Bill Mcdermott, CEO and executive board member of software services firm SAP AG, says companies that capture Asia will be the ones to run the world
The fact that he was raised in the working class neighbourhood of New York’s Long Island and, as a teen, began working in a corner deli for hourly wages (he acquired the deli later) did not deter Bill McDermott from dreaming big. He wanted to become the CEO of a company. He sold his deli and pursued a corporate career. His dream came true when he was made co-CEO of SAP in 2010 and, four years later, the German firm’s sole and first non-European CEO. Under him, the world’s largest software services company (with revenues of 20 billion euros) has got its mojo back by re-focusing on customers, and embracing innovation to deliver value. His thrust on OnPremise (SAP’s core enterprise software), OnDemand (cloud-based offering) and OnDevice (mobile strategy) has put the company firmly in line to achieve its revenue target of 26-28 billion euros by 2020. A freak accident last year cost McDermott, 54, his vision in the left eye, but that has not slowed him down. During a recent visit to India, he spoke to Forbes India about his plans for SAP and the critical role India has in its growth. Edited excerpts:
Almost 87 percent of the Forbes Global 2000 companies, 98 percent of the most valued brands and 100 percent of dow Jones top scoring sustainability companies are your customers. Where will your future growth come from?
A lot of our growth will come from growth in the same-account revenue [existing customer base] as our product portfolio is a lot broader than it used to be. If you look closely at our same-account revenue growth, based on the innovation that we have put into the portfolio over the last six years, 80 percent of our revenues are coming from businesses we were not there in five years ago. We are having an amazing up-sell and cross-sell within our existing customer base.
You have been focusing on small and medium enterprises (sMes) as well...
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued
The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients
Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years
As of 2020, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s super app for financial services had run up losses in thousands of crores. Now, as digital payments gets yet another boost courtesy Covid-19, he’s hopeful of reaching near breakeven in two years
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN
Covid-19 has shown that women are more likely to face the brunt of job losses than men, and find fewer opportunities when they want to resume. That apart, several have to deal with increased hours of unpaid work at home and even domestic abuse
LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Leaders must not only guard their teams first during a crisis, but also deal with stakeholders with respect and dignity. And apart from pursuing business goals, they should remain committed to our planet and the environment
PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST
Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground
INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR
While clinical research will get a boost, having a skilled workforce and public spending on health care will be challenges in the near term
DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION
As the pandemic brings technology and innovation to the core of business and daily life, the next decade will see about 150 million digital-first families in India
Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?
Augmenting sustainability alongside digital capabilities is an economic, competitive and global opportunity for India’s businesses, but regulations need to reflect intent
EV Dream Still Miles Away
Electric vehicles have remained a buzzword in India for years. But not much has moved on ground due to high upfront costs, range anxiety and charging infrastructure
Living Waters
A virus has caused us to scramble for oxygen but our chokehold on the environment is slowly strangling the very waters that breathe life into us. The virus is a timely reminder: We are merely consumers, not producers of life’s breath on this planet
