SAP plans to acquire hybris, an e-commerce software company. SAP says the acquisition will position it to deliver the next-generation e-commerce platform, with the choice of on-premise or cloud deployment, which is necessary as enterprises seek to optimize the customer experience for businesses and consumers across an ever-growing number of delivery channels, devices and touch points. SAP says the combination of its own enterprise solutions combined with e-commerce solutions from hybris will provide enterprises with the enhanced data and tools necessary to optimize margins and customer loyalty. Upon completion of the transaction, expected in the third quarter of 2013 and subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, SAP says hybris will operate as an independent business unit and will retain its existing management team led by Ariel Ludi, CEO, and Carsten Thoma, president and co-founder, of hybris.
Citing industry estimates that place the total value of the e-commerce technology market at $37 billion, SAP says this market sector is experiencing rapid growth as businesses seek to adapt to changing customer behaviors that seamlessly cross web, mobile, store, contact center and other points of engagement. Big data, cloud and social technologies only heighten demand for innovative commerce solutions needed for managing consistent customer engagement. Growing at more than twice the rate of the retail industry, e-commerce is increasingly recognized as a critical capability in identifying, winning and growing profitable customer relationships, SAP says.
Founded in 1997 with headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, hybris offers a complete omni-channel commerce platform that incorporates web, mobile, call center and store solutions, The company's majority investor is HGGC, a private investment firm based in Palo Alto, California.
The combination of hybris' e-commerce platform with the flagship in-memory platform SAP HANA, analytical and cloud applications, and the SAP Jam social software platform are expected to help SAP in delivering new levels of customer insight and engagement across all channels. Following the launch of the SAP 360 Customer solution, which introduced the SAP CRM application powered by SAP HANA, the acquisition will further SAP's ability to help companies fully engage customers to improve loyalty and create stronger, more valuable relationships.
For more information, visit www.hybris.com and www.sap.com.