Cracking the midmarket

摘要

SAP is so important to the city of Walldorf that it is getting its own highway exit, paid for by local taxes-a rare testament to corporate importance. Yet, if you believe the critics, direct highway access is coming too late. SAP, they say, is an ailing dinosaur, headed for a long decline. Critics love to bad-mouth SAP's technology, saying it is cumbersome and years behind the leading edge. In truth, some SAP products are ahead of the curve. The company has a strong enterprise-portal product, for example. But SAP is generally a cautious beast. SAP's strategy mirrors that of Microsoft and Intel: Do not upset the installed base with radical change. Wait for technologies to prove themselves, and then adopt them. But there is a difference: SAP cannot dictate to others the way Wintel can.