German software maker SAP will be launching a hiring initiative in March despite slowing growth in recent months and a new restructuring program, as staff acquisition is a long-term process.

According to its head of HR, Cawa Younos, the company will have more employees at the end of the year than it has now.

SAP announced in January that around 4,400 staff are to leave but that its overall headcount would rise. This made people wonder, but SAP moves in mysterious ways.

The company needs experts in growth areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and the internet of things, Younosi said, adding competitors were also looking for new staff.

SAP is set to a take a restructuring charge of 800-950 million euro, mainly in the first quarter, to reshape its business.