Overview of SAP

Introduction

This article gives an overview of the SAP business platform. Most of the information here was found in the different articles on Wikipedia.

The big picture

R/3 ("R" = realtime, 3 = 3-tier architecture): This new architecture is compatible with multiple platforms and operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows or UNIX. This opened up SAP to a whole new customer base. Officially launched on 6 July 1992. Was renamed SAP ERP and later again renamed ECC (Enterprise Core Component)

SAP R/3 was arranged into distinct functional modules, covering the typical functions in place in an organization. The most widely used modules were Financials and Controlling (FICO), Human Resources (HR), Materials Management (MM), Sales & Distribution (SD), and Production Planning (PP).

SAP's Business Suite:

• SAP ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning application;  Current version is SAP ERP 6.0; previous name was R/3
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – helps companies acquire and retain customers, gain marketing and customer insight
• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) – helps manufacturers with product-related information
• Supply Chain Management (SCM) – helps companies with the process of resourcing its manufacturing and service processes
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) – enables companies to procure from suppliers
• Supply Network Collaboration (SNC)

In addition:

• SAP NetWeaver =  Integrated technology computing platform and is the technical foundation for many SAP applications since the SAP Business Suite; marketed as a service-oriented application and integration platform; provides the development and runtime environment for SAP applications and can be used for custom development and integration with other applications and systems; built using primarily the ABAP programming language, but also uses C (programming language), C++, and Java EE. It also employs open standards and industry de facto standards and can be extended with, and interoperate with, technologies such as Microsoft .NET, Java EE, and IBM WebSphere; part of SAP's plan to transition to a more open, service-oriented architecture. Essentially the integrated stack of SAP technology products. The SAP Web Application Server (sometimes referred to as WebAS) is the runtime environment for the SAP applications—all of the mySAP Business Suite solutions (SRM, CRM, SCM, PLM, ERP) run on SAP WebAS.
• SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW): enterprise data warehouse solution
• SAP BusinessObjects software through acquisition in 2008 of the Business Objects intelligence company
• SAP HANA: Sybase mobile products and in-memory computing appliance; Sybase, acquired in 2010, was the largest business software and service provider specializing in information management and mobile data use

ABAP = Advanced Business Application Programming; was originally used by developers to develop the SAP R/3 platform and by SAP customers to enhance SAP applications; Currently positioned, alongside the more recently introduced Java, as the language for programming the SAP Application Server, part of its NetWeaver platform for building business applications. The syntax of ABAP is somewhat similar to COBOL.

BASIS = Technological platform that supports the entire range of SAP applications, now typically implemented in the framework of the SAP Web Application Server; Can be seen as the virtual machine on which SAP applications run.

SAP ERP differs from R/3 mainly because it is based on SAP NetWeaver: core components can be implemented in ABAP and in Java and new functional areas are mostly no longer created as part of the previous ERP system, with closely interconnected constituents, but as self-contained components or even systems.

www.mySAP.com = SAP’s internet strategy; redesigned the concept of business processes (integration via Internet).

SAP Business One/All-in-One = Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME)

IDES = Internet Demonstration and Evaluation System

Resources

• Wikipedia: SAP_AG, SAP_R/3, NetWeaver, ABAP, List of ERP software packages, SAP Implementation
• SAP Community Network, including Forum Finder for the New SCN
• The three ages of SAP
• NO TRAFFIC SAP Study Materials Forum, A forum to share any knowledge and tips about SAP ERP (the best ERP software) http://forum.sapstudymaterials.com/
• www.saptechies.com, including Tutorials and Books
• ERPTips
• Questions tagged as SAP on StackOverflow
• (French) Définition SAP
• (French) Où faire une formation SAP et financée par qui?
• Amazon:
• Books › Computers & Technology › Software › 4 Stars & Up › "sap"
• Books › Computers & Technology › Business & Culture › 4 Stars & Up › "sap"
•  (French) www.sharesap.com