Cloud, reorganization helps SAP boost its Latin America business.

BY ANASTASIA MOLONEY
AND JOACHIM BAMRUD

BOGOTA – As Colombia’s economy continues growing at healthy rates, one major beneficiary is Germany-based SAP, the world’s largest business software company.

SAP sales of software licenses in Colombia grew by 113 percent during the first quarter, the strongest increase for the company in Latin America, according to Francisco Reyes, country manager for Colombia and Ecuador. “Demand for SAP software products and services is growing as Colombia’s emerging economy continues to grow,” he says.

Colombia is SAP’s third-largest market in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. However, the strong growth is not isolated. “The Latin America region is an important growth engine for SAP,” says Rodolpho Cardenuto, the Brazilian who last month became president of SAP’s new Global Partner Operations organization after overseeing operations in the Americas.

SAP is also growing strongly throughout Latin America, where it now boasts more than 15,000 clients. Markets like Argentina, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean also showed double- to triple-digit growth during the first quarter.