OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW INDUSTRY CATEGORIES

SAP offers solutions for virtually every major industry group in the world today. And by continually refining our specialized industry solution sets, we often identify subgroups that warrant their own portfolios of solutions. In 2004, this resulted in an expansion of our portfolio to include among others:

• SAP for Life Sciences: Life sciences is a complex business, and growing more complex every day. With SAP for Life Sciences solutions, companies in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics, and medical devices and products can have complete visibility and real-time access to information to help anticipate, analyze, and respond to market demands. Our solutions deliver the technical foundation that life sciences companies need to address today’s complex business challenges.
• SAP for Logistics Service Providers: Working behind the scenes, logistics service providers ensure that products move from manufacturers to customers in the most efficient way possible. Through the SAP for Logistics Service Providers portfolio, SAP supports the specialized processes of this important industry like never before – including the use of RFID technology to track products at every stage along the journey.
• SAP for Postal Services: Even the traditionally stable world of postal services is changing, with an increasing trend toward privatization, cross-border competition, and specialized services such as overnight courier express. SAP for Postal Services helps carriers succeed in this new world by improving the efficiency of customer relationship management, supply chain management, and strategic enterprise management.
• SAP for Railways: SAP for Railways is an industry-specific set of integrated solutions that support business processes in rail freight, passenger transportation, and infrastructure investment. SAP offers the most comprehensive set of solutions for the management of the railway enterprise, enabling key business activities such as client management, supplier relationship management, human capital management, and integrated facility management. With SAP for Railways, companies can enhance their existing services, develop new services, more effectively manage resources and assets, and create value for all stakeholders.
• SAP for Wholesale Distribution: Similar to logistics, wholesale distribution plays a key role in bringing products to market. Now, the industry solution portfolio SAP for Wholesale Distribution helps large and midmarket distribution companies address their most critical business requirements, including regulatory compliance, customer loyalty, and customer service.

OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Three decades ago, SAP was an early-stage, entrepreneurial company. And we have not forgotten the importance of having a nurturing environment in which to grow. That is why, in 1996, SAP launched SAP Ventures.

Using a venture capital business model, SAP Ventures provides capital and other resources to help promising young companies achieve their full potential. At the same time, it helps SAP stay abreast of the latest technologies and applications that can benefit our own customers.

Through SAP Ventures, we leverage our years of experience and draw on a network of powerful business relationships to help entrepreneurs and management teams recruit the best people, make the right technology decisions, win new business, and build their own partner networks. The goal of SAP Ventures is to grow businesses that create shareholder value for everyone involved.

Since its founding, SAP Ventures has invested in more than 60 companies, building a track record of real success.