SAP Nation: a runaway software economy

From its humble beginnings in Germany, SAP skyrocketed to become a global powerhouse and the technology backbone for tens of thousands of enterprises. The economy around it grew even faster, and “SAP Nation” now approaches the GDP of Ireland in size. This book documents both trajectories, based on decades of research and interviews of hundreds of customers, market analysts and competitors. SAP’s influence has declined in the last decade, as enterprises invest in cloud, social, analytical and mobile technologies and in custom development of “systems of advantage” in their products, channels and business models. Yet, shockingly, customer spending in SAP Nation remains stubbornly high. The model in the book estimates post-recession investment at more than one trillion dollars (yes!). This book brings out loudly the voice of SAP customers as they cope with this runaway economy. Twenty-five case studies showcase a spectrum of strategies – some are “ring fencing” SAP with Workday, others are switching maintenance to Rimini Street, yet others are insourcing, while still others are evaluating newer SAP products like HANA and acquisitions like Concur. Part root cause analysis and part strategy manual, this book is a must-read for anyone with interest in SAP – as customer, employee, partner, investor or competitor. It is a fast-paced look at decades of what SAP has done well, and what it could have done better. Executives everywhere, even those in non-SAP settings, will benefit from the strategies described in the book to migrate inefficient back-office IT dollars to front-office innovation.

Vinnie Mirchandani likes to write about technology-enabled innovation. His books, The New Polymath and The New Technology Elite have been called “innovation firehoses.” This work, SAP Nation, is more investigative but carries his trademark style, which is case study-heavy and research-intensive. The book brings unique perspectives from his twenty-five years consulting with SAP and other IT customers at PwC, Gartner and advisory firm, Deal Architect and his travels and speaking engagements across fifty countries. He is President of Deal Architect Inc, a technology advisory firm. The firm helps clients take advantage of disruptive trends like cloud computing and business process outsourcing (BPO) before they go mainstream. Between this firm and previous role at the technology research firm, Gartner he has helped clients evaluate and negotiate over $10 billion in technology contracts. The Black Book of Outsourcing has recognized his firm as one of the top boutique advisory firms. He writes a blog, Deal Architect which focuses on waste in technology and has been rated by Industry Standard as one its favorites. His innovation blog, New Florence. New Renaissance averages 500 posts a year on innovation in infotech, biotech, cleantech and other areas. He spent his early career at Price Waterhouse, first as an accountant, then as a technology consultant (that division is now part of IBM). He has been quoted in most major technology and business publications, and he has presented at a wide range of industry events.