In 1998, I presented to a group of SAP customers in Dusseldorf. I invoked JFK and told the audience we were becoming citizens of the world of SAP. In return, their beloved SAP was becoming much less German I said - to the displeasure of many in the audience.
Today, at the Sapphire press conference Henning Kagermann, CEO said the Americas unit had been their growth engine in recent times. A German reporter in the audience asked him "How German is SAP today?" Henning's response "We are a global company with German headquarters"
One of the most attractive features about SAP over the years has been in multi-currency, language, country features. As globalization accelerates, it is another significant driver for demand for SAP products.
On the executive panel with him were Leo Apotheker, who is French; Shai Agassi, Israeli and Bill McDermott, from the US. The panelists got questions from press and analysts from Mexico, Brazil, Germany and several other countries. The partner expo hall has a number of Indian, Chinese, Dutch and other vendors.
A few miles away, at Disney World's attraction "It's a small world, after all" beckons. The Sapphire audience is not that interested. They have a slice of the world right here.
