Preface ... 21

Acknowledgments ... 29

PART I SAP and Enterprise Computing: The Basics

1. SAP: The Company ... 33

The Beginnings of SAP ... 33

Examining the Growth of SAP ... 34

SAP in the 1980s ... 34

SAP in the 1990s ... 35

Entering the New Millennium ... 36

SAP Today ... 37

Conclusion ... 39

1. The SAP Approach to Enterprise Software ... 41

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP ... 41

The Origins of Standard Business Software ... 43

The Challenge of Integration ... 43

Overview of SAP NetWeaver ... 44

Uniting IT and Business Requirements ... 45

Open Application Environment ... 46

Using Composite Applications ... 46

SAP Support for Business Processes ... 47

SAP and Big Data ... 49

Where Is SAP Headed ... 50

Cloud Computing ... 50

Mobile Computing ... 52

Self-Services for Increased Efficiency ... 53

Benefits of Using SAP Software ... 54

Conclusion ... 55

1. Business Suite 7 Overview ... 57

Overview of Business Suite Solutions ... 58

SAP ERP ... 58

SAP Customer Relationship Management ... 60

SAP Supplier Relationship Management ... 61

SAP Product Lifecycle Management ... 62

SAP Supply Chain Management ... 63

SAP Business Suite 7 Benefits ... 63

Conclusion ... 65

PART II SAP Products

1. SAP ERP Financials ... 69

How SAP ERP Financials Fits in an Enterprise ... 69

Optimized Cash Flow ... 70

Better Business Insight ... 72

SAP ERP Financials and Analytics ... 72

Improved Compliance ... 73

A Closer Look at SAP ERP Financials ... 76

Key Features and Functions ... 76

Industry-Specific Financial Management ... 79

SAP Simple Finance ... 80

SAP ERP Financials Case Study 1 ... 80

Phase 1: Cash, Debt, and Investment Management ... 81

Phase 2: Global Cash Visibility ... 82

Phase 3: Straight-Through Processing ... 83

Phase 4: Hedging of Foreign Exchange ... 83

SAP ERP Financials Case Study 2 ... 84

The Challenges ... 85

The SAP Solution ... 85

Conclusion ... 85

1. SAP ERP Operations ... 87

SAP ERP Operations Overview ... 88

Product Development and Collaboration ... 88

Procurement ... 89

Operations: Sales and Customer Service ... 90

Operations: Manufacturing ... 90

Enterprise Asset Management ... 93

Operations: Cross Functions ... 93

Collaborating with Value Chain Partners ... 93

A Closer Look at SAP ERP Operations ... 94

SAP ERP Operations Solution Map ... 94

Key Features and Functions ... 95

Product Development and Collaboration ... 97

Procurement ... 99

Operations: Sales and Customer Service ... 103

Operations: Manufacturing ... 104

SAP Enterprise Asset Management ... 106

Operations: Cross Functions ... 108

SAP ERP Operations Case Study 1 ... 110

The Challenges ... 110

The SAP Solution ... 110

The Benefits ... 111

SAP ERP Operations Case Study 2 ... 111

The Challenges ... 112

The SAP Solution ... 112

The Benefits ... 112

Conclusion ... 113

1. SAP ERP Human Capital Management ... 115

How SAP ERP HCM Fits in an Enterprise ... 116

Workforce Process Automation to Improve Efficiency ... 117

Improving Talent Management ... 117

More Efficient Workforce Deployment Management ... 118

End-User Service Delivery ... 118

Gaining Insights through SAP ERP HCM Analytics ... 119

A Closer Look at SAP ERP HCM ... 120

Key Features and Functions ... 121

Talent Management ... 122

SAP Visualization ... 123

Workforce Process Management ... 126

Workforce Deployment Management ... 127

End-User Service Delivery ... 128

HR Renewal ... 128

SAP ERP HCM Case Study 1 ... 129

The Challenges ... 130

The SAP Solution ... 130

Looking toward the Future ... 131

SAP ERP HCM Case Study 2 ... 132

The Challenges ... 132

The SAP Solution ... 132

The Benefits ... 133

Conclusion ... 133

1. SuccessFactors ... 135

SuccessFactors Components and the Cloud ... 135

A Closer