SAP reorganises software development teams

FRANKFURT: German business software company SAP AG said on Monday it was reorganising its 6,000 development staff worldwide to improve customer focus and shorten product launch times. SAP, which has been criticised for lagging behind its US rivals in terms of marketing and customer focus, said last month that it aimed to bring its product development processes closer to customer requirements.

The company said it would set up six general General Business Units (GBUs) to coordinate development work on general applications, while a further seven Industry Business Sectors would develop industry-specific applications for the mySAP.com e-business product. Three additional business units would pursue special technology projects.

Europe's largest software company said the changes would make its development efforts more flexible and better able to respond to market changes. "These measures will create more efficiency in our development work," co Chief Executive Henning Kagermann said in a statement.

SAP said the General Business Units would focus on general types of application ranging from financials to supply chain management, customer relationship management and the mySAP.com workplace.

At the same time, the industry-specific Industry Business Sectors, would develop mySAP.com applications for companies in sectors ranging from retail to manufacturing, financial services, public sector administration, and chemicals.

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