SAP will enroll 16 start-ups in its accelerator programme in India. It must be noted that SAP had taken seven start-ups last year in it’s programme. SAP is banking on machine learning, artificial intelligence and online learning to move ahead in cloud based and digital transformation.
About StartUp Studio
SAP StartUp Studio is a one year consultancy program in Bangalore that permits several selected startups to gain its technology as well as customer base along with support and training from SAP to support their Plan of action.
Why SAP is interested in Indian marketplace
Bernd Leukert, one of the members from executive board of SAP said that, “India is a growing market for startups. We are successful and start-ups are successful if we join forces. Once they have built software, then we have marketplace to place their products which makes our solutions better and richer. One plus one is more than two”.
Sellerworx, an Ecommerce technology solution and services agency, belongs to one of the seven startups from the last year programme, was owned by Capillary Technologies in October, 2016. Whereas, one other startup called Ecolibrium Energy which provides energy management solutions is attaining Co-innovation Labs Programme of SAP.
Company shifting to cloud based service
The company which is working as pioneer in enterprise application software is turning in to a cloud based Service Company from being a company reliant on expensive licence fees and upfront installation.
SAP is looking at start-ups as the new base of next technical transformation. As per Leukert, organizations in future might not have any desire to possess or subscribe any longer but rather they are willing to pay per utilize.
He said that, “As a leading company in the enterprise resources planning space, we can decompose dedicated services, offer these services on a digital platform in the cloud and enable startups to develop new solutions faster… and when they become successful we are part of their journey”.
SAP Consider India as Exporter to the world
SAP considers India as an innovative and advanced exporter to the world and takes it as the only rising place among BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries.
Leukert said that, “India plays an extremely important role in the transformation. The growth is not only in the market but also in innovation built in India for India and potential to export this innovation globally”
Startups can work individually after the programme
After the completion of this acceleration programme, the start-ups have the option to work individually or in partnership with SAP for expanding their business. It might happen that they would be owned by SAP or any other interested company.
SAP looks for new concepts like AI
Previously, SAP had conveyed that it is peering towards small acquisitions and associations with large industrial organizations and it has perspective to set up business software maker for new concept like blockchain, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
SAP is also seeking to enter in to technology talent with its accelerator program and other startup and funding engagement programmes.
Best hiring strategy
Leukert said that, “As the size of the company is bigger and we have to go alternate ways to go after young talent who have engaged with us over time. These days it is a fight for talent. If you have engagement early, you know them better than the normal recruitment process. I would say this is the best hiring strategy”.
SAP is engaged with huge number of startups
SAP engages with more than 400 startups across India through their programmes other than accelerator programme and it is engaged with almost 100 new startups every year.