SAP to acquire Swiss retail software vendor SAF AG |
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By Courtney Bjorlin, News Editor
20 Jul 2009 | SearchSAP.com |
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SAP announced today that it would acquire SAF AG to boost its offerings in the retail and wholesale verticals.
The Swiss company makes forecasting and replenishment software for inventory optimization, a technology that is becoming increasingly popular in the retail sector, according to Forrester Research's Ray Wang. It helps customers with demand and supply chain planning and forecasting, as they use it to decrease inventories and improve product availability and customer satisfaction.
The acquisition will help SAP compete with companies like JDA and IBS, Wang said. SAF's three core products are SAF SuperStore and SAF Warehouse, which are targeted at automated goods replenishment in the retail sector, and SAF SuperForecast, used for forecast-based planning across all industries, according to a press release.
SAF AG was already an SAP partner. Since 2002, the SAF products have been fully integrated into the SAP Forecasting and Replenishment module, based on an original equipment manufacturer partnership.
"With core components of the SAF software already embedded into the SAP Retail solutions, customers will further benefit from the joined solutions and technology portfolio, as well as from combined innovative strengths," Bob Stutz, corporate officer and member of the SAP Executive Council, said in a press release.
SAP intends to offer 11.50 euros a share, about $16.34. SAF employs about 100 people.
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