SAP : An Overview

WHAT IS SAP? S- System A- Applications P- Products

SAP is an enterprise which provides business and networking solutions to industries according to their needs. SAP applications are build around the latest R/3 system with the capability to manage all known documents and accounts. SAP is basically a software formed for the purpose of ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING or ERP. SAP is the third largest software enterprise after Oracle and Microsoft in the world.

HISTORY OF SAP SAP was founded in 1972 by five former IBM engineers in Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg with the name as “Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung”. In 1976, the name was changed to “SAP Gmbh” and headquarters moved to Walldorf. SAP AG became company’s official name after 2005 annual general meeting. The present CEO of SAP is Henning Kagermann, who has held the honour from 2003.

SAP IMPLEMENTATION SAP implementation is always a massive operation that brings a lot of changes in the organization. Virtually every person of the organization is involved in the process from the SAP technical staff to the end users. The implementation process must be executed in a planned manner using a solid method. One of the examples of the implementation of SAP is such as IBM’s Ascendant.

SAP IMPLEMENTATION The SAP implementation process has four stages: The Project Preparation The Sizing and Blueprinting SAP functional development Final Preparation

SAP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT PREPARATION The two phases i.e. Design and initially staff the SAP Technical Staff the and Craft solution vision, focus mainly on the setup of the TSO and to define a solution vision. These activities allow an organization to put in on the right track towards implementation.

SAP IMPLEMENTATION SIZING and BLUEPRINTING This phase is often referred to as the sizing and blueprinting because it forms the main chunk of the implementation process. It has performing the cost of ownership analysis, identify availability, engage SAP vendors, Staff TSO, Training, SAP data centre, Performance installation and round out support for SAP.

SAP IMPLEMENTATION FUNCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT The phase of functional development is all about change management and testing. Its phases are as follows address change management, SAP system and operation management, Functional integration and regression testing.

SAP IMPLEMENTATION FINAL PREPARATION The last phase before going live can be referred to as the final preparation. Its phases are systems and stress testing, prepare to cutover, Go live.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS The support of people of the organization is a must for proper implementation of SAP application. Also its essential to create a solution vision at the beginning of the implementation because the people should know the reason for SAP implementation. The SAP hardware and software must be tested rigorously. The people should have the knowledge of SAP.

SAP PRODUCTS Enterprise Applications Customer Relationships Management (CRM) Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) Supply Chain Management (SCM) Business Applications SAP Analytics SAP apparel and footwear Solution (APS) SAP business intelligence (BI)

SAP PRODUCTS Platforms and Frameworks SAP Netweaver Platform SAP Business Connector SAP Auto-ID infrastructure Others SAP CCMS SAPgui eCATT

BUSINESS AND MARKET SAP is the world’s largest business and third largest independent software provider in the world. It operates in three geographic regions- EMEA, which represents Europe, Middle East and Africa; the Americas. Its target industries are Process, Discrete, Consumer, Service, Financial and Public industries. It has more than 25 industry solution portfolios for large enterprises.

COMPETITORS Majors competition in Enterprise Resource Planning. Oracle corporation is SAP’s arch rival. Oracle is SAP’s major competitor in the USA and charged SAP of malpractices and unfair competition.