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Successful digitizationof business processes with SAP S/4HANA

Successful digitizationof business processes with SAP S/4HANA

In times of big data, data is a new and important production factor for enterprises. The datasets to be processed have increased enormously. Data, key figures and processes must be analyzed in real-time to better understand and serve customer needs and, consequently, provide a solid basis for future decisions. Here, the majority of the data volume arises outside the current ERP system. As cloud solutions can flexibly react to changes in the market, their integration into the IT architecture is an essential component for your corporate success. The real-time S/4HANA ERP Suite – based on the HANA in-memory platform – is the appropriate and sustainable ERP software in this case, which involves immense advantages as well as new and user-friendly functions for your enterprise.

What is SAP S/4HANA?

As a field-tested, flexible software, SAP S/4HANA has become a real ERP Suite benchmark for enterprises. The next SAP ERP generation was specifically developed for in-memory computing, based on the SAP HANA database. Furthermore, it is tailored to work with the role-based and intuitive SAP Fiori user interface. When implementing the new Business Suite, SAP customers can choose between SAP S/4HANA Cloud (Public or Private Edition), an on-premises solution or a hybrid approach.

SAP S/4HANA networking

Your benefits with the SAP S/4HANA suite

  • Designing the future: Promote the digitization of relevant business processes throughout your company and make your business fit for future challanges with SAP S/4HANA!
  • Planning security: A clear reporting gives you (as a user) a well-arranged overview of company-wide output patterns and corporate developments.
  • Real-time insights: Analyze business data and key figures of defined periods and evaluate changes within a few seconds.
  • Cost reduction: Due to the extremely reduced memory requirement of S/4HANA in the cloud, you significantly streamline your IT landscape and capacities.
  • Sales optimization: Use S/4HANA for an easy adjustment of your product placement to current sales figures and stock data. This will increase your company’s sales opportunities and stock shortfalls can be avoided.
  • Improved user-friendliness: User interfaces that can easily be applied on all devices, such as smartphones or tablets, will enable you to execute arising tasks flexibly and on the move. As a consequence, the user experience will improve significantly and information is formatted graphically within seconds so that you can react immediately and irrespective of the location.
  • Slim technology: The in-memory technology based on the SAP HANA database is built on one single central data basis. This reduces efforts for data maintenance, backup and consolidation and creates further potential for cost reductions in the software and hardware area.

SAP S/4HANA simply explained – DIGITAL CORE & LINES OF BUSINESS

SAP S/4HANA structure – digital core and business area solutions

What is the digital core?

Vendor, business partner, customer or machine data can be processed in real time in the digital core. Any information gained is directly integrated into S/4HANA and can be directly used. Therefore, the “digital core” is the centerpiece that directly provides the system data and, as a consequence, the central component of an advanced, open and customer-centered IT architecture. The basic functions required for an SAP system and for enterprises can be found in its center, whereas enhanced functions are located outside the core, i.e. as separate business area solutions. Furthermore, ever-increasing datasets arise nowadays, even outside the core processes. As a result, the new architecture is structured in such a way that external systems can optimally be integrated into the S/4HANA architecture.

What are the business area solutions?

The S/4HANA solutions for business areas combine the S/4HANA core functions with the solutions in the SAP portfolio for each business area. The business area solutions are enhancements for the digital core with an additional functional scope.

SONEPAR GETS READY FOR THE FUTURE – Successful changeover to S/4HANA

Why is the use of SAP Fiori recommended?

With the increasing popularity of mobile devices, the private user behavior has significantly changed, which also affects the daily professional routine and the demands on the corresponding processes. A better usability of business applications is required. Users expect easy-to-operate and attractive user interfaces that are available on any device in the office (on PCs) or on the move (on Smartphones or tablets).

With the Fiori app collection, you can considerably simplify ERP workflows and complete them on the move. For users processing a wide and comprehensive range of applications and scenarios in SAP ERP, an environment that meets the requirements of these “power users” is now provided.

Benefits of the improved user interface with Fiori:

  • Modification of the user interface depending on the role – for a quick and easy access to information
  • Visually appealing user interfaces – providing precisely the information required by the respective users
  • Automation of repetitive processes
  • Avoidance of costs for conventional programming of user interfaces
  • Reduction of training efforts for your software users
  • Individual adjustment of layouts, fields and functions

Modern User Interfaces with the SAP Fiori Launchpad

The Fiori design allows user interfaces in SAP S/4HANA to be designed in a modern way. The SAP Fiori launchpad offers the possibility to set up start pages in a personalized and clear way. The launchpad consequently creates a modern and intuitive initial access to applications that SAP users use in their day to day routine. Applications are displayed as tiles according to the role-based authorizations. The responsive design allows access on all devices. Working with the Fiori launchpad is convenient, fast and location-independent.

The roadmap of FIS optimizations for SAP S/4HANA

ERP consulting and implementation of SAP S/4HANA

FAQ on SAP S/4HANA

SAP S/4HANA is the real-time ERP suite of the next generation and the successor of SAP ECC. The state-of-the-art ERP system was specially developed for the SAP HANA in-memory platform. Furthermore, the new system offers a completely new user experience with the role-based and intuitive SAP Fiori user interface . SAP customers can choose between a cloud solution, an on-premise solution or the hybrid approach when implementing ERP. 

  • Clear reporting: overview of company-wide output patterns and operational developments 
  • Real-time data (business data, key figures and evaluations) 
  • Cost reduction: considerably reduced memory requirement 
  • Improved user-friendliness: convenient user interfaces 
  • Mobility: can be used location-independently on all mobile devices 
  • Slim data basis: in-memory database SAP HANA reduces the efforts of maintenance, backup and data consolidation 

SAP S/4HANA can be used in different ways: besides the classical on-premise variant, it is also possible to use a cloud solution or a hybrid integration. 

SAP S/4HANA is an advanced SAP ERP system and a new generation of SAP ECC, which has existed since 2004. S/4HANA was developed based on the latest technologies and is therefore much quicker than the ERP predecessor. Data is processed with the underlying HANA database and processed in real time due to advanced in-memory computing. Consequently, S/4HANA requires much less memory space as the data is now stored in the working memory and no longer on the hard disk. The new SAP Fiori user interface can be operated more easily and intuitively than SAP GUI of SAP ECC. Moreover, the Fiori apps can be used on all devices – also in a mobile way. The user interface was considerably streamlined and employees only have access to functions that are relevant for them. 

There are three scenarios for the SAP S/4HANA migration: greenfield or brownfield approach or Selective Data Transition (formerly known as Landscape Transformation). The greenfield approach means a completely new implementation of the SAP system. The existing ERP system – be it an SAP system or a non-SAP system – is replaced by the new S/4HANA system. The brownfield approach means a stepwise system conversion. The existing system landscape is migrated to S/4HANA. Selective Data Transition means that different applied SAP systems are consolidated in a newly built S/4HANA system.

Interested in SAP S/4HANA? Request personal consulting

Request now for SAP S/4HANA – free of charge and without any obligation!

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Success Story:

Sonepar gets ready for the future with a changeover to S/4HANA

Do you have any more questions regarding the new SAP S/4HANA system, or would you like to learn more about further possible applications of SAP technologies in your company? Contact the FIS SAP consultants – the experts will be pleased to assist you on your way to digital S/4HANA transformation.

Hardy Langenbacher
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