SAP Excellence – serie

Inter-organizational Cooperation with SAP Solutions - now in its second edition -describes the potential for cooperation in supply chain networks as well as the use of mySAP solutions in an inter-organizational context. The main focus is on applications from the fields of XML/EDI, data warehousing, supply chain management and electronic markets. On the basis of five case studies from the automotive industry, the use of mySAP solutions is demonstrated in practice. This second edition has been totally revised to take account of current challenges concerning building up cooperation from both the management and the software perspective. In order to achieve this, the author team was expanded.

In order to make strategy happen there is a need for powerful management information systems. SAP focuses on the application of modern business administration concepts, e.g. Value Based Management, the Balanced Scorecard, the Management Cockpit or flexible planning methods.The book describes the methodology and implementation of a powerful tool for enterprise management. Practical examples show how SAP Strategic Enterprise Management/Business Analytics (SAP SEM/BA) can help to improve cross functional planning, reporting and analyzing. SAP SEM/BA is a leading edge IT-solution for top management and related departments in large enterprises and groups. It demonstrates the state of the art of modern management information and decision support systems.

Characteristics are used in SAP as attributes, e.g. to specify the configuration of products or the properties of batches. In many industries – engineering, automotive, mill, pharmaceutical and foods to name the most typical – supply chain planning has to consider these characteristics. APO offers many different functionalities for planning with characteristics, where each of the functionalities has some prerequisites and incompatibilities. This book offers help and advice for the basic design of the implementation by explaining the processes and scenarios (process chains) for planning with characteristics, the functionalities for planning with characteristics in APO including their prerequisites and incompatibilities and the entities, dependencies and system configuration determinants for planning with characteristics in R/3 and APO. This book is based on the releases R/3 4.7 and mySAP SCM 4.1.

Before use, standard ERP systems such as SAP R/3 need to be customized to meet the concrete requirements of the individual enterprise. This book provides an overview of the process models, methods, and tools offered by SAP and its partners to support this complex and time-consuming process. It begins by characterizing the foundations of the latest ERP systems from both a conceptual and technical viewpoint, whereby the most important components and functions of SAP R/3 are described. The main part of the book then goes on to present the current methods and tools for the R/3 implementation based on newer process models (roadmaps).

In recent years, Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become one of the most widely discussed issues on top management`s agenda. One essential precondition for the implementation of SCM concepts are powerful information systems. Many manufacturing companies deploy the logistics modules of the SAP R/3 system. In 1997 SAP enlarged its focus beyond Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and started an SCM initiative, which resulted in the Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) system. Today, APO has become one of the main components of the mySAP.com solutions. This book describes the principles and methods of intra- and inter-company SCM with reference to Release 4.6 of the SAP R/3 and to Release 3.0 of the SAP APO system. It also discusses potential future developments of these widely used software systems. The final chapter of the book contains an annotated overview of the most valuable online resources dealing with SCM.

Concentration tendencies, globalization, increasing cost pressure and well-informed customers all make up the hard competition faced by today's businesses. The "right" products, a successful market image, a strong positioning between suppliers and customers, efficient logistics and optimum organization structures contribute to a company's survival. Achieving this goal requires flexible information and communication systems that are fully adaptable to the specific situation. Modern retail information systems are not bound by organization borders but support both business partner cooperation and electronic commerce. This book presents the architecture of retail information systems, as well as the functions of SAP Retail, and in so doing links modern retail management with the implementation strategies based on innovative software systems.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is not a buzzword like many others in management and IT - it is here to stay. "Megatrends" such as globalization and increasing specialization result in a complex division of labor at national and international levels. Lean and agile supply chains have become a major management target, and the interorganizational coordination of business processes has become highly relevant. The complexity of today's supply chains cannot be mastered without the support of powerful information systems. SAP has established itself as the market leader in this type of IT systems. The book describes SCM using a pyramidal framework and relates it to the SAP SCM Solution Map. Desired features of IT support for SCM are formulated, and the extent to which SAP systems provide these features is shown. We describe the functionalities of SAP APO™ in detail, present case studies on implementing and running SAP SCM™ systems, and discuss SCM aspects of the new SAP Business ByDesign™ approach.

In order to make strategy happen there is a need for powerful management information systems. SAP focuses on the application of modern business administration concepts, e.g. Value Based Management, the Balanced Scorecard, the Management Cockpit or flexible planning methods.The book describes the methodology and implementation of a powerful tool for enterprise management. Practical examples show how SAP Strategic Enterprise Management/Business Analytics (SAP SEM/BA) can help to improve cross functional planning, reporting and analyzing. SAP SEM/BA is a leading edge IT-solution for top management and related departments in large enterprises and groups. It demonstrates the state of the art of modern management information and decision support systems.

Characteristics are used in SAP as attributes, e.g. to specify the configuration of products or the properties of batches. In many industries – engineering, automotive, mill, pharmaceutical and foods to name the most typical – supply chain planning has to consider these characteristics. APO offers many different functionalities for planning with characteristics, where each of the functionalities has some prerequisites and incompatibilities. This book offers help and advice for the basic design of the implementation by explaining the processes and scenarios (process chains) for planning with characteristics, the functionalities for planning with characteristics in APO including their prerequisites and incompatibilities and the entities, dependencies and system configuration determinants for planning with characteristics in R/3 and APO. This book is based on the releases R/3 4.7 and mySAP SCM 4.1.

Before use, standard ERP systems such as SAP R/3 need to be customized to meet the concrete requirements of the individual enterprise. This book provides an overview of the process models, methods, and tools offered by SAP and its partners to support this complex and time-consuming process. It begins by characterizing the foundations of the latest ERP systems from both a conceptual and technical viewpoint, whereby the most important components and functions of SAP R/3 are described. The main part of the book then goes on to present the current methods and tools for the R/3 implementation based on newer process models (roadmaps).

In recent years, Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become one of the most widely discussed issues on top management`s agenda. One essential precondition for the implementation of SCM concepts are powerful information systems. Many manufacturing companies deploy the logistics modules of the SAP R/3 system. In 1997 SAP enlarged its focus beyond Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and started an SCM initiative, which resulted in the Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) system. Today, APO has become one of the main components of the mySAP.com solutions. This book describes the principles and methods of intra- and inter-company SCM with reference to Release 4.6 of the SAP R/3 and to Release 3.0 of the SAP APO system. It also discusses potential future developments of these widely used software systems. The final chapter of the book contains an annotated overview of the most valuable online resources dealing with SCM.

Concentration tendencies, globalization, increasing cost pressure and well-informed customers all make up the hard competition faced by today's businesses. The "right" products, a successful market image, a strong positioning between suppliers and customers, efficient logistics and optimum organization structures contribute to a company's survival. Achieving this goal requires flexible information and communication systems that are fully adaptable to the specific situation. Modern retail information systems are not bound by organization borders but support both business partner cooperation and electronic commerce. This book presents the architecture of retail information systems, as well as the functions of SAP Retail, and in so doing links modern retail management with the implementation strategies based on innovative software systems.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is not a buzzword like many others in management and IT - it is here to stay. "Megatrends" such as globalization and increasing specialization result in a complex division of labor at national and international levels. Lean and agile supply chains have become a major management target, and the interorganizational coordination of business processes has become highly relevant. The complexity of today's supply chains cannot be mastered without the support of powerful information systems. SAP has established itself as the market leader in this type of IT systems. The book describes SCM using a pyramidal framework and relates it to the SAP SCM Solution Map. Desired features of IT support for SCM are formulated, and the extent to which SAP systems provide these features is shown. We describe the functionalities of SAP APO™ in detail, present case studies on implementing and running SAP SCM™ systems, and discuss SCM aspects of the new SAP Business ByDesign™ approach.