What is SAP stands for?
Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung
Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing (in English)
Pronounce as S-A-P (three different letters pronounce separately), instead of “sap” as a single-word
What is SAP created for?
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Started in 1972, five former business & system analyst from IBM in Manheim -
Germany started to create an computer application that able to integrate the whole business process in an organization / enterprise. This application was built based on recurring requirement of many companies that have very similar characteristics computer program. These envision of a worldwide standardize Enterprise Resource Application (ERP) that works on a “Real-time” basis. This Real-time idea was reflected on the SAP release that comes with “R”, example: SAP R/1. Which “R” often misunderstood as stands for “Release”.
[/font]
What are Sap’s components?
As SAP is created for integration purpose of enterprise resources, then SAP’s components are also reflect common enterprise functionality:
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']SAP FI/CO (Financial/Controlling): recognize as the first and the most mature module in SAP, that comes to computerize (simplify, automate) the financial recording purpose, then at the same time generating real-time standardize Financial processes, management & reporting (Balance sheet, Account Receivables/Payables, Assets, General Ledger, etc). Also gives a lot of controlling options for financial flow of enterprise through advanced analysis & management.[/font]
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']SAP HR (Human Resource): Gives wide range of Personnel administration and payroll services.[/font]
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']SAP SCM (Supply Chain Management): A-to-Z advanced management for Supply Chain flow that covers Production Planning, Material Management, Sales & Distributions, etc.[/font]
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']SAP CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Complete and comprehensive feature to get every aspects of Customer Management easy-to-manage, centralized, and efficient.[/font]
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']And many other additional components for industry specific requirements: IS-OIL (Oil & Gas), IS-R (Retail), IS-MIN (Mining), IS-HT (High-Tech), IS-HER (Higher-Education), IS-H (Hospital), IS-B (Banking), IS-A (Automotive), IS-AFS (Aerospace & Defense), etc. [/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']What’s the technology behind SAP?[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']SAP IT infrastructure is built on three-tier architecture:
[/font]
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Presentation Tier: This level is what often called GUI (Graphical User Interface) where all the task program logic translated into human-understandable format.[/font]
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Logic tier: act as the brain of SAP, where all the calculation, data movement, application coordination, evaluation & decision take place. [/font]
- [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Data tier: centralized data warehouse where all information stored as structural / relational database. Usually using huge database application like Oracle.[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']SAP functionality is built on its own unique high-level programming language called ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming), yet a simple but powerful programming language. SAP provide complete development environment which offer huge custom-ability, both for existing standard functionality and for specific custom development. ABAP is designed to be easily communicated with database system with standard SQL statement. Recently SAP introduced with
ABAP Objects, which allowed
object-oriented programming methods.[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Why is it necessary for a SAP implementation?[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Prior to the use of SAP application by end-user, every company has to go through an implementation processes in order to make the SAP system align with the real business process in the company. Every SAP implementation is unique, and could never be equal as every company has its own unique business processes, resources, and needs. Even companies on the same industry would have differences one to another.
[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']This implementation processes is very challenging and complicated phase, thus required expertise of highly skilled SAP consultant who also understand how the business is running.
[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']
There’s a lot more things to discuss about SAP, in many aspects. But at least in this post we could know the main headlines of what SAP is all about.[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Regards,[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Sarosh
[/font]