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SAP internal memo names top cloud competitors

SAP reveals its top competitors in the cloud.
Written by Michael Krigsman, Contributor

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Photo credit: iStockphoto

Who does SAP view as it's primary competitors in the cloud? Software vendors are not always willing to be clear on this topic, but an internal memo from the company's cloud boss, Lars Dalgaard, tells the story:

  • # 1 - HCM + Finance with Workday as no. 1 competitor, and Netsuite, Oracle/Taleo, Conqur as secondary (meaning we will likely be able to take business from them)
  • # 2- CRM, Procurement, ByD, Social on Demand with Salesforce.com as no.2 primary competitor, and Ariba and Netsuite as secondary competitors for this go to market group

At last week's Sapphire Now conference, SAP put forth a new cloud mojo that signals intense focus on cloud applications and platform. However, ZDnet's Larry Dignan explains that SAP faces a challenge to become top player in the cloud:

SAP today doesn’t have enough sales or customers in the cloud today. SAP’s annual cloud run rate trails NetSuite and Ariba, two rivals Dalgaard considers second tier.

On the other hand, just yesterday SAP announced it would acquire competitor Ariba for $4.3 billion, which certainly strengthens the company's competitive position.

Keep your eyes on SAP's cloud movements -- although success is far from assured, the company is definitely putting lots of investment behind its words.

Also read: Accelerating our Cloud Business

SAP buys its way into the cloud party: Will it work?

SAP eyes creating cloud super network with Ariba acquisition

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