For many years, SAP was a poster child for the “not invented here” syndrome. Sure, the company has always been developer-focused, but arrogance in any form is unpleasant. Recently, I’ve heard stories about a new openness at SAP, so I read this post from fellow Enterprise Irregular, Thomas Otter, with real interest:

SAP’s collaboration with Adobe is a great proof point for how things have changed here over the last decade or so. 10 years ago if we had seen the need for a better forms handling tool we would have taken a bunch of physics graduates and a dark room, and two years later they would have emerged blinking into the daylight with a new tool.  Instead, we’ve realised that Adobe know really stuff about forms and building lightweight applications, so it makes a whole lot more sense to work with them, rather than reinvent stuff ourselves.

Thomas works for SAP, but he’s a straight shooter and critical of the company when they deserve it. Therefore, these comments are a serious indicator of positive new attitudes at SAP.