SAP's Cloud Growth Strategy: Focusing on Modern Solutions and Strategic Acquisitions

Germany is one of the leading economies in Europe and the world, known for its innovative companies and strong export industry. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the latest business updates from Germany.

Volkswagen's electric push

Volkswagen, the largest car manufacturer in Germany, is pushing hard to become a leader in electric vehicles. The company has set a target of selling one million electric cars by 2025 and plans to invest 35 billion euros in electrification over the next five years. In addition, the company has also announced plans to build six battery factories across Europe to support its electric push.

Volkswagen's push towards electric vehicles (EVs) is a significant shift for the company and the automotive industry as a whole. The company has set ambitious targets for EV sales and is investing heavily in electrification. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Target of selling one million EVs by 2025: Volkswagen aims to sell one million EVs annually by 2025, which represents a significant shift in the company's focus. Volkswagen is investing heavily in EVs to achieve this target and has developed a modular electric platform (MEB) to underpin its future EVs.

2. Investment in electrification: Volkswagen is investing heavily in electrification, with plans to invest 35 billion euros in EV development over the next five years. This includes the development of new EV models, battery technology, and charging infrastructure.

3. Range of EV models: Volkswagen has a range of EV models available, including the ID.3, ID.4, and the upcoming ID.5. The company plans to expand its EV range further in the coming years.

4. Battery production: Volkswagen is planning to build six battery factories across Europe to support its EV push. The company aims to have a total production capacity of 240 GWh per year by 2030.

5. Environmental benefits: EVs are more environmentally friendly than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, as they produce no tailpipe emissions. Volkswagen's push towards EVs is part of a wider effort to reduce the environmental impact of its vehicles.

Overall, Volkswagen's push towards EVs represents a significant shift for the company and the automotive industry. The company's investment in electrification and battery production is expected to have a significant impact on the future of transportation, as more and more consumers shift towards EVs.

Deutsche Bank's restructuring

Deutsche Bank, one of Germany's largest banks, has been undergoing a major restructuring over the past few years. The bank has been shedding jobs, cutting costs, and refocusing its business on core markets. The restructuring has been aimed at improving profitability and reducing risk, and it appears to be paying off. The bank recently reported its best annual profit since 2014.

Deutsche Bank's restructuring has been ongoing since 2019 and is aimed at improving the bank's profitability and reducing risk. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Job cuts and cost reductions: As part of the restructuring, Deutsche Bank has been cutting jobs and reducing costs. The bank has announced plans to cut around 18,000 jobs, which represents around 20% of its workforce. The bank has also been cutting costs by reducing bonuses, closing branches, and selling non-core assets.

2. Refocusing on core markets: Deutsche Bank has been refocusing its business on core markets, such as Germany and the US. The bank has been pulling back from certain businesses, such as equity trading and investment banking, in order to focus on more profitable areas.

3. Digital transformation: Deutsche Bank has been investing in digital transformation as part of its restructuring. The bank has launched a digital banking platform called "dbAPI" and has been investing in artificial intelligence and automation to improve efficiency.

4. Improved financial performance: The restructuring appears to be paying off, with Deutsche Bank reporting its best annual profit since 2014 in 2021. The bank's net profit for the year was 3.2 billion euros, up from 113 million euros in 2020.

5. Regulatory challenges: Deutsche Bank has faced a number of regulatory challenges in recent years, which have impacted its financial performance. The bank has been fined for various regulatory violations, including money laundering and sanctions violations.

Overall, Deutsche Bank's restructuring is aimed at improving the bank's profitability and reducing risk. The bank has been cutting jobs and costs, refocusing on core markets, and investing in digital transformation. While the restructuring appears to be paying off in terms of improved financial performance, the bank still faces regulatory challenges that it will need to address.

SAP's cloud growth

SAP, the largest software company in Europe, has been shifting its business towards cloud-based services. The company has been investing heavily in its cloud offerings and recently announced plans to acquire Signavio, a leading provider of process automation software. The acquisition is expected to strengthen SAP's position in the cloud market and help it compete more effectively with rivals like Microsoft and Salesforce.

SAP is one of the world's largest software companies, providing enterprise software solutions to businesses across the globe. In recent years, the company has been focusing on growing its cloud business, which has become an increasingly important part of its overall strategy. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Shift towards cloud: SAP has been shifting towards cloud-based software solutions in recent years, as more and more businesses move away from traditional on-premises software. The company's cloud revenue has been growing steadily, and in 2020, SAP reported cloud revenue of 8.09 billion euros, up 18% from the previous year.

2. S/4HANA migration: SAP has been encouraging its customers to migrate to its cloud-based S/4HANA software, which provides businesses with a suite of enterprise management tools. The migration to S/4HANA is a key part of SAP's cloud growth strategy, as it allows the company to provide its customers with a more modern, cloud-based software solution.

3. Acquisitions: SAP has been making strategic acquisitions to support its cloud growth strategy. In 2020, the company acquired Emarsys, a marketing automation platform, and Signavio, a business process management platform, to expand its cloud offering.

4. Partnership with Microsoft: SAP has partnered with Microsoft to provide its customers with cloud-based software solutions. The partnership allows SAP to leverage Microsoft's Azure cloud platform to provide its customers with a more comprehensive, cloud-based software solution.

5. Challenges: While SAP's cloud growth strategy has been successful so far, the company faces challenges from competitors such as Oracle and Salesforce, who also provide cloud-based software solutions. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on SAP's business, with some customers delaying software purchases due to economic uncertainty.

Overall, SAP's cloud growth strategy is an important part of the company's overall strategy. The company has been shifting towards cloud-based software solutions, encouraging customers to migrate to S/4HANA, making strategic acquisitions, and partnering with Microsoft to provide a more comprehensive software solution. While the company faces challenges, its cloud business is expected to continue to grow in the coming years as more and more businesses move towards cloud-based software solutions.

Delivery Hero's expansion

Delivery Hero, a Berlin-based food delivery company, has been expanding rapidly in recent years. The company operates in more than 40 countries and has a market value of around 20 billion euros. Delivery Hero has been acquiring other food delivery companies around the world to strengthen its position in the market, and it recently acquired Woowa Brothers, South Korea's largest food delivery company.

Siemens Energy's IPO

Siemens Energy, the energy division of Siemens AG, went public in September 2020. The IPO valued the company at around 16 billion euros, making it one of the largest IPOs in Europe in recent years. Siemens Energy is focused on providing sustainable energy solutions and is expected to benefit from the global shift towards renewable energy sources.

These are just a few of the latest business updates from Germany. The country's economy continues to be a major force in Europe and the world, and its innovative companies are driving growth and shaping the future of industries ranging from automotive to software.