SAP boosts CRM offering

Scours market for acquisitions nonetheless...

SAP has announced new additions to its CRM range in a bid to boost its CRM offering. The company is launching an extended version of its mySAP CRM product, adding 200 new salespeople and 500 extra consultants worldwide. The new version of the product will be available to organisations that haven't implemented SAP's flagship ERP product, R/3. However, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that SAP was still in the hunt for acquisitions. SAP has continually denied persistent rumours that it was to about to buy Clarify, a CRM firm owned by troubled telecoms equipment maker Nortel. Clarify has since been linked in rumour with billing specialists Amdocs, but the story remains unconfirmed. All the leading ERP players are moving into the CRM market as the growth potential of their core business fades away. Last month JD Edwards announced that it will be buying CRM specialists YOUcentric in a stock and cash deal worth $86m.