Forrester

Why Read This Report

SAP's proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Ariba has shaken the ePurchasing market. Customers of both companies want to know if their products face an uncertain future, since it's unlikely that SAP will spend the same level of development dollars on both its existing products and the acquired ones. Sourcing executives who are considering an ePurchasing product are questioning whether they can buy from either company, because it's impossible to predict which ones SAP will decide to retire. Are they right to remove both Ariba and SAP from their shortlists? Should existing Ariba customers start planning their exit strategies, or is it users of the legacy SAP applications who have more cause for concern? This report will answer these questions by analyzing lessons from past acquisitions and the obstacles facing the newly combined organization and highlighting what clients can expect SAP to do to overcome them.