SAP Reinforces Importance of Indian Market

by Evan Welsh

SAP AG today announced significant successes in the fast-growing Indian market that are helping the company better execute its vision for 2010. In the space of just one year, SAP has doubled the number of Indian customers to 2,000, highlighting a level of growth unprecedented for the company around the globe. The announcement was made during the first-ever visit by the entire SAP Executive Board to India, reflecting the rising importance of the country to SAP both as a vibrant market as well as a technology development and services-support delivery center.

SAP Grows Indian Customer Base from 1,000 to 2,000 in One Year

In a sign of overwhelming acceptance among Indian customers, SAP announced that it has doubled its customer base in India from 1,000 to 2,000 since August 2006. SAP was also the first enterprise software vendor in India to cross the 1,000 customer mark, which further reinforces the company's leadership in India.

"The unprecedented growth that we are seeing from India is one of the best examples of how our 2010 strategy translates into action," said Henning Kagermann, CEO and chairman of the executive board, SAP. "Markets like India are at an inflection point when it comes to the adoption of technology by businesses of all shapes and sizes. For instance, it took us nine years in India to reach the 1,000 customer mark, and only one to double it."

Globally, SAP has set itself a goal of reaching 100,000 customers by 2010. In order to achieve this goal, the company plans to significantly expand the addressable market for enterprise software solutions by aggressively targeting small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) and emerging markets. Markets such as India and China will play a central role in helping the company achieve its vision.

Reaffirming $1 Billion Investment for India, SAP Labs India Set to Grow in Gurgaon, Focusing on Global Service and Support

Validating the continuing importance of India to SAP, the company reaffirmed the investment of $1 billion in the country by 2010. The announcement was originally made in 2006 coinciding with the elevation of India as a 'strategic hub' for SAP, enabling the company to draw more attention, resources and focus required to sustain and build upon its momentum in the country.

A major portion of SAP's investment in India is targeted at expanding the company's global development and services and support hub in India, SAP Labs. Originally established in 1998 in Bangalore, India became the first region for SAP worldwide to have development and services and support centers in multiple cities when it opened a center in Gurgaon in 2006. The Gurgaon center delivers a full set of services to the company and its global customers across multiple product categories.

"SAP Labs India is today the largest research and development hub and support presence for us outside Germany," added Kagermann. "While the Bangalore center will continue to play a central global leadership role, we now foresee the Gurgaon center focusing on global service and support scaling up significantly in the next few years to enable us to meet our aggressive goals for India."

Indian SMEs a Significant Source of Growth for SAP

Small businesses and midsize companies are the fastest-growing segments for SAP in India. Through its SAP(R) All-in-One solution targeted at fast-growing midsize companies, and SAP(R) Business One solution targeted at small businesses, SAP is a market leader in the Indian SME enterprise software space.

"Today, Indian SMEs are as aggressive and confident in their business outlook as their larger counterparts and demand enterprise solutions that are powerful and robust enough to handle strong growth," said Leo Apotheker, deputy CEO and member of the executive board, SAP AG. "SAP provides a comprehensive portfolio of solutions for small businesses and midsize companies and is continuing to invest in its existing portfolio to bring value and innovation to its customers."

Customers ranging from Subhiksha Retail, SAP's 1000th SME customer in India, which is using the SAP All-in-One solution as a foundation to expand its store presence in India from 750 to 1,500 in two years to Masaurhi Petrol Station, which is implementing SAP Business One to automate its processes and improve customer service support, show that SAP is today the overwhelming choice by Indian SMEs.