SAP ERP provides services to a wide range of industries including manufacturing, services, finance, public services, and trading. Within manufacturing, SAP supports industries such as aerospace, automotive, chemicals, consumer products, engineering, life sciences, mills, mining, and technology. The services industries include media, telecommunications, utilities, waste recycling, and travel/logistics. Finance industries supported are banking and insurance. Public services include the public sector, defense/security, health, and education/research. Trading industries covered are retail and wholesale. SAP has evolved from initially serving 40 finance customers in 1978 to now serving a wide spectrum of vertical industries globally.