SAP Labs are R&D locations that develop and improve SAP core products. Strategically located in high-tech clusters around the globe, each SAP Lab reflects SAP’s culture of diversity and innovation. With 20 Labs in 17 countries, SAP Labs drive thought leadership globally as well as in their local ecosystems, allowing SAP to innovate, grow, and succeed.
SAP Labs develop innovative products:
SAP Labs aim to create an empowering and innovative work environment for employees through:
The SAP Labs Network (SLN) is a global unit that manages regional Labs and shares best business practices to achieve a strong and vibrant network. It coordinates and distributes development projects among individual SAP Labs locations, accelerates product delivery, gives SAP full access to talent, and drives SAP corporate strategy regarding innovation and business growth.
At the beginning, the focus of SAP expansion was entering highly developed IT markets. During this stage Palo Alto (1993) and Tokyo (1995) become SAP Labs.
Talented employees have always been the main driver of SAP development. In 1998, SAP Labs open in India and France, countries noted for their highly qualified professionals.
Acquisitions serve as another means of SAP Labs expansion and access to the best business practices. In 2000, SAP acquires ‘’In-Q-My’’ with its location in Bulgaria. In 2001 "Top Tier" in Israel becomes part of SAP, and in 2008 “Business Objects” joins SAP with its largest location in Vancouver, Canada.
In 2005 the expansion focus of SAP Labs shifts toward strategic investments in fast-growing markets. In 2006, SAP Labs Latin America comes online, and in 2012 SAP Labs CIS opens with its main location in Moscow.
The current goals of the SLN are to drive SAP’s location strategy as SAP moves to the Cloud, and to continue growing as a “Network in a Network." SAP Labs Vietnam opens in 2015, and in 2016 SAP Labs Berlin debuts.
Employee satisfaction is a key focus for SAP Labs. Over the past four years, 11 SAP Labs have been recognized as an employer of choice, with 10 SAP Labs recognized as such by more than one evaluating institution.
SAP Labs work closely with schools and universities to engage the best young talents. At SAP Labs Bulgaria, the scholarship program “Study iT First” supports first-year IT students enrolled in Bulgarian universities. Since the 2015 start of the program, 23 students have received scholarships, and 10 of them got an opportunity to have a two-month SAP Labs internship.
In 2016 Apple and SAP announced a partnership that will change how iPhone and iPad are used in the enterprise by combining powerful, native iOS apps and cutting-edge capabilities of the SAP HANA platform. Currently SAP Labs Silicon Valley and SAP Labs Hungary are playing a key role in the partnership.
SAP and Stara, one the world’s largest agricultural equipment manufacturers, joined forces in the area of Internet of Things. Stara and SAP Labs Latin America worked together to integrate sensors on Stara’s tractors with a digital farming platform powered by SAP HANA.
Sberbank, Eastern Europe’s largest bank, set an ambition to become a high-tech bank, offering new digital finance services. Sberbank sees SAP as a strategic partner on its way to digital transformation. Since 2005, Sberbank is gradually migrating its SAP systems to the SAP HANA platform.
