SAP Romania, 58% growth in 2003

The revenues of business software applications developer SAP in Romania rose 58% in 2003 from 2002, according to the data provided by market research company IDC.

The German producer’s revenues on the Romanian market, as derived from licences for and maintenance of business applications (enterprise application suites) amounted to $3.45 million in 2002, according to the IDC data.  The company’s market share was of 27.3% back then, twice higher than in 2001. SAP practically consolidated its position on this market last year, when it was the top provider of such applications in Romania again.

SAP was also number one on the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) applications market. The German company’s revenues stood at $820,000, twice higher compared with the main competitor on the segment.

“We plan to attain at least 20% growth in revenues on the average in 2004,” Valentin Tomsa, the manager of SAP’s local office told Ziarul Financiar.

Throughout last year, the company consolidated its partner network in Romania when it signed three new contracts in this regard. The partner companies therefore secured the right to distribute and implement SAP application packages. The number of corporate clients that use such applications went up to 79 in late 2003.

SAP has expanded the partnerships with the major IT service providers on the Romanian market, too this year. SAP and IBM’s consulting unit announced they were targeting banks and financial institutions with turnkey solutions. At the same time, SAP has expanded its co-operation with Siemens Business Services to tackle the public sector.

“We will concentrate our efforts on the public sector in the future, as well as on the utility, financial and manufacturing sectors,” Valentin Tomsa stated. SAP’s Romanian clients include Allianz, Electrica, Sidex, Metro, OMV, Unita, Alcatel, Bucharest’s Regie Autonome for (Public) Transportation, Holcim, BCR, BRD, Arpechim and Azomures Targu Mures.

The domestic market of enterprise application suites amounted to $28.09 last year, IDC analysts say. Revenues redoubled from 2002 when they stood at $14.58 million, 28% more than in 2001.

dan.dragomir@zf.ro