Founded in 1972, the company was initially called System Analysis Program Development (Systemanalyse Programmentwicklung), later abbreviated to SAP. Since then, it has grown from a small, five-person endeavor to a multinational enterprise headquartered in Walldorf, Germany, with more than 105,000 employees worldwide.
What does SAP do?
SAP helps companies and organisations of all sizes and industries run their businesses profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably.
The company develops software solutions that are used by small businesses, midsize companies, and large corporations. With standard applications, industry solutions, platforms, and technologies, every business process can be mapped and designed. The software collects and processes data on one platform, from raw material purchasing to production and customer satisfaction. SAP solutions can be installed “on premise” at a user’s location(s) or used from the cloud, helping companies analyse and efficiently design the entire value chain. SAP solutions can also be used to create forecasts, such as when a machine needs to be repaired or how revenue will develop in the next half year.
In addition, SAP helps customers seamlessly link operational data on business processes with experience data on emotional factors such as purchase experience and customer feedback. This enables companies to better understand and respond to their customers.