Salesforce.com focuses on HR with Rypple acquisition

SaaS giant to launch human capital management unit

Software-as-a-service giant (SaaS) Salesforce.com plans to launch a new HR service on the back of a deal to acquire human capital management (HCM) specialist Rypple.

Rypple produces a SaaS-based performance management tool that can be used for tasks such as goal setting and staff feedback, with a UI that feels similar to a social network.

Salesforce.com, a specialist in on-demand CRM software, yesterday announced it plans to relaunch Rypple as Successforce and create a new HCM business unit. The acquisition of Rypple is expected to be completed before the end of April 2012. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Salesforce.com to acquire RyppleImage: Rypple

"Salesforce.com and Rypple share a vision for extending the social enterprise to transform the way we work," Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com, said in a statement.

"The next generation of HCM is not just about a cloud delivery model, it's about a fundamentally better way to recruit, manage and empower employees in a social world."

Rypple is used by a number of high profile technology companies, such as Facebook and Rackspace.

Since its launch in 1999 Salesforce.com has diversified into areas beyond its original CRM focus, offering services such as Salesforce Chatter - a private social network for businesses, Salesforce Data.com - a repository of targeted business data, and a marketplace of enterprise cloud apps built on its Force.com cloud platform.

Earlier this month ERP software specialist SAP announced it planned to spend $3.5bn to buy SuccessFactors, a major provider of cloud-based HR software.