The rapid development of technology and robotic automation of routine processes have greatly simplified business , regardless of the scope of the company. Software for performing business tasks has become a necessary tool for the successful conduct of business today. Thus, many modern companies use the SAP ERP program, created to automate accounting, planning, monitoring and resource management of enterprises, regardless of their size and ownership. The introduction of such systems allows you to optimize business processes, freeing employees from routine work. Business leaders can use software to monitor activities and make adjustments to work more efficiently and achieve goals.
What is the program
Even those who have not dealt with it directly know about corporate software, and SAP is the largest provider of corporate applications in the world. The manufacturer’s products are popular, and SAP is one of the best solutions for medium and large businesses on the market, but not everyone knows what this program is. Competitors such as 1C, Oracle and Axapta are not losing ground , although the demand for SAP products remains stable.
Enterprise software belongs to the category of specific software solutions that require long-term customization and study of features and functionality. Such ERP-systems (Enterprise Resource Planning – enterprise resource planning), such as SAP, are able to unite enterprise divisions in a single information space for ease of control, analysis of business processes, financial and accounting.
The SAP ERP program from the German manufacturer of corporate software allows you to simplify your business through efficient planning and competent resource allocation. The abbreviation SAP stands for Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung, which translated from German means “Systems, applications and products in data processing”. Enterprise management systems (SAP Business Suite) is one of the areas in which SAP works, and the considered software solution, designed for medium and large companies, is the main one in the set of business tools from the manufacturer.
The system works on a modular basis. That is, in simple terms, what is SAP ERP, then the software is a kind of constructor, consisting of related modules responsible for certain tasks of the enterprise (finance, logistics, personnel, production, etc.). At the same time, the modules themselves rely on the basis (the technological core of the product, which is responsible for the smooth functioning of the entire system), and there is a possibility of using not only individual software components, but also their combinations. The program uses a platform that has a three-tier organization – database server, application server and client. The use of software is most effective when performing operations in a unified information environment, which is what SAP ERP provides, allowing you to instantly conduct up-to-date data coming to the necessary departments of the company.
SAP products are known all over the world, including Russia, where software has been used since the 90s and occupies up to 50% of the ERP market. Since software is becoming a strategic tool for a company, covering a whole range of activities and replacing several applications at once, before implementing SAP in an enterprise, it is important to understand what it is in order to make sure of the need to deploy the system and effectively use its capabilities. Installation and maintenance of SAP are not easy, and therefore require highly qualified employees of the IT company that carries out the order, besides, you should not overlook the financial part of the issue: the software is distributed on a commercial basis, and the price tag varies depending on many factors. The cost of implementation is influenced by the specifics of the enterprise, the complexity of the tasks performed,
Pros and cons of the program
The functionality of the software allows you to get a number of advantages when deploying software in an enterprise, while, as in the case of any software product, there are also disadvantages. Consider the pros and cons of SAP.
The benefits of the program include:
- Flexibility of software settings for the needs of the enterprise. Numerous settings can be configured to suit the different needs of your company.
- Coverage of almost all areas of the enterprise.
- Advanced customization of the user interface for maximum customization.
- Working with almost all types of data, as a result of which the use of software is possible in companies of any specificity.
- Interaction with other software products, including software from other developers.
- There is practically no need to update the implemented product.
- Working with different languages and currencies, which is important for holdings and businesses with a wide geography.
- Creation of a unified information environment and work in real time.
- Improving the efficiency of employees and the enterprise itself.
- Reducing the risk of erroneous actions.
- Compliance with Russian accounting standards and international financial reporting standards, tax legislation of Russia and other countries.
- Using the experience of successful companies.
The disadvantages of the software are:
- high cost of the product and its implementation, which makes it advisable to use it in large companies;
- to adapt the work of the software in individual companies, you will need to pay extra for debugging;
- the company is tied to the vendor by a contract for the term of the contract, as a result of which changing the service provider becomes an unprofitable decision;
- the need for the program to be maintained by specialists and training for the company’s employees;
- not very good localization in Russian.
Functionality of the program
SAP software offers numerous opportunities for optimizing business processes, the variety of functionality directly depends on the package purchased. The most demanded of the set of business tools is the SAP ERP program for working with internal and external company resources. The software covers the following areas of the enterprise:
- Finance and accounting. Thanks to the integrated tools, the program allows you to manage the company’s finances, control accounting, consolidate reports and organize the accounting of receipts and expenditures of funds. With the help of software, you can also monitor processes in real time, and the picture formed from the indicators will allow you to assess the situation, identify the causes of losses and increase profits by optimizing cash flow.
- Logistics. Organization of production processes, procurement, shipment of goods, search for suppliers and sales channels, sales, warehouse management (storage).
- Supplier relationship management. Organization of effective interaction, transfer of products and services between the company and suppliers;
- Customer relationship management. Automation of strategies for interacting with customers for logistic purposes, building favorable relationships, increasing sales by studying market requirements and analyzing consumer data.
- Personnel management. Organization of staff management of the company, optimization of time records, planning, tracking business trips and other actions for optimal distribution of human resources.
- Special functionality. The system has an internal programming language ABAP, as well as development and debugging tools, which makes it possible to expand the existing functionality or develop your own, implemented taking into account the focus of a particular company.
Since all the processes occurring in the life of the company are interconnected, the system is designed in such a way that numerous program modules based on the basis can interact with each other for more efficient work, and the areas of activity are united by a common environment and can be easily controlled by the manager. In addition, there is a possibility of integration with other business applications and services, if the work with them is provided by the company’s tasks.
The introduction of individual modules in accordance with the specifics of the enterprise allows you to best adapt the software for specific tasks. The application of the system is possible in enterprises of various directions due to a set of standard functions and numerous settings, additions, interfaces and other changes in order to tailor processes to the needs of a particular company.
User’s Manual
The SAP program is complex, and its implementation in the enterprise, in addition to the work of professionals, also requires training for employees who will use the functionality of the system. Includes soft functional modules, usually located on servers, processing and decrypting data for ease of presentation to the user, as well as databases and a graphical interface. Work is carried out in the program window containing fields for entering information; it is also possible to access the software through a browser. The set of functions depends on the requirements of the company, in accordance with which the decision is made to install certain modules and extensions, while the purchased modules are connected with the customer bases. To work with the software, the user needs:
- launch and log into the system;
- go to the start screen and start the necessary transactions (operations);
- receive data processing.
The top menu (row) has a title, an icon and control buttons. The implementation of the graphical interface assumes that the user needs to register in one of the infrastructures for interaction and, if parallel actions are necessary, another window will open. This is not very convenient, so it is better to launch Logon through the icon to organize the necessary connections according to the predefined settings.
With a competent approach, such a business tool as SAP is able to optimize any processes and increase the company’s profit, regardless of the specifics of its work. The effectiveness of the product justifies the high cost of integration, provided that the scale of the enterprise allows it and the implementation of the software solution is really necessary.
