Skift Take
The SAP-ization of Concur won't begin in earnest until after the acquisition closes toward the end of this year or early in 2015. Decisions haven't been made yet as to how their overlapping products will blend together.
In dueling communications and FAQs to their respective employees in the wake of SAP's $8.3 billion acquisition of Concur, SAP and Concur stated that it is yet to be decided how their sometimes-overlapping products would be bundled together -- or not.
In an FAQ, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SAP informed employees of its ARIBA (procurement), Travel on Demand (travel and expense) and Fieldglass (manages contractors) units that it is business as usual until the acquisition gets regulatory approval in the fourth quarter of 2014 or first quarter of 2015, and after that there will be more to say about the SAP-Concur solutions' portfolio.
SAP: "Do we still have a role to play once Concur joins SAP?
"Yes. We need people who operate in the Cloud, in the Network and in Travel and Expense Management. Your role will be very important to ensure Concur can work and grow in the SAP context."
Concur filed with the SEC its own email to employees, written by CEO Steve Singh; FAQs for employees, customers and partners, and an SAP September 18 conference call transcript about the acquisition.
"Our company has thrived because we have been consistently true to our vision, we have been willing to embrace change, and we are driven to innovate -- all for the benefit of our customers," Singh writes in the email to employees. "Through it all, we have led with our culture.
"And, while no two cultures are exactly the same, we believe we have found in SAP a company and leadership team with whom we share common values, a common operating language, and a deep desire to build an enduring, innovation-driven company that sets the bar in the industries that it serves.
"Most of all, they’re a company that gives the people that work there a chance to fulfill their own personal vision. That shared perspective is a key factor in our willingness to consider combining with SAP to become one company."
Signh seeks to reassure customers and employees that Concur will continue to operate independently -- at least in the short term after the deal closes -- and adds, "It’s too early to speculate on things like product plans, strategy or roadmaps since those decisions will only be made after the deal closes."
Portions of the respective companies' communications follow:
Concur CEO Steve Singh's Email to Employees:
Moments ago, our Board of Directors approved a definitive agreement for SAP to acquire Concur, and I wanted to share some thoughts ab
