# Business Objects > company **Wikidata**: [Q1017587](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1017587) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BusinessObjects) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/business-objects ## Summary Business Objects was a French enterprise software company specializing in business intelligence and reporting tools. Founded in 1990 by Bernard Liautaud, the company was best known for developing Crystal Reports. It operated as a legal société anonyme until it was acquired by the German software giant SAP on January 22, 2008, and was subsequently dissolved in 2009. ## Key Facts * **Founding:** Established in **1990** by **Bernard Liautaud**. * **Legal Status:** Organized as a **société anonyme** (a type of corporation). * **Headquarters:** Located in France, with offices in **Levallois-Perret** and **Paris** (Immeuble Capital 8, 32 rue de Monceau, 75008). * **Industry:** Software industry. * **Key Products:** **Crystal Reports** (a business intelligence tool) and general software. * **Acquisition:** Acquired by **SAP**, with the integration starting on **January 22, 2008**. * **Dissolution:** The entity was dissolved or abolished in **2009**. * **Digital Identifiers:** VIAF ID 180351556; Freebase ID /m/047w8w; Crunchbase Organization ID business-objects-sa. * **Library Cataloging:** Library of Congress Authority ID n98034530; National Library of Israel J9U ID 987007381881105171. * **Wikipedia Presence:** Covered in 8 languages (de, en, fa, fr, it, ja, pl, pt) under the title "BusinessObjects". ## FAQs **Who founded Business Objects and when?** Business Objects was founded in 1990 by Bernard Liautaud. It was formed as a société anonyme in France. **What happened to Business Objects?** The company was acquired by SAP, a German software producer, with the parent organization relationship officially starting on January 22, 2008. The Business Objects entity was later dissolved in 2009. **What products was Business Objects known for?** The company specialized in software for the business intelligence sector. Its most notable product was Crystal Reports, a widely used business intelligence and reporting tool. **Where was Business Objects headquartered?** The company maintained headquarters in the Paris region, specifically listed in Levallois-Perret and Paris (Immeuble Capital 8, 32 rue de Monceau), France. ## Why It Matters Business Objects played a significant role in the enterprise software market by providing accessible business intelligence and reporting tools, most notably Crystal Reports. By enabling organizations to visualize and analyze data, the company helped define the business intelligence sector. Its importance was cemented when it was acquired by SAP, a global leader in enterprise resource planning (ERP). Integrating Business Objects' reporting capabilities allowed SAP to offer a more comprehensive suite of business solutions, merging operational data processing with advanced analytics. Consequently, the technology and legacy of Business Objects continue to underpin modern enterprise data analysis within SAP's ecosystem. ## Notable For * **Crystal Reports:** Producing one of the most ubiquitous business intelligence and reporting software applications in the enterprise sector. * **Strategic Acquisition:** Serving as a major acquisition target for SAP in 2008 to bolster SAP's Business Objects portfolio. * **Global Reach:** Operating a corporate website (businessobjects.com) and Wikipedia presence spanning 8 languages, indicating significant international usage. * **Classification:** Functioning as a specific instance of a "business" and "enterprise"—distinct from a mere "business activity"—engaged in commercial software production. ## Body ### History and Founding Business Objects was founded in **1990** by **Bernard Liautaud**. Structured legally as a **société anonyme**, the company entered the software industry to provide solutions for business intelligence and data reporting. The company maintained a significant physical presence in France, with headquarters located in **Levallois-Perret** and **Paris** (specifically at Immeuble Capital 8, 32 rue de Monceau, 75008). ### Acquisition and Dissolution The company's trajectory shifted significantly in the late 2000s when it was acquired by **SAP**, a leading German software producer. The parent organization relationship is recorded as starting on **January 22, 2008**. Following the integration of its products and operations into the broader SAP portfolio, the independent Business Objects entity was dissolved in **2009**. The brand continued under SAP (e.g., SAP BusinessObjects). ### Products and Services Business Objects specialized in the **software industry**, specifically focusing on business intelligence. The entity is distinctly cited as the producer of **Crystal Reports**, a premier reporting tool used to design and generate reports from a wide range of data sources. Alongside Crystal Reports, the company produced general **software** solutions aimed at enterprise operations. ### Parent Organization: SAP Business Objects is owned by **SAP** (Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing). * **Overview:** SAP is a German multinational software corporation founded on **April 1, 1972**, by Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, Claus Wellenreuther, and Hans-Werner Hector. * **Scale:** As of December 31, 2023, SAP employed **106,043** people globally. * **Location:** SAP is headquartered in **Walldorf, Germany** (Dietmar-Hopp-Allee 16, 69190). * **Market Position:** SAP is publicly traded on the Frankfurt and New York Stock Exchanges under the ticker **SAP**. It generated **€31.2 billion** in revenue in 2023. It competes with Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, and Oracle. * **Key Products:** SAP produces enterprise resource planning (ERP) software (SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA), and through acquisitions, platforms like SuccessFactors, Ariba, and Fieldglass. ### Classification as a "Business" Business Objects is classified as an instance of a **business** and an **enterprise**. * **Definition:** A business is an organization or economic entity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities. * **Nature:** It operates legally as a "juridical person" and is a subclass of an "organization." * **Goal:** The primary objective of such an entity is to generate "profit" or "economic profit." * **Components:** A business consists of parts such as the enterprise itself, economic activity, the business sector, property, and human capital. ### Identifiers and Library Classification The entity is cataloged in numerous knowledge bases and library systems: * **Crunchbase:** business-objects-sa * **Freebase:** /m/047w8w * **VIAF:** 180351556 * **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n98034530 * **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007381881105171 ### Digital Presence Prior to its dissolution, the company operated the website **http://www.businessobjects.com**. It is referenced in Wikipedia articles across 8 languages (German, English, Persian, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Portuguese) under the title "BusinessObjects". It is distinct from the general concept of "business activities" or the academic "subject area" of business. ## References 1. National Software Reference Library 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/) 4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File