In quarterly earnings results released this week by public companies:

• Software maker SAP reported revenue in its “Business Network” segment — which includes the SAP Fieldglass vendor management system, the Ariba Network and business travel expense website Concur — rose 19% in constant currency in the third quarter to €578 million (US$682.1 million). SAP Fieldglass VMS customers manage more than 3.9 million contingent workers in more than 180 countries.
• Machinery maker Caterpillar Inc. increased the size of its flexible workforce by 55.6% year over year in the third quarter to 18,200, the company said in an earnings announcement Tuesday. Higher production volumes were the primary driver of the growth. Full-time employment was about flat at 96,700. The Deerfield, Ill.-based firm posted revenue of $11.4 billion in the third quarter.