Tom DiDesidero describes a period when SmartRecruiters was actively taking customers from a much larger competitor. It wasn’t just momentum—it was proof. “We were stealing a lot of their customers,” DiDesidero tells us, describing how that traction became a defining signal of value.
At the same time, SmartRecruiters was moving quickly on a new front. “We were really the first mover in the embedded AI product,” DiDesidero tells us, emphasizing that speed and execution—not perfection—mattered most. The team brought its AI platform to market early, leaning on strong customer relationships and credibility. Beta users quickly became paying customers, reinforcing that the strategy was working.
Read MoreThis combination—customer momentum and early AI execution—positioned SmartRecruiters as more than just a product. It became a strategic asset. “It’s important… it’s not just the theory, it’s the execution,” DiDesidero tells us. That distinction ultimately shaped how SAP evaluated the opportunity.
Still, the deal itself was only the beginning. Integration, he explains, is where value is realized. “You keep being you. Don’t let our bureaucracy slow you down,” DiDesidero tells us, recalling the message from SAP leadership.
Six months in, the reality is nuanced. “It’s a mixture of progress and pain every day,” he tells us. Yet, for DiDesidero, the differentiator remains the people—teams committed to building, adapting, and pushing forward.
In his view, success at scale isn’t just about strategy or technology—it’s about sustaining the behaviors that made growth possible in the first place.
Made Possible By
CFOTL: So, if we’re to believe the headlines, six months ago SmartRecruiters went from a fast-growing standalone platform to becoming part of SAP’s global HR ecosystem, plugging AI-driven recruiting into one of the largest enterprise software footprints in the world. That’s what the headlines suggest—but how does it look now to you?
DiDesidero: This was a situation where we had competing products, and we were actually taking a lot of their customers—it was a big part of our pipeline. I’ve seen that dynamic before. Beyond being a leading independent applicant tracking system, we were also first to market with an embedded AI product. We had the capital and the speed to move quickly, so we launched our AI platform knowing it wasn’t perfect.
Read MoreWe had strong credibility with customers, started with beta users, and quickly converted them into paying customers. What mattered was execution—not just the idea of AI, but actually monetizing it. When you combine that with a strong core platform and customer momentum, it made sense for SAP to make a bet on us and bring those strengths together.
CFOTL: We always like to ask, after a deal like this, what mattered most in getting it done? What ultimately made the difference?
DiDesidero: There’s the product and the platform, but as we know, when a large company acquires a smaller one, integration is critical to realizing the investment. SAP was very thoughtful in retaining our leadership team to help guide that process.
We bring speed, decisiveness, and boldness—qualities large enterprises often need more of. They’ve encouraged us to maintain that culture and not let bureaucracy slow us down. We’re six months in, and it’s a mix of progress and friction every day, but we’re learning how to work together.
The goal is to ensure SAP realizes the value of the investment while our employees continue to grow with the business. Their commitment—many have been here for years—has been a key factor in navigating this transition successfully.
CFOTL: You’ve been through acquisitions before. What makes this one different?
DiDesidero: When I look across the organization, I’ve never seen a group so committed to what they’re building. We did make changes early on, including restructuring in the first six months, to position the company for what it would become and to improve how we presented ourselves to potential buyers.
What makes this different is the combination of that commitment with the opportunity to be part of one of the world’s largest companies—while still being encouraged to operate with autonomy. That balance is rare.
When you align strong people, a clear mission, and the backing of a global platform, it creates a real opportunity to continue building something meaningful at a larger scale.
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