Until the mid-1990s, few people knew what SAP was doing. Now SAP solutions are widely known and used by businesses from different industries around the world. What stands behind the success of SAP? Technology? Yes, but in the second place. Everything started with the idea to create software that integrates all business processes and makes data available in real-time. In 1972, five engineers: Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Claus Wellenreuther, Klaus Tschira, and Hans-Werner Hector, founded a company called Systemanalyse Programmentwicklung, which translates to “system analysis program development”.
Interesting fact: The very first SAP logo was striped in blue similar to the IMB graphic, as at that time horizontal lines were associated with computers.
In the 1990s, with the new client-server version of its standard application software, SAP started to support businesses around the world in running more efficiently and became a driver of globalization. An agreement about strategic cooperation with Microsoft was a real milestone that resulted in releasing the SAP R/3 System for Windows NT. The number of companies interested in SAP was growing continuously, including such brands as Burger King and Coca-Cola. In 1998, SAP appeared for the first time at the New York Stock Exchange, the world’s largest trading floor.
Interesting fact: SAP is the largest non-American software company by revenue and the largest German company by market capitalization.
Cloud computing, mobile devices, and in-memory technology have opened up new possibilities for real-time data access, anytime, anywhere. SAP’s in-memory computing vision became reality with releasing SAP HANA. Customers could analyze data in seconds – instead of days or even weeks. In 2015, SAP unveiled the next generation of enterprise software with a new business suite, SAP S/4HANA – an advanced in-memory platform. The initial launch was soon followed by SAP S/4HANA cloud edition ☁️, giving customers the choice of combining on-premise and cloud solutions in a hybrid scenario for unprecedented IT flexibility and accelerated business innovation.
Interesting fact: In three years since its launch (2010), SAP HANA generated nearly €1.2 billion in revenue, making it one of the fastest-growing products in the history of enterprise software.
