Business software maker SAP expects double-digit growth in sales of software and software-related services in Germany and in Europe as a whole this year, its European sales chief told Reuters. SAP's software and related services sales grew by 7 percent in Germany in 2007 and by 11 percent in the fourth quarter.
In Europe as a whole, they grew by 14 percent in 2007, and worldwide they grew by 17 percent at constant currencies. This year, SAP expects its total software and related service revenues to grow by 12-14 percent at constant currencies, excluding sales of products from recently acquired business intelligence software maker Business Objects.
Gunst said that despite nervousness in Europe about the effects of a US economic slowdown spreading, SAP had not seen any changes in spending plans by its customers and had not frozen hiring of sales staff in Europe.
Separately, SAP offered its new Business ByDesign Web-hosted software for sale at CeBIT at a price of 3,325 euros ($5,048) per month for a basic package licensing up to 25 users and 133 euros per month per extra employee.
SAP has said it will sell Business ByDesign, a key product in its drive to increase its customer base among smaller companies, for $149 per user per month in the United States.