towards cloud computing and sustainability.

The mission of SAP is to help companies of all sizes and industries run better. The company provides enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations, enabling organizations to become more efficient, profitable, and sustainable. 

SAP's aim is to drive innovation and digital transformation for its customers by delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that address their unique business needs. The company is committed to creating long-term value for its stakeholders through continuous improvement and investment in research and development.

 SAP's purpose is “to help the world run better and improve people's lives with sustainability at the core.” 

The promise is to innovate to help you run at your best. To achieve this, we engineer solutions to fuel innovation, foster equality, and spread opportunity across borders and cultures. As well, as achieve economic development, social progress, Sustainability and environmental impact through their solutions.

SAP offers a wide range of solutions that cater to different aspects of business operations. Some of the key solutions highlighted at SAP Sapphire include:

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a complete and modular ERP system that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics capabilities. It enables businesses to run in real-time from anywhere.
• CRM & Customer Experience (CX): SAP provides solutions to connect e-commerce, marketing, sales, and service data, allowing businesses to personalize the customer experience at every touchpoint using AI.
• Financial Management: SAP offers financial technology solutions that enable businesses to innovate new models, increase revenue, and automate financial processes such as financial planning and analysis (FP&A), accounting, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).
• Spend Management: SAP provides market-leading solutions for automating and controlling various types of spending, including source-to-pay, external workforce management, and travel and expense (T&E) management.
• Human Capital Management (HCM): SAP SuccessFactors solutions help businesses prepare for the future of work by providing core HR functionalities, analytics, and employee experience tools.
• Business Technology Platform: SAP offers a comprehensive platform for data and analytics, application development and automation, integration, enterprise planning, and AI, enabling businesses to continuously innovate and evolve.
• Supply Chain Management (SCM): SAP provides solutions for building risk-resilient and sustainable supply chains, covering areas such as supply chain planning, manufacturing, and logistics.
• Business Network: SAP Business Network allows businesses to collaborate with their trading partners across procurement, supply chain, logistics, and asset management, facilitating rapid responses to changing business environments.

In addition to these core solutions, SAP also offers industry-specific solutions, transformation offerings, a partner ecosystem, and sustainable solutions to meet the unique needs of different businesses.