Tuesday, July 25, 2006
SAP and the Competition: End of the Free Ride?
SAP and the Competition: End of the Free Ride?: "So SAP will go back to trying to out-maneuver and out-execute Microsoft and Oracle in the sales trenches. That won�t nearly as easy as it used to be: Both competitors have proven themselves to be worthy opponents, and making Kagermann eat his promise that SAP�s year-end estimates will still hold has become the prize that is motivating the Oracle and Microsoft sales forces as never before.
In the end, SAP has had the advantage over the last five years of working on internal development and productization while its competitors have spun their wheels in the M&A world. Those advantages now have to start coming out more, or SAP risks being forced to fight a war on someone else�s turf.
As the last quarter proved, counting on Oracle and Microsoft to be their own worst enemy isn�t going to work anymore. SAP now has to win, instead of just letting its rivals lose. Or else."
In the end, SAP has had the advantage over the last five years of working on internal development and productization while its competitors have spun their wheels in the M&A world. Those advantages now have to start coming out more, or SAP risks being forced to fight a war on someone else�s turf.
As the last quarter proved, counting on Oracle and Microsoft to be their own worst enemy isn�t going to work anymore. SAP now has to win, instead of just letting its rivals lose. Or else."
