# SAP

> German software producer

**Wikidata**: [Q552581](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q552581)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAP)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sap

## Summary

SAP is a software industry and software development organization founded on April 1, 1972[1]. It operates as a Societas Europaea and was established by Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, Claus Wellenreuther, and Hans-Werner Hector.The company is led by CEO Christian Klein[2]. In 2014, SAP reported having 66k employees[3].

## Summary
SAP is a German multinational software company specializing in enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Founded in 1972, it is one of the world's leading producers of software for enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business intelligence, serving industries globally.

## Key Facts
- Founded on **April 1, 1972**, in **Weinheim, Germany**, by **Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, Claus Wellenreuther, and Hans-Werner Hector**.
- Headquartered in **Walldorf, Germany**, with subsidiaries in over **180 countries**.
- Publicly traded on the **Frankfurt Stock Exchange (since 1988)** and **New York Stock Exchange (since 1998)** under the ticker **SAP**.
- **Revenue in 2023**: €31.2 billion, with **106,043 employees** as of December 2023.
- Key products include **SAP ERP, SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Ariba, and Crystal Reports**.
- Competitors include **Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, and Oracle** in enterprise software and cloud services.
- Owns subsidiaries such as **Fieldglass (acquired 2014)**, **KXEN Inc. (acquired 2013)**, and **SAP SuccessFactors (acquired 2011)**.

## FAQs
### Q: What does SAP stand for?
A: SAP originally stood for **Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing** (German: *Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung*).

### Q: What is SAP best known for?
A: SAP is best known for its **enterprise resource planning (ERP) software**, which helps businesses manage operations like finance, logistics, and human resources.

### Q: Who are SAP’s main competitors?
A: SAP competes directly with **Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, Oracle, and Accenture** in enterprise software, cloud computing, and IT services.

### Q: Where is SAP headquartered?
A: SAP’s global headquarters is in **Walldorf, Germany**, with major offices in the U.S., Australia, and other countries.

### Q: How many employees does SAP have?
A: As of **December 2023**, SAP employed **106,043 people** worldwide.

## Why It Matters
SAP revolutionized business software by introducing integrated ERP systems that streamline operations across departments, from finance to supply chain management. Its solutions are used by **92% of the Forbes Global 2000 companies**, making it a backbone of modern enterprise infrastructure. By enabling real-time data processing and automation, SAP helps businesses improve efficiency, reduce costs, and adapt to digital transformation. Its cloud-based offerings (e.g., SAP S/4HANA) further extend its relevance in the era of remote work and AI-driven analytics. As a pioneer in enterprise software, SAP’s innovations have shaped how corporations manage resources, comply with regulations, and scale globally.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering ERP software**: SAP R/3, launched in 1992, became the industry standard for integrated business management systems.
- **Global reach**: Operates in **180+ countries** with localized solutions for diverse markets.
- **Acquisitions**: Strategically acquired companies like **SuccessFactors (2011)**, **Ariba (2012)**, and **Fieldglass (2014)** to expand its cloud and procurement offerings.
- **Market leadership**: Consistently ranks among the top **3 enterprise software vendors** worldwide by revenue.
- **Sustainability focus**: Committed to carbon neutrality by **2025** and integrates ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) metrics into its software.

## Body
### History and Founding
- Founded in **1972** by five former IBM engineers: **Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, Claus Wellenreuther, and Hans-Werner Hector**.
- Initially developed **mainframe-based financial accounting software** for German businesses.
- Launched **SAP R/2** in 1979, the first standardized ERP system, and **SAP R/3** in 1992, which introduced client-server architecture.

### Products and Innovations
- **SAP ERP**: Core suite for finance, HR, manufacturing, and logistics.
- **SAP S/4HANA**: Next-gen ERP built for in-memory computing and cloud deployment (released 2015).
- **SAP SuccessFactors**: Cloud-based HR management software (acquired 2011).
- **SAP Ariba**: Procurement and supply chain collaboration platform (acquired 2012).
- **Crystal Reports**: Business intelligence tool for data visualization (acquired 2003).

### Corporate Structure
- **Legal form**: Societas Europaea (SE) since **2014**, replacing SAP AG.
- **CEO**: **Christian Klein** (since October 2019).
- **Ownership**: Major shareholders include **Dietmar Hopp (13%)**, **Hasso Plattner (7.14%)**, and **BlackRock (5.13%)**.
- **Stock exchanges**: Listed on **Frankfurt (SAP)**, **NYSE (SAP)**, and **Italian Stock Exchange**.

### Financial Performance
- **2023 Revenue**: €31.2 billion (up from €27.8 billion in 2021).
- **Net profit (2023)**: €6.1 billion.
- **Total assets (2023)**: €38.3 billion.

### Subsidiaries and Acquisitions
- **Fieldglass** (acquired 2014): Vendor management and contingent workforce software.
- **KXEN Inc.** (acquired 2013): Predictive analytics tools.
- **Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing (U.S./Australia)**: Localized branches established in **1972**.

### Competitive Landscape
- **Direct competitors**: Microsoft (Dynamics 365), Oracle, Salesforce, IBM.
- **Indirect competitors**: Alphabet (Google Cloud), Accenture (consulting services).
- **Market differentiation**: SAP’s strength lies in its **end-to-end integration** of business processes and deep industry-specific solutions.

### Affiliations and Memberships
- Member of **Linux Foundation**, **OpenAPI Initiative**, and **World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)**.
- Active in **lobbying groups** like the **Afrika-Verein** and **American Chamber of Commerce in Germany**.

## Schema Markup
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  "sameAs": [
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      "name": "Hasso Plattner"
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      "name": "Klaus Tschira"
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      "addressLocality": "Walldorf",
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  "subOrganization": [
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## References

1. [Source](https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/sap?rid=639117311617-01)
2. [Source](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/17665476)
3. [Source](https://www.sap.com/corporate/en/company/leadership/christian-klein.html)
4. Open ISNI for Organizations
5. Polygon.io
6. [SAP SE. Frankfurt Stock Exchange](https://www.boerse-frankfurt.de/equity/sap-se/company-details)
7. [Source](https://www.linuxfoundation.org/membership/members/)
8. [Source](https://www.openapis.org/membership/members)
9. [Source](https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Member/List)
10. [Source](https://www.denic.de//ueber-denic/mitglieder/liste/mitglied/?member=183)
11. [Source](https://cve.mitre.org/cve/request_id.html#cna_participants)
12. [Source](https://www.fuhrparkverband.de/mitglieder.html)
13. Bundestag Lobby Register
14. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240406093257/https://www.bsa.org/membership)
15. [Source](https://www.sap.com/about/company/history.html?pdf-asset=70eee289-847d-0010-87a3-c30de2ffd8ff&page=1)
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. [Source](https://amadeus.bvdinfo.com/version-2019829/)
18. [Source](http://global.sap.com/corporate-en/our-company/index.epx)
19. [Source](https://www.boerse-frankfurt.de/equity/sap-se/key-data)
20. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20140715012442/http://global36.sap.com/corporate-de/investors/newsandreports/news.epx?articleID=23204&category=505)
21. Google Knowledge Graph
22. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
23. [Source](http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:SAP&fstype=ii)
24. GRID Release 2015-12-14
25. GRID Release 2016-12-06
26. BabelNet
27. [2020](https://www.gleif.org/content/4-lei-data/8-lei-mapping/1-download-bic-to-lei-relationship-files/bic_lei_gleif_v1_monthly_full_20200327.csv)
28. Quora
29. [Source](https://thenextweb.com/vocabulary/sap-se/)
30. [Source](https://ror.org/03dsc8d33)
31. YouTube API
32. Wikirate
33. [Internet Domains Wikibase](https://domains.wikibase.cloud/entity/Q46170)