Automation of accounting in enterprises today is the norm of our life. Along with the popular and widespread 1C program in Russia, a significant market share in the field of enterprise resource management is occupied by the program SAP, which allows planning, operational management and control over the company's resources. In this article I will tell you what kind of SAP program it is, describe its features and functionality.
The name "SAP" is an abbreviation for the German « Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung”, which means “Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing”. This name was given to their company by five former IBM engineers who, after leaving the enterprise of the American giant, decided to found their own company to develop software solutions for accounting and system accounting.
The most famous software solution of the company SAP for large businesses, this is the SAP R / 3 resource planning system (R - Realtime - real-time work) created by the company in the early 90s. This system is intended primarily for medium and large enterprises, allowing for automated management of company resources (accounting, trade, finance, personnel management, production, trade, and so on). I hope after reading the article it will become clear to you what SAP is.
In addition to SAP R / 3, there are other software solutions from SAP that depend on the specifics of development (technical platform, data management, innovation, etc.)
On the Russian SAP market has been successfully operating since the beginning of the 90s, occupies a niche in almost 50% of the ERP solutions market (Enterprise Resource Planning, which is translated as “enterprise resource management”), the vast majority of large businesses have been using SAP services for a long time. At the same time, the installation and maintenance of SAP products is quite complicated, it requires highly qualified service personnel and significant financial costs (the cost of a software product and its maintenance can reach up to 10% of the company's annual turnover).
Most SAP software products are implemented on the SAP NetWeaver Application Server technical platform. The technological platform itself is divided into three main levels - the database server, the application server and the client module (the number three in the product name "SAP R / 3" means a three-level organization of the software solution).
Benefits of the SAP program
Among pluses SAP experts note the following:
- Easy global integration of the product (settings for language, currencies, cultural characteristics and other specifics are provided automatically);
- The absolute minimum of updates;
- Provides real-time information;
- Minimizes the occurrence of errors;
- Allows you to create a more efficient working environment for employees;
- Vendors have rich experience in optimal structuring and implementation of the system;
- Fully customizable user interface, allowing the end user to choose the most convenient operating structure of the product;
- Takes into account the experience of the best companies in this business area;
- Covers almost all areas of the company's activities;
- Can be combined with programs from other developers.
Flaws SAP:
- Closing the company on a contract with a vendor - the contract binds the company to the vendor for the duration of the contact, which makes it economically unprofitable to change the vendor;
- Inflexibility - the package offered by the vendor may not correspond to the specifics of the company's activities, and debugging the package for the buyer can result in a significant amount;
- The return on investment in the installation of the system can be delayed for a long time;
- Project implementation does not always go smoothly and may end in failure.
Program functionality
If you think that you will understand the SAP program intuitively, you will be deeply disappointed. They learn how to use the product at special long-term courses, where vendor specialists provide detailed instructions on product options, module management, and so on. For the curious, I can recommend a resource where you can download various books, articles and other materials on the functionality of SAP products.
Conclusion
What is SAP? The SAP software product I am considering is the undisputed leader of today's Russian market in terms of ERP solutions. Powerful product capabilities, enterprise-specific customization, continuous improvement, and commitment to innovation make SAP one of the best tools for managing a firm's resources. If your company is looking for a similar solution for itself, then, without a doubt, it is clear that SAP is what you need.
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Hello everyone Let's talk about such a program as SAP, which can probably be called the most unusual, because even I find it difficult to understand what it is for. In short, I will say this, the SAP program is purely business software.
In general, the program is not called SAP, but SAP R / 3. The letter R is from the word Realtime, means some kind of immediate posting and updating of data that interested departments of the enterprise can have access to. In short, I say that the dregs are still the same, well, in the sense that it is very difficult for an ordinary user to understand what SAP is.
SAP R / 3 you know, not even a program, it's some kind of ERP system! In general, SAP is a German company, it creates very serious software for all sorts of large offices. Well, in principle, the way it is, I read that the largest organizations use this SAP program. Not just the largest, but simply gigantic companies that are scary to even think about!
What's more interesting is that you know who created the SAP company? Who would have thought that these are former employees from IBM! About IBM, I only know that it is a very decent company in terms of the production of computer equipment, I had a laptop from them, it's just something, I haven't seen anything of high quality. But today IBM is no more, it has become Lenovo. And alas, the quality is not there either, but believe me that laptops from IBM are something. Even today, used models in good quality remain an expensive pleasure.
So, the SAP program, as I already wrote, is purely business software and it is needed in order to keep accounting records, manage personnel, inventory records, and much more. That is, an ordinary user does not need this program for nothing.
All sorts of invoices, there, documents, accounting for everything that is possible, storage of all kinds of data (including service ones), statistics, reports, in general, the SAP program was created for this. I think that more or less that we figured it out
This is what the SAP program looks like, what exactly is done in the program is of course not clear:
Here is another picture that only confirms the coolness of the program, how complex it is:
Here, look, another picture, here you see, there is such as an order, a price date, a supplier plant, a payment card, in short, this is all trade:
Well, that is, it is generally an uninteresting program, only for work and that's it. I feel that many workers are already hurting their eyes, probably from this program. This is something like 1C, that too, the program is serious and incomprehensible
This picture shows a professional misunderstanding:
The SAP program is so complex that in order to work on it, you need to undergo training! That is, they even go to courses on working with this program!
It is hardly possible to understand how to work with it on your own, pictures like this will not even help:
And here is the type of help center of the SAP program (in this case it comes in the form of a chm file):
So, now let's draw conclusions about the SAP program, so to speak.
- The SAP program is for all sorts of businesses, organizations, enterprises and the like. It is best suited for especially large companies.
- In fact, the SAP program is quite popular, just in a narrow circle.
- Just like that, the program cannot stand on your computer, if you have it, apparently you are working on a working computer. All this I mean is that if you suddenly decide to delete it, then think very, very well before that. Well, I just mean that if, for example, an employee at work tries to remove SAP, then he will probably have decent troubles.
- To use the SAP program, you need to take preparatory courses, you just can’t learn how to use it, it’s too complicated.
- In general, the SAP program costs decent money, I read that its price can be up to 10% of the company's annual turnover, well, in short, this is a very serious program.
That's all the guys, there is nothing more to write, what he himself understood and told you. I hope that at least now you understand what kind of SAP program it is. Good luck in life and good mood
Having got into a large company for the first time (JSC Russian Railways, Gazprom, etc.), office workers are sure to get acquainted with the software installed on work computers. And if the usual Word or Excel no longer causes desperate horror, then when you start some software, the soul of beginners grows cold. It is to such systems that SAP can be attributed. What is it and what is it eaten with? It's good when a corporation has engineers or training managers on its staff. Otherwise, you have to figure everything out yourself with the help of instructions.
A little about the history of appearance
The system, developed by the largest German manufacturer in the field of inter-corporate software SAP AG, has been distributed on the Russian market since 2003. Initially, the parent company cooperated only with translation partners, but since 2006, the software manufacturer began to conclude contracts with firms that undertook to educate clients. In 2014, so-called freelancers are increasingly involved in this type of activity. These are people who are largely familiar with the system, able to answer all questions about the system - which modules a particular company needs to install in order to effectively conduct business, which of them are appropriate for a particular workplace, etc.
It is no coincidence that at the beginning of the article it was stipulated that the SAP label can only be seen in large companies. This system is expensive, so only large corporations can afford to operate it. Firms with less working capital still purchase 1C software.
SAP - what is it?
Software that automates the work of accountants, personnel, financial services, trade departments, warehouse logistics - this is the system of applications and products for processing various data. Software of this class cannot be downloaded from the network and installed on a hard drive. The company's specialists simply will not be able to understand its functionality. Therefore, it is definitely necessary to purchase a system with its subsequent implementation.
However, any company, before deciding to install the software of a German manufacturer, needs to ask about the SAP system - what it is. In order to prevent automated chaos management, a clear order must be established in the organization. That is, we must not forget that computers do not streamline work, they only help speed up processes.
The most famous product of the company
In the variety of products of a German company, it is not always easy to understand and understand which one suits a particular company. And then questions like this often arise: "SAP ERP - what is it?" There are mass programs and highly specialized ones. So, SAP ERP is the most famous product targeted at medium and large companies.
The name of this software is more often heard in the R / 3 version. The letter of the abbreviation implies the designation Realtime. It is intuitively clear from the translation that all processes in the modules take place in real time. Entering information, updating it and making it available to each interested service occurs immediately when employees access the server.
SAP SRM - what is it?
Continuity of production requires efficiency and transparency in procurement, fair competition among suppliers, and long-term relationships with strategic partners. E-procurement systems are increasingly the only way to achieve these goals. And it is natural that SAP holds the European championship among software products in this area.
The most prominent user of the German system may be the Russian Lukoil. By and large, the oil and gas sector, due to its technology, is little automated. SAP, on the other hand, was purchased and implemented to solve pressing issues.
Additions to the main package
The versatility of the system explains its advantages over other software that allows you to collect data, update it, and provide access to each user according to his rights. Having implemented and mastered the main packages, almost every company is faced with the task of expanding SAP. As a rule, consultants come to the rescue, helping managers decide on the expansion of functionality. It is independent training managers who will answer questions about SAP BW - what it is, how to effectively use the information database with this add-on.
Main general stages of implementation
Whatever the software package, the German manufacturer recommends that the development and launch project be divided into phases. There are several methodologies with different set of steps. Let's take one of them as an example.
The first phase includes organizational documentation: an order for the implementation of the system, the creation of a calendar plan, as well as a risk management plan and a project charter. This stage is called the creation of the office. And only after completing all the actions of the first phase, the consultants proceed to the second stage. It consists in examining and getting to know the business processes of the enterprise. An important point of this stage is the communication of consultants with employees of the organization. It takes place in the format of an interview and does not exclude the possibility for employees to answer the question that arises: "SAP - what is it?" In general, staff training is carried out at various stages of the project, from the second to the last.
The third phase of implementation is the process. The previous and subsequent stages cannot be called unimportant, how effective the return will be depends on their implementation. The essence of this phase is to develop rules that will further build business processes and system configuration.
The fourth and last stage is It includes an integration test, which takes place according to different scenarios, as well as the start of the project. If it is successfully launched, we can assume that the efficiency of the system is 90%.
Conclusion
The purpose of this article was as follows: to answer the question of SAP R3 - what is it. Everything written above only in general terms carries the answer, since the system itself is so complex, has many additional packages, the most diverse business functionality, that it is simply impossible to tell about everything in one note. Each of the questions that arise about the work of SAP (what it is, we briefly explained) is worth a separate article or topic. So, for example, working in a difficult phase of initial support, as a rule, arouses the interest of customers and users. But the company provides such multifaceted conditions that it is simply impossible to list them in one article. SAP is being implemented by enterprises that are too diverse in their structure, so many specific factors can affect the operation of the system.
Enterprise resource management system SAP ERP covers all areas of financial and management accounting, personnel management, operational activities and service departments of the company. Provides full functionality necessary for the implementation of self-service information services, analytics.
Automation in industry has long been a familiar process. Smart controllers manage technological processes at modern enterprises in all industries, transferring information to computers for analysis and human decision making.
It is impossible to automate management decisions using a controller, therefore, integrated systems have been developed and are being successfully implemented around the world, such as, which are a constructor of interconnected modules for managing the production process.
A little about the company and product
SAP (System Analysis and Software Development) was founded in Germany in 1972 by five former employees of IBM Corporation. Their goal was to develop standard software that integrates all business processes in an enterprise in real time.
After 25 years, SAP has become the undisputed leader in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) automation niche. Today it is a corporation with branches and subsidiaries in all industrialized countries. 
In Russia, the history of the company is already 20 years old. The first office of this international corporation was opened in Moscow in 1992. Today, offices operate in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don; Russian has become one of the main localization languages for SAP software products, and more than 1,000 Russian employees are involved in the implementation of key software solutions.
What it is
SAP ERP is an information corporate system based on the methodology of ERP (enterprise resource planning) and aimed at achieving the optimal business process.
For large state-owned industrial giants, stable execution of state orders within a strictly specified time frame is necessary, for private industrial enterprises, profit and payback of equipment are more important. 
Projects implemented with SAP help both public and private structures to optimize costs and achieve their goals at each stage of the production cycle. At the same time, individual methods and principles that are relevant only in a particular case are laid down as the basis for making managerial decisions. More details about .
The SAP ERP system allows the manager to see the production process in real time, while, without delving into the essence of the problems, correctly assess the dynamics of the processes in the enterprise.
Video: SAP ERP - introduction
Main modules of the program
Accounting and control are necessary in any business, but in business every percentage of profit is registered, so the introduction of information systems that can reduce routine operations by more than 50%, show the transparency of product manufacturing processes and give easy access to any necessary information is the way to effective the work of the company. The SAP architecture of the new generation allows you to effectively solve a variety of tasks facing the enterprise. 
All key areas of activity:
- operational management of production;
- accounting areas (accounting, finance, warehouses, transport);
- planning and control;
- frames.
The system has not only wide functionality, but also full integration between modules.
A set of standard modules designed to manage all areas of activity is given below.
Additions to the package
The need for updates in software is caused by life itself, the constant movement forward of human thought. What was good 10 years ago today needs to be improved, taking into account today's realities. Therefore, SPA developed a new strategy for supplying software for its projects.
These are extension packs that provide new functionality within a specific group of users without affecting the architecture of the project as a whole.
Today, the fourth update package has been released, which implements additional features in the field of financial management, procurement, sales, personnel, etc. It includes all previous updates, has additional features and services for working with the WEB-interface, it includes new industry solutions.
An example is the RCM module - an electronic document management system. In another way, it is called the enterprise content management module. Convenient element of working with documentation.
Implementation stages
Implementation of any information system is a difficult, step-by-step, lengthy and expensive process. But any phase of the implemented project must have a final product with a description. 
The process of launching an SAP ERP project can be divided into the following stages:
- creation of project management documentation (order, charter, schedule);
- examination of the automation object;
- conceptual design. (creation of a business management model);
- phased implementation;
- user support and training.
To increase the level of knowledge and improve skills in the operation of the system, it is necessary to provide users with training literature
SAP general ledgers and manuals
Benefits of the ERP package
What gives the implementation of the system? In addition to being a very costly project, it also changes the company's management structure. Therefore, it is impossible to evaluate how the project works without analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of changes in the company's work. 
And yet ... The introduction of programs of this class allows you to remove the most painful points in the work of enterprises. These include "transparency" of production and inefficiency. To understand “where it hurts”, the head of the company needs to study the “symptoms”. This is what such a system helps to do.
It also eliminates the problem of human inefficiency by automating a huge number of functions. Where a person spent more than a day to prepare a report, the system generates data in a few minutes.
Description of SAP R3
In the Russian market, the most popular program is SAP R3. What it is? This is a business application package that supports full Internet access in the latest version 4.0, available for small and medium businesses at a price. The package allows you to standardize internal business processes, increases the efficiency of the enterprise. 
All important areas of planning, production, control are included in the system. Built on the principles of client / server, it has become available to medium-sized businesses. 
The introduction of such systems since 1995 allows us to state that today they operate in more than 40 countries. In Russia, it is very widely used for the formation of applications, making deliveries.
More and more representatives of medium and small businesses are realizing the need for integrated automation of their enterprises, this is facilitated by innovations from SAP, which develops projects that are affordable and affordable for this market niche, for example, SAP "Finansing".
According to statistical polls, already 76% of companies vote that IT is their assistant in business. The process of competition forces managers to come to the right decision: to engage in the implementation of SAP projects.
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