The HR department at SAP Labs India has been furiously busy the past few months integrating the best-in-class software professionals from SAP India and Kiefer & Veittinger (K & V) Information Systems India into SAP Labs India. Says Bhuvaneswar Naik, Manager Human Resources at SAP Labs India, "The objective of this new organization will be to establish itself as a knowledge base and world class development center in SAP's network of Industry Business Units and Research & Development Groups".

Naik is confident that by November 1998, a 150 strong team of highly motivated and abundantly talented individuals will work from a state-of-the-art office environment on cutting edge software systems.

Development of a Sales Force Automation (SFA) product is a critical work area at SAP Labs India today. Analysts have forecasted that up to 25 per cent of global ERP revenues will come from Customer Management products like SFA. In India, K &V already had 100 software developers working on the central component of the SFA product. Now these developers will collaborate with the SAP group in Mannheim and Walldorf in Germany on further development of this product. It is anticipated that development work in India will go far beyond localization for Asia. In fact, the likelihood of India taking on the responsibility for Industry Business Solutions and add ons is very high.

The concept of setting up SAP Labs India around the world is a unique one and came out of the realization that close to the customer must be more that just a catch phrase. Being geographically close to the customer enhances understanding and the ability to customize products. Besides, talent is not confined to any particular region of the world. So, SAP believes in going out to talent rather than forcing talent to relocate.

If we were to sum up the average employee profile at SAP Labs India, one word comes to mind instantly - YOUNG. SAP Labs India encourages fresh thinkers and believes they bring energy, flexibility and innovation into their work. Everybody at SAP Labs India joins as a Team Member and grows into the Management cadre. People grow with the company and its values and promotions are based on ability not experience.

The recruitment policy at SAP Labs India bases a lot of emphasis on the Academic record of candidates. A study conducted by their head office has identified a direct correlation between academic record and performance on the job. That's why SAP Labs India goes to just 21 of the best educational institutions in India to find & take their pick!

The young, dynamic profile of the Project Managers representing SAP Labs India at pre-placement talks never fail to impress and encourage college students. Naik observes, "Students always notice that we come with our own equipment, set it up ourselves and make informal yet information-packed presentations. "

Without a doubt, SAP Labs India is a sign of the times. Spirited, innovative and ambitious, here is a benchmark company for the software industry.