SAP acquiring two European software makers

The Wicom Communications acquisition is designed to bolster SAP's customer relationship management (CRM) software, while the pending MaXware acquisition is expected to increase SAP's identity management capabilities in NetWeaver.

Both acquisitions mirror the enterprise software giant's past practice of acquiring small, niche companies to fill out its product portfolio, rather than large multibillion-dollar deals.

Germany's SAP completed its Wicom acquisition last week and expects to close its MaXware deal this month. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Wicom, based in Finland, develops software that lets customers connect to a company's personnel, regardless of geography, through multiple channels such as office phones, mobile phones, text-messaging, the Internet and e-mail. Wicom's software integrates with SAP's existing contact center application, SAP Interaction Center.

SAP is also seeking to enhance its NetWeaver platform by increasing its identity management features via the acquisition of Norway-based MaXware.

"Security ranks at the top of CIO agendas as they look to further improve security and control access, while lowering the administrative costs associated with managing identities," Klaus Kreplin, head of SAP NetWeaver Technology, said in a statement.

SAP, as a result, aims to create an integrated identity management offering with MaXware that works in various IT situations.

MaXware has about 300 customers in such industries as manufacturing, business services, defense, energy, health care, financial services and government.