SAP Manufacturing:
Drive Manufacturing at the Speed of Business
Manufacturing isn't getting easier. You're under constant pressure to deliver innovative products, respond to customer demand quickly, and eliminate costs.
Enter SAP Manufacturing. This powerful solution integrates manufacturing with your other operations, so you can identify changes in demand and supply and rapidly respond to new customer requirements.
SAP Manufacturing is the only comprehensive solution for managing manufacturing operations with embedded Lean and Six Sigma – empowering you to deliver superior responsiveness and performance. And since it's built on the SAP NetWeaver platform, SAP Manufacturing connects seamlessly with your entire enterprise, including your current plant floor infrastructure. So you can accelerate time-to-value and lower total cost of ownership.
SAP Manufacturing gives discrete and process manufacturers functionality to:
Coordinate operations with partners and suppliers
Detect and resolve exceptions and performance deviation in real time and at low cost
Institutionalize Lean and Six Sigma processes and monitor production to drive continuous improvement
Comply with environmental, health, and safety standards
Improve employee productivity and create a high-quality work environment
With SAP Manufacturing, your management and production departments gain real-time visibility into key data – enabling them to act quickly. Managers can document, track, and interpret quality and performance using rich analytics capabilities. Production teams can leverage role-based applications for plant managers, production supervisors, maintenance supervisors, and quality inspectors to detect and respond rapidly to exceptions and variances – and deliver superior performance.
SAP Manufacturing helps you to plan, schedule, sequence, execute, and monitor all your manufacturing processes optimally. So you can achieve higher profits and marketplace wins.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
SAP Ventures:
SAP Ventures:
SAP Ventures is a strong partner that normally participates as part of an investor syndicate. Typically, we prefer that the syndicate lead be a new investor in the company.
We evaluate information technology opportunities across all stages. We emphasize investing in solutions and services sold to enterprises.
Executing on an investment can take as little as several weeks or as long as several months. The key determinants are the required depth of diligence, the schedule and makeup of the investment syndicate, and, at times, the business requirements of the prospective investment recipient.
We identify investment opportunities in a variety of ways. For example, we will develop investment themes and areas of related interest in which we proactively seek new businesses. We will respond to entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who understand the value we can bring to an investment to be part of a financing round. We also pursue investment opportunities brought to us by partners within the SAP ecosystem.
When evaluating investment opportunities, we focus on:
Management team strength and depth
Potential market size and opportunity
Uniqueness of products and technologies
Exit opportunity
In making these evaluations, we draw not only on our own expertise, but also from the knowledge base of the entire SAP ecosystem. Entrepreneurs can expect to have at least one discussion with a business and/or technology thought-leader within SAP. These discussions are mutually beneficial, providing all parties valuable industry insight. In many cases, these introductions are the seed of a significant future business relationship.
SAP Ventures is a strong partner that normally participates as part of an investor syndicate. Typically, we prefer that the syndicate lead be a new investor in the company.
We evaluate information technology opportunities across all stages. We emphasize investing in solutions and services sold to enterprises.
Executing on an investment can take as little as several weeks or as long as several months. The key determinants are the required depth of diligence, the schedule and makeup of the investment syndicate, and, at times, the business requirements of the prospective investment recipient.
We identify investment opportunities in a variety of ways. For example, we will develop investment themes and areas of related interest in which we proactively seek new businesses. We will respond to entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who understand the value we can bring to an investment to be part of a financing round. We also pursue investment opportunities brought to us by partners within the SAP ecosystem.
When evaluating investment opportunities, we focus on:
Management team strength and depth
Potential market size and opportunity
Uniqueness of products and technologies
Exit opportunity
In making these evaluations, we draw not only on our own expertise, but also from the knowledge base of the entire SAP ecosystem. Entrepreneurs can expect to have at least one discussion with a business and/or technology thought-leader within SAP. These discussions are mutually beneficial, providing all parties valuable industry insight. In many cases, these introductions are the seed of a significant future business relationship.
SAP Ventures:
Investing in New Technology
SAP Ventures helps build industry-leading companies by partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs and top-tier venture capital firms. We are information technology investors who focus on enterprise products and services. In the 10 years since we were founded by Hasso Plattner, Chairman and co-Founder of SAP AG, SAP Ventures has invested in over 75 companies.
Our seven person investment team has more than 60 years of combined software experience as operators, entrepreneurs, industry analysts and investors. We have over 35 years of direct investing experience. The entire team believes in involving ourselves deeply with our companies. We are open and flexible in our thinking and believe there is the potential for great companies and solutions in a wide variety of spaces. This is reflected in our willingness to investigate opportunities across all stages, industries and market segments on a global basis.
Our Relationship with SAP
As the corporate venture capital arm of SAP AG, we operate under two independent but synergistic imperatives. First, we act autonomously in discovering and pursuing opportunities for outstanding financial returns that may be independent of or central to SAP's corporate strategic focus. Second, we bring substantial benefit to both our portfolio companies and SAP by facilitating interaction between innovative young companies and the SAP ecosystem.
Put simply, we have the independence to pursue investments we believe have the highest potential. We also spend a large part of our time maintaining strategic relationships throughout the SAP ecosystem and focusing on finding ways for each of our portfolio companies and SAP to collaborate for mutual advantage.
Investing in New Technology
SAP Ventures helps build industry-leading companies by partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs and top-tier venture capital firms. We are information technology investors who focus on enterprise products and services. In the 10 years since we were founded by Hasso Plattner, Chairman and co-Founder of SAP AG, SAP Ventures has invested in over 75 companies.
Our seven person investment team has more than 60 years of combined software experience as operators, entrepreneurs, industry analysts and investors. We have over 35 years of direct investing experience. The entire team believes in involving ourselves deeply with our companies. We are open and flexible in our thinking and believe there is the potential for great companies and solutions in a wide variety of spaces. This is reflected in our willingness to investigate opportunities across all stages, industries and market segments on a global basis.
Our Relationship with SAP
As the corporate venture capital arm of SAP AG, we operate under two independent but synergistic imperatives. First, we act autonomously in discovering and pursuing opportunities for outstanding financial returns that may be independent of or central to SAP's corporate strategic focus. Second, we bring substantial benefit to both our portfolio companies and SAP by facilitating interaction between innovative young companies and the SAP ecosystem.
Put simply, we have the independence to pursue investments we believe have the highest potential. We also spend a large part of our time maintaining strategic relationships throughout the SAP ecosystem and focusing on finding ways for each of our portfolio companies and SAP to collaborate for mutual advantage.
Monday, July 2, 2007
SAP admits Oracle data downloads
SAP admits Oracle data downloads
SAP says it "regrets" the downloading incidents
SAP has admitted its TomorrowNow unit carried out "inappropriate downloads" of documents from its rival Oracle, but said SAP had not accessed the material.
Oracle is suing SAP, accusing it of hacking into its computer network and stealing vital product information.
In a written legal response to Oracle's claims of intellectual property theft, SAP said the downloaded material had stayed in TomorrowNow's systems.
SAP said changes had now been made to TomorrowNow's management.
"Even a single inappropriate download is unacceptable from my perspective. We regret very much that this occurred," SAP's chief executive Henning Kagerman said in a statement.
Lucrative market
Oracle has claimed the German firm is guilty of "corporate theft on a grand scale" by gaining illegal access to one of its customer support websites.
Oracle and SAP compete in the business software sector, selling programs that help firms to run more efficiently.
Oracle's lawsuit claims that SAP resorted to illegal activity to maintain its leadership in the market for business applications software.
It alleges that staff at TomorrowNow, a firm bought by SAP in 2005, accessed Oracle's computer network last year and illegally downloaded a wide range of copyrighted software and other material.
The software was part of the Peoplesoft business that was bought by Oracle in 2005.
The Peoplesoft deal was one of a $20bn series of takeovers that Oracle has pulled off in the past three years, exerting greater pressure on market leader SAP.
Through its actions, TomorrowNow had assembled a "storehouse of stolen Oracle intellectual property", Oracle says.
"This theft appears to be an essential, and illegal, part of SAP's competitive strategy against Oracle," the complaint - lodged with a federal court in San Francisco - alleges.
SAP says it "regrets" the downloading incidents
SAP has admitted its TomorrowNow unit carried out "inappropriate downloads" of documents from its rival Oracle, but said SAP had not accessed the material.
Oracle is suing SAP, accusing it of hacking into its computer network and stealing vital product information.
In a written legal response to Oracle's claims of intellectual property theft, SAP said the downloaded material had stayed in TomorrowNow's systems.
SAP said changes had now been made to TomorrowNow's management.
"Even a single inappropriate download is unacceptable from my perspective. We regret very much that this occurred," SAP's chief executive Henning Kagerman said in a statement.
Lucrative market
Oracle has claimed the German firm is guilty of "corporate theft on a grand scale" by gaining illegal access to one of its customer support websites.
Oracle and SAP compete in the business software sector, selling programs that help firms to run more efficiently.
Oracle's lawsuit claims that SAP resorted to illegal activity to maintain its leadership in the market for business applications software.
It alleges that staff at TomorrowNow, a firm bought by SAP in 2005, accessed Oracle's computer network last year and illegally downloaded a wide range of copyrighted software and other material.
The software was part of the Peoplesoft business that was bought by Oracle in 2005.
The Peoplesoft deal was one of a $20bn series of takeovers that Oracle has pulled off in the past three years, exerting greater pressure on market leader SAP.
Through its actions, TomorrowNow had assembled a "storehouse of stolen Oracle intellectual property", Oracle says.
"This theft appears to be an essential, and illegal, part of SAP's competitive strategy against Oracle," the complaint - lodged with a federal court in San Francisco - alleges.
(Continuing Education) Where Credit is Due APICS
Get Credit (Continuing Education) Where Credit is Due
APICS
SAPtips courses on Sales Order have been approved by APICS for certification maintenance. Individuals may claim one Professional Development Point per hour of instruction.
Sales and Distribution
For more information on APICS certification maintenance, please click here.
CPE Credits
As of September 1, 2006 Klee Associates / SAPtips is a member of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) National Registry of CPE sponsors. As such, if you are a CPA seeking CPE credits for your SAPtips training, please let us know when you register for a SAPtips Mastery Level Workshop and we'll provide you with the information you'll need when you apply to your State Board for CPE credits.
Being a registered sponsor ensures you that our workshops meet national standards for excellence. The registry listing is available to State Boards as well as to individuals seeking registered sponsors from whom they may take continued professional education. http://registry.nasbatools.com/dynamic/list_registry_sponsor.
What Classes Qualify for CPE Credits?
All SAPtips public training classes qualify unless otherwise noted.
Our custom, on-site courses that are presented in a "Group-Live" environment and use our own SAPtips training guides are eligible for CPE credits.
In either case, credits will be awarded to an individual based on the number of hours of actual, documented classroom time (based on one credit per 50-minute hour).
How Can I Learn More?
Our SAPtips course descriptions will indicate which workshops are eligible and how many credits are available if you take the entire course. SAP Public Training and Mastery Level Workshops. If you don't see the information you are seeking, please contact us and we'll do whatever we can to help you out.
APICS
SAPtips courses on Sales Order have been approved by APICS for certification maintenance. Individuals may claim one Professional Development Point per hour of instruction.
Sales and Distribution
For more information on APICS certification maintenance, please click here.
CPE Credits
As of September 1, 2006 Klee Associates / SAPtips is a member of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) National Registry of CPE sponsors. As such, if you are a CPA seeking CPE credits for your SAPtips training, please let us know when you register for a SAPtips Mastery Level Workshop and we'll provide you with the information you'll need when you apply to your State Board for CPE credits.
Being a registered sponsor ensures you that our workshops meet national standards for excellence. The registry listing is available to State Boards as well as to individuals seeking registered sponsors from whom they may take continued professional education. http://registry.nasbatools.com/dynamic/list_registry_sponsor.
What Classes Qualify for CPE Credits?
All SAPtips public training classes qualify unless otherwise noted.
Our custom, on-site courses that are presented in a "Group-Live" environment and use our own SAPtips training guides are eligible for CPE credits.
In either case, credits will be awarded to an individual based on the number of hours of actual, documented classroom time (based on one credit per 50-minute hour).
How Can I Learn More?
Our SAPtips course descriptions will indicate which workshops are eligible and how many credits are available if you take the entire course. SAP Public Training and Mastery Level Workshops. If you don't see the information you are seeking, please contact us and we'll do whatever we can to help you out.
ACOM's EZConnect - EDI/XML Software Solution
ACOM's EZConnect - EDI/XML Software Solution
EDI/XML Mapping - Data Translation - Integration - Management
Extend the capabilities of your SAP software
Automate your eBusiness processes
Leverage your investment
ACOM's EZConnect enables disparate systems to easily communicate with each other "real time," using any type of data format and via any type of communication medium
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
Highlights of ACOM's EZConnect Solution:
Direct Database Integration with SAP
Full Automation for 24x7 Operations
Business Process Management (with Business Rules and Data Validation)
Flexible Communication (AS/2, HTTP/s, FTP/s, and VANS)
Advanced EDI and XML Translation
Full Trading Partner Management
--- Screenshot of EZConnect EDI mapping interface---
In a hurry? Use EZConnect's Auto Configure and Map feature
EZConnect can accept an EDI document from a potential trading partner, parse the data and map it to establish a trading partner relationship without user intervention. If a trading partner changes a document, the document tables are automatically updated.
Whether you are trying to integrate two internal systems, or responding to an external mandate from one of your customers or suppliers, EZConnect is the answer: complete data transformation and integration... automatic trading partner setup and management... versatile communication module with support for Internet communications and VANs... as well as document-level tracking and auditing capabilities... all within one integrated solution.
EDI/XML Mapping - Data Translation - Integration - Management
Extend the capabilities of your SAP software
Automate your eBusiness processes
Leverage your investment
ACOM's EZConnect enables disparate systems to easily communicate with each other "real time," using any type of data format and via any type of communication medium
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
Highlights of ACOM's EZConnect Solution:
Direct Database Integration with SAP
Full Automation for 24x7 Operations
Business Process Management (with Business Rules and Data Validation)
Flexible Communication (AS/2, HTTP/s, FTP/s, and VANS)
Advanced EDI and XML Translation
Full Trading Partner Management
--- Screenshot of EZConnect EDI mapping interface---
In a hurry? Use EZConnect's Auto Configure and Map feature
EZConnect can accept an EDI document from a potential trading partner, parse the data and map it to establish a trading partner relationship without user intervention. If a trading partner changes a document, the document tables are automatically updated.
Whether you are trying to integrate two internal systems, or responding to an external mandate from one of your customers or suppliers, EZConnect is the answer: complete data transformation and integration... automatic trading partner setup and management... versatile communication module with support for Internet communications and VANs... as well as document-level tracking and auditing capabilities... all within one integrated solution.
RFGen – Data Collection Software
RFGen – Data Collection Software
If you are looking for an easy-to-implement, low-cost radio frequency bar coding data collection solution with certification for SAP, read on.
As you may already know, there are a few “out-of-the-box” solutions that are well advertised to the SAP user community. The solution selected by SAPtips offers an easier, lower cost approach and a far quicker implementation. For these reasons, it is wireless data collection’s best kept secret.
Read an SAPtips Interview with Tom Rhoades and Robert Brice of RFGen
How RFGen Is Helping SAP Users to Customize Their Bar Coding Projects
(Right click to save this article to your hard drive)
Request a demonstration
RFGen website
Features and Benefits
Here are the some of the many reasons why RFGen's Integration Suite for SAP raises the bar for other data collection products, making it the most innovative, easy-to-use tool on the market today!
Pre-built transactions for all manufacturing and distribution modules that work immediately with all SAP versions.
The only data collection software solution to offer a full production free trial download that can be up and running in less than 1 hour.
No source code installation or modification is required within the SAP server environment ever.
Easy to use development tool set for enhancements and configuration of business processes.
The lowest total cost of ownership in the industry with the fastest return on investment.
Introducing RFGen…
RFGen is an advanced development environment that, when combined with the RF communications server, becomes a powerful, integrated bar coding solution for SAP customers.
The system consists of two modules: The RF Programmers Assistant and the RF Communications Server.
The RF Programmers Assistant enables a developer with all the tools needed to develop and deploy RF bar coding applications. With RFGen, developing and maintaining these applications becomes a snap!
The RF Communications Server provides communications between any Telnet-capable device (wireless or otherwise) and the RFGen Host Server. A variety of devices can be used making RFGen hardware independent!
RFGen allows for the following:
Rapid Application Development for fast, easy, intuitive development of RF data collection applications.
ERP Integration Suite/Screen Mapping for SAP allows you to easily identify and use standard ERP business rules and embed them in your RF applications.
Off-Line Data Collection
RFGen supports continuous 24/7 data collection operations even in remote locations. If desired, your employees can continue to function even when your ERP system is unavailable.
Easy Database Integration to any ODBC compliant database.
Network Administration allows the remote control of devices, easy connectivity, easy monitoring, and easy administration of your RF network.
All Major Hardware Brands are supported. Using TCP/IP and Telnet terminal emulation, RFGen applications run easily on all of the major RF hardware brands, providing easy portability and total hardware independence. Hardware brands utilizing DOS, WinCE, or Linux that are more commonly used include: Intermec, Symbol, Telxon, PSC, LXE, Handheld Products, Casio, Denso, AML, and Teklogix.
Easy Bar Code Printing is done through ActiveX integration or text file submission to popular bar code printing applications such as Bar Tender, Loftware and NiceLabel.
How does it work?
RFGen takes full advantage of a new standard in thin client computing called Remote Power Projection (RPP). Remote Power Projection is a protocol that is based on the Citrix client/server model. Data collection devices running RFGen perform all of their processing on a central Windows server and are able to provide Pentium like performance regardless of the capabilities of the end device.
By using a standard VT telnet session (or a graphical telnet client available from RFGen) to display and collect data on handheld devices, RFGen greatly simplifies customer installations, upgrades, and support.
What does an RFGen implementation look like?
A SQL compliant database and SAP.
A Windows 2000 (or later) based PC or server running RFGen.
A wireless network with a combination of the following:
Handheld terminals
RFID Scanners
Fixed terminals
Vehicle mounted terminals
Wedge scanners
Barcode printers
Wireless access points
If you are looking for an easy-to-implement, low-cost radio frequency bar coding data collection solution with certification for SAP, read on.
As you may already know, there are a few “out-of-the-box” solutions that are well advertised to the SAP user community. The solution selected by SAPtips offers an easier, lower cost approach and a far quicker implementation. For these reasons, it is wireless data collection’s best kept secret.
Read an SAPtips Interview with Tom Rhoades and Robert Brice of RFGen
How RFGen Is Helping SAP Users to Customize Their Bar Coding Projects
(Right click to save this article to your hard drive)
Request a demonstration
RFGen website
Features and Benefits
Here are the some of the many reasons why RFGen's Integration Suite for SAP raises the bar for other data collection products, making it the most innovative, easy-to-use tool on the market today!
Pre-built transactions for all manufacturing and distribution modules that work immediately with all SAP versions.
The only data collection software solution to offer a full production free trial download that can be up and running in less than 1 hour.
No source code installation or modification is required within the SAP server environment ever.
Easy to use development tool set for enhancements and configuration of business processes.
The lowest total cost of ownership in the industry with the fastest return on investment.
Introducing RFGen…
RFGen is an advanced development environment that, when combined with the RF communications server, becomes a powerful, integrated bar coding solution for SAP customers.
The system consists of two modules: The RF Programmers Assistant and the RF Communications Server.
The RF Programmers Assistant enables a developer with all the tools needed to develop and deploy RF bar coding applications. With RFGen, developing and maintaining these applications becomes a snap!
The RF Communications Server provides communications between any Telnet-capable device (wireless or otherwise) and the RFGen Host Server. A variety of devices can be used making RFGen hardware independent!
RFGen allows for the following:
Rapid Application Development for fast, easy, intuitive development of RF data collection applications.
ERP Integration Suite/Screen Mapping for SAP allows you to easily identify and use standard ERP business rules and embed them in your RF applications.
Off-Line Data Collection
RFGen supports continuous 24/7 data collection operations even in remote locations. If desired, your employees can continue to function even when your ERP system is unavailable.
Easy Database Integration to any ODBC compliant database.
Network Administration allows the remote control of devices, easy connectivity, easy monitoring, and easy administration of your RF network.
All Major Hardware Brands are supported. Using TCP/IP and Telnet terminal emulation, RFGen applications run easily on all of the major RF hardware brands, providing easy portability and total hardware independence. Hardware brands utilizing DOS, WinCE, or Linux that are more commonly used include: Intermec, Symbol, Telxon, PSC, LXE, Handheld Products, Casio, Denso, AML, and Teklogix.
Easy Bar Code Printing is done through ActiveX integration or text file submission to popular bar code printing applications such as Bar Tender, Loftware and NiceLabel.
How does it work?
RFGen takes full advantage of a new standard in thin client computing called Remote Power Projection (RPP). Remote Power Projection is a protocol that is based on the Citrix client/server model. Data collection devices running RFGen perform all of their processing on a central Windows server and are able to provide Pentium like performance regardless of the capabilities of the end device.
By using a standard VT telnet session (or a graphical telnet client available from RFGen) to display and collect data on handheld devices, RFGen greatly simplifies customer installations, upgrades, and support.
What does an RFGen implementation look like?
A SQL compliant database and SAP.
A Windows 2000 (or later) based PC or server running RFGen.
A wireless network with a combination of the following:
Handheld terminals
RFID Scanners
Fixed terminals
Vehicle mounted terminals
Wedge scanners
Barcode printers
Wireless access points
ACOM’s Document Output and Document Management Systems for SAP
ACOM’s Document Output and Document Management Systems for SAP
Create - Capture - Distribute - Manage - Store
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
With ACOM's Document Management Solutions you can easily take your raw SAP output and create full-color professionally formatted documents and reports. (View Sample Form- PDF )
You’ll have finished documents the marketing team would be proud of, and you can modify the document template any time you want to, in just minutes.
Goodbye fax machine and mail!
Great looking forms are just the beginning. Since your output is now in an electronic format, you can automatically print, fax, or email the finished documents. Outbound documents can even be customized for different recipients, so everyone gets just the information they need, and nothing they don't.
Get rid of your filing cabinet!
You can automatically index and store your newly created electronic documents in our web-based document management system.
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
Get your files… Now!
With just a web browser, you’ll be able to retrieve and redistribute your files from anywhere in the world, in an instant. Sophisticated search capabilities even allow you to look for files based on what you think your search terms sound like (phonetic search).
Benefits:
Reduces costs up to 75% per document
Improves worker efficiency by providing faster access to files, anywhere, anytime
Virtually eliminates time spent searching for documents/files
Secures compliance to regulatory and industry standards
ACOM has over 300 SAP customers! Learn more about how ACOM can minimize paper processes, and reduce costs of creating, storing and distributing your documents, payments, and reports.
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
National Crane Corporation- Document Output Solution
“We were able to convert from an expensive and cumbersome, centralized forms printing process to a decentralized one that gives us professional, laser printed quality on plain paper stock. Because the system is so simple and flexible we were able to accomplish our objectives quickly.”
Mike E., Director of Information Systems, National Crane Corporation
ASF-Keystone, Inc. - Document Management Solutions
"EZContentManager offers great potential for optimizing office operations... When you see what it does, you keep finding more ways to use it.”
Create - Capture - Distribute - Manage - Store
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
With ACOM's Document Management Solutions you can easily take your raw SAP output and create full-color professionally formatted documents and reports. (View Sample Form- PDF )
You’ll have finished documents the marketing team would be proud of, and you can modify the document template any time you want to, in just minutes.
Goodbye fax machine and mail!
Great looking forms are just the beginning. Since your output is now in an electronic format, you can automatically print, fax, or email the finished documents. Outbound documents can even be customized for different recipients, so everyone gets just the information they need, and nothing they don't.
Get rid of your filing cabinet!
You can automatically index and store your newly created electronic documents in our web-based document management system.
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
Get your files… Now!
With just a web browser, you’ll be able to retrieve and redistribute your files from anywhere in the world, in an instant. Sophisticated search capabilities even allow you to look for files based on what you think your search terms sound like (phonetic search).
Benefits:
Reduces costs up to 75% per document
Improves worker efficiency by providing faster access to files, anywhere, anytime
Virtually eliminates time spent searching for documents/files
Secures compliance to regulatory and industry standards
ACOM has over 300 SAP customers! Learn more about how ACOM can minimize paper processes, and reduce costs of creating, storing and distributing your documents, payments, and reports.
Learn More- get a customized Product Review Bundle (you select what you want- demos, evals, literature)
National Crane Corporation- Document Output Solution
“We were able to convert from an expensive and cumbersome, centralized forms printing process to a decentralized one that gives us professional, laser printed quality on plain paper stock. Because the system is so simple and flexible we were able to accomplish our objectives quickly.”
Mike E., Director of Information Systems, National Crane Corporation
ASF-Keystone, Inc. - Document Management Solutions
"EZContentManager offers great potential for optimizing office operations... When you see what it does, you keep finding more ways to use it.”
SAPtips Software Solutions
SAPtips Software Solutions
Use the menu on the left side of this page to find out how each of our complementary software products can help you extract even more value from your investment in SAP software.
Each of our recommended Software Solutions is carefully assessed by the SAPtips/Klee Associates team. To qualify each product scores high in terms of:
Relevance - does it meet a real need in the marketplace?
Best of Breed - does it rise above the competition?
Quality of Product - does it work? Are future enhancements planned?
Service - do current clients have good things to say about the service they receive?
Price - is it fairly priced?
Use the menu on the left side of this page to find out how each of our complementary software products can help you extract even more value from your investment in SAP software.
Each of our recommended Software Solutions is carefully assessed by the SAPtips/Klee Associates team. To qualify each product scores high in terms of:
Relevance - does it meet a real need in the marketplace?
Best of Breed - does it rise above the competition?
Quality of Product - does it work? Are future enhancements planned?
Service - do current clients have good things to say about the service they receive?
Price - is it fairly priced?
Sunday, July 1, 2007
SAP Modules and Solutions Overview
In the past when people were discussing SAP, the conversation very quickly boiled down to modules, for example:
*
SAP’s courses were structured along module lines so that you would attend MM 101, 102 and 103. While at the course you would learn many things about MM, but not much about the rest of the SAP system and how MM fits into it.
*
A conversation with a SAP recruiter might go something like this:
Recruiter … “which modules do you work with?”
Candidate … “well, I have a lot of purchasing process experience”
Recruiter … “yes, but which modules do you work with?”
Candidate … “well, it’s purchasing functionality … so that would be, umm, MM, FI and CO mainly”
Recruiter … “great I have just the job for you”
Candidate … “fantastic, is it purchasing?”
Recruiter … “well it says here that they want an MM, FI and CO person and that’s you, right?”
Not necessarily! A MM, FI, CO role might include Inventory Management (MM), Accounts Receivable (FI) and Profitability Analysis (CO) – none of which a purchasing person is guaranteed to have
*
Many programme teams were organised along module lines, so that you would have a FI/CO, an MM and a HR team, for example. Training courses were (therefore) often prepared and delivered along module lines too. The result of this was that solutions were frequently optimised along module lines, and less often well integratred, and as for users, well, they were pretty much trained up in a module and left to get on with it post go-live. Fortunately those days are mostly passed, and more and more programmes (from design to build to training) are being organised along process lines such as:
Order to Cash (including parts of SD, FI-AR and probably TY as well)
Purchase to Pay (including MM-Purchasing and FI-AP)
Record to Report (FI-GL etc)
SAP now are moving away from describing their system as a set of modules, and now are using the term ‘solutions’, which is much better. If you visit SAP’s website (as we urge you to do) you will find that they have structured their Solutions tab as follows:
*
Financials
*
Human Resources
*
Customer Relationship Management
*
Supplier Relationship Management
*
Product Lifecycle Management
*
Supply Chain Management
*
Business Intelligence
If you’re still looking for that list of modules, here they are:
FI Financial Accounting (Tutorial) – essentially your regulatory ‘books of record’, including
*
General ledger
*
Book close
*
Tax
*
Accounts receivable
*
Accounts payable
*
Consolidation
*
Special ledgers
CO Controlling (Tutorial) – basically your internal cost/management accounting, including
*
Cost elements
*
Cost centres
*
Profit centres
*
Internal orders
*
Activity based costing
*
Product costing
AM Asset Management – track, value and depreciate your assets, including
*
Purchase
*
Sale
*
Depreciation
*
Tracking
PS Project Systems – manage your projects, large and small, including
*
Make to order
*
Plant shut downs (as a project)
*
Third party billing (on the back of a project)
HR Human Resources – ah yes, people, including
*
Employment history
*
Payroll
*
Training
*
Career management
*
Succession planning
PM Plant Maintenance – maintain your equipment (e.g. a machine, an oil rig, an aircraft etc), including
*
Labour
*
Material
*
Down time and outages
MM Materials Management – underpins the supply chain, including
*
Requisitions
*
Purchase orders
*
Goods receipts
*
Accounts payable
*
Inventory management
*
BOM’s
*
Master raw materials, finished goods etc
QM Quality Management – improve the quality of your goods, including
*
Planning
*
Execution
*
Inspections
*
Certificates
PP Production Planning – manages your production process, including
*
Capacity planning
*
Master production scheduling
*
Material requirements planning
*
Shop floor
SD Sales and Distribution – from order to delivery, including
*
RFQ
*
Sales orders
*
Pricing
*
Picking (and other warehouse processes)
*
Packing
*
Shipping
CA Cross Application – these lie on top of the individual modules, and include
*
WF – workflow
*
BW – business information warehouse
*
Office – for email
*
Workplace
*
Industry solutions
*
New Dimension products such as CRM, PLM, SRM, APO etc
*
SAP’s courses were structured along module lines so that you would attend MM 101, 102 and 103. While at the course you would learn many things about MM, but not much about the rest of the SAP system and how MM fits into it.
*
A conversation with a SAP recruiter might go something like this:
Recruiter … “which modules do you work with?”
Candidate … “well, I have a lot of purchasing process experience”
Recruiter … “yes, but which modules do you work with?”
Candidate … “well, it’s purchasing functionality … so that would be, umm, MM, FI and CO mainly”
Recruiter … “great I have just the job for you”
Candidate … “fantastic, is it purchasing?”
Recruiter … “well it says here that they want an MM, FI and CO person and that’s you, right?”
Not necessarily! A MM, FI, CO role might include Inventory Management (MM), Accounts Receivable (FI) and Profitability Analysis (CO) – none of which a purchasing person is guaranteed to have
*
Many programme teams were organised along module lines, so that you would have a FI/CO, an MM and a HR team, for example. Training courses were (therefore) often prepared and delivered along module lines too. The result of this was that solutions were frequently optimised along module lines, and less often well integratred, and as for users, well, they were pretty much trained up in a module and left to get on with it post go-live. Fortunately those days are mostly passed, and more and more programmes (from design to build to training) are being organised along process lines such as:
Order to Cash (including parts of SD, FI-AR and probably TY as well)
Purchase to Pay (including MM-Purchasing and FI-AP)
Record to Report (FI-GL etc)
SAP now are moving away from describing their system as a set of modules, and now are using the term ‘solutions’, which is much better. If you visit SAP’s website (as we urge you to do) you will find that they have structured their Solutions tab as follows:
*
Financials
*
Human Resources
*
Customer Relationship Management
*
Supplier Relationship Management
*
Product Lifecycle Management
*
Supply Chain Management
*
Business Intelligence
If you’re still looking for that list of modules, here they are:
FI Financial Accounting (Tutorial) – essentially your regulatory ‘books of record’, including
*
General ledger
*
Book close
*
Tax
*
Accounts receivable
*
Accounts payable
*
Consolidation
*
Special ledgers
CO Controlling (Tutorial) – basically your internal cost/management accounting, including
*
Cost elements
*
Cost centres
*
Profit centres
*
Internal orders
*
Activity based costing
*
Product costing
AM Asset Management – track, value and depreciate your assets, including
*
Purchase
*
Sale
*
Depreciation
*
Tracking
PS Project Systems – manage your projects, large and small, including
*
Make to order
*
Plant shut downs (as a project)
*
Third party billing (on the back of a project)
HR Human Resources – ah yes, people, including
*
Employment history
*
Payroll
*
Training
*
Career management
*
Succession planning
PM Plant Maintenance – maintain your equipment (e.g. a machine, an oil rig, an aircraft etc), including
*
Labour
*
Material
*
Down time and outages
MM Materials Management – underpins the supply chain, including
*
Requisitions
*
Purchase orders
*
Goods receipts
*
Accounts payable
*
Inventory management
*
BOM’s
*
Master raw materials, finished goods etc
QM Quality Management – improve the quality of your goods, including
*
Planning
*
Execution
*
Inspections
*
Certificates
PP Production Planning – manages your production process, including
*
Capacity planning
*
Master production scheduling
*
Material requirements planning
*
Shop floor
SD Sales and Distribution – from order to delivery, including
*
RFQ
*
Sales orders
*
Pricing
*
Picking (and other warehouse processes)
*
Packing
*
Shipping
CA Cross Application – these lie on top of the individual modules, and include
*
WF – workflow
*
BW – business information warehouse
*
Office – for email
*
Workplace
*
Industry solutions
*
New Dimension products such as CRM, PLM, SRM, APO etc
SAP Partners:
SAP Partners:
SAP Partner Portal
The SAP Partner Portal is the single best source for tools, information, and self-services for SAP partners.
Part of the SAP Service Marketplace, the SAP Partner Portal provides opportunities for participation, collaboration, and education, with sections dedicated to:
* Partnering with SAP – This area explains SAP partner categories and partner programs – including online services, such as test and demo license ordering and ramp-up nomination.
* Marketing and sales – This section contains tools such as SAP partner playbooks and partner sales kits, as well as information about branding and partner recognition programs.
* Events – This section of the SAP Partner Portal provides dates, locations, and descriptions of major SAP events, as well as a global events calendar for SAP partners.
* Products – This area contains partner-focused information about SAP solutions and platform topics like enterprise SOA and SAP NetWeaver.
* Education – This area provides access to information about training and delivery options, assistance, and curricula available to partners.
* Support – The support section provides access to software downloads, as well as information about SAP's maintenance offerings, SAP Solution Manager, and other services.
SAP Partner Portal
The SAP Partner Portal is the single best source for tools, information, and self-services for SAP partners.
Part of the SAP Service Marketplace, the SAP Partner Portal provides opportunities for participation, collaboration, and education, with sections dedicated to:
* Partnering with SAP – This area explains SAP partner categories and partner programs – including online services, such as test and demo license ordering and ramp-up nomination.
* Marketing and sales – This section contains tools such as SAP partner playbooks and partner sales kits, as well as information about branding and partner recognition programs.
* Events – This section of the SAP Partner Portal provides dates, locations, and descriptions of major SAP events, as well as a global events calendar for SAP partners.
* Products – This area contains partner-focused information about SAP solutions and platform topics like enterprise SOA and SAP NetWeaver.
* Education – This area provides access to information about training and delivery options, assistance, and curricula available to partners.
* Support – The support section provides access to software downloads, as well as information about SAP's maintenance offerings, SAP Solution Manager, and other services.
SAP TechEd '07
SAP TechEd '07
October 02, 2007 - November 30, 2007
Various venues, Las Vegas and cities around the globe, United States
Enterprise service-oriented architecture is ready to work. Come to SAP TechEd '07 to learn how to use the power and flexibility of the SAP NetWeaver platform to innovate and transform your business processes.
Experience hundreds of hours of expert-led, hands-on workshops; technical lectures; and networking opportunities. Leading experts provide the best in technical and business process training on a wide range of topics, including Duet, SAP xApp Analytics, SAP NetWeaver Master Data Management, SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment featuring Java EE 5, and ABAP.
Mark your calendar:
- SAP TechEd '07 Las Vegas: October 2 - 5, 2007
- SAP TechEd '07 Munich: October 17 - 19, 2007
- SAP TechEd '07 Shanghai: November 6 - 7, 2007
- SAP TechEd '07 Bangalore: November 28 - 30, 2007
Event Details
Main Topic Enterprise SOA
Event Site https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/sapteched
Topics Covered
Active Global Support, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive , Banking , Best Practices, BPO Powered by SAP, Business Maps, Business Solutions, Chemicals , Compliance Calibrator, Consulting, Consumer Products , Custom Development, Defense & Security , Duet, EC&O, Education, Endorsed Business Solutions, Financial, Healthcare , High Tech , Higher Ed & Research, Hospitality, IM&C, Insurance , Life Sciences , LSP, Manufacturing, Media , Mill Products , Mining , Oil & Gas , Packaged Services, Packaged Solutions, Postal Svcs, Professional Svcs , Public Sector , Railways , Ramp-Up , Retail , SAP Business Suite, SAP CRM, SAP ERP , SAP ERP Corporate Svcs, SAP ERP Financials, SAP ERP HCM, SAP ERP Operations , SAP Managed Services, SAP NetWeaver, SAP Partners, SAP PLM, SAP SCM, SAP Services, SAP Solution Manager, SAP Solutions for GRC, SAP Solutions: Information Workers, SAP Solutions: Performance Mgmt., SAP SRM, SAP xApp Analytics, SAP xApps, SAP xApps for Mobile Business, SDN, Small & Midsize Enterprises, Solution Extensions, SOX Compliance, Svc & Asset Mgmt, Telecommunications , User Performance Mgmt , Utilities , Wholesale Distribution
SAP TechEd '07
October 02, 2007 - November 30, 2007
Various venues, Las Vegas and cities around the globe, United States
October 02, 2007 - November 30, 2007
Various venues, Las Vegas and cities around the globe, United States
Enterprise service-oriented architecture is ready to work. Come to SAP TechEd '07 to learn how to use the power and flexibility of the SAP NetWeaver platform to innovate and transform your business processes.
Experience hundreds of hours of expert-led, hands-on workshops; technical lectures; and networking opportunities. Leading experts provide the best in technical and business process training on a wide range of topics, including Duet, SAP xApp Analytics, SAP NetWeaver Master Data Management, SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment featuring Java EE 5, and ABAP.
Mark your calendar:
- SAP TechEd '07 Las Vegas: October 2 - 5, 2007
- SAP TechEd '07 Munich: October 17 - 19, 2007
- SAP TechEd '07 Shanghai: November 6 - 7, 2007
- SAP TechEd '07 Bangalore: November 28 - 30, 2007
Event Details
Main Topic Enterprise SOA
Event Site https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/sapteched
Topics Covered
Active Global Support, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive , Banking , Best Practices, BPO Powered by SAP, Business Maps, Business Solutions, Chemicals , Compliance Calibrator, Consulting, Consumer Products , Custom Development, Defense & Security , Duet, EC&O, Education, Endorsed Business Solutions, Financial, Healthcare , High Tech , Higher Ed & Research, Hospitality, IM&C, Insurance , Life Sciences , LSP, Manufacturing, Media , Mill Products , Mining , Oil & Gas , Packaged Services, Packaged Solutions, Postal Svcs, Professional Svcs , Public Sector , Railways , Ramp-Up , Retail , SAP Business Suite, SAP CRM, SAP ERP , SAP ERP Corporate Svcs, SAP ERP Financials, SAP ERP HCM, SAP ERP Operations , SAP Managed Services, SAP NetWeaver, SAP Partners, SAP PLM, SAP SCM, SAP Services, SAP Solution Manager, SAP Solutions for GRC, SAP Solutions: Information Workers, SAP Solutions: Performance Mgmt., SAP SRM, SAP xApp Analytics, SAP xApps, SAP xApps for Mobile Business, SDN, Small & Midsize Enterprises, Solution Extensions, SOX Compliance, Svc & Asset Mgmt, Telecommunications , User Performance Mgmt , Utilities , Wholesale Distribution
SAP TechEd '07
October 02, 2007 - November 30, 2007
Various venues, Las Vegas and cities around the globe, United States
Business Benefits
SAP Supply Chain Management:
Business Benefits
SAP SCM can help you transform a traditional linear supply chain into an adaptive network with the following benefits:
* Faster response to changes in supply and demand – With increased visibility into the supply chain and adaptive supply chain networks, you can be more responsive. You can sense and respond quickly to changes and quickly capitalize on new opportunities.
* Increased customer satisfaction – By offering a common information framework that supports communication and collaboration, SAP SCM enables you to better adapt to and meet customer demands.
* Compliance with regulatory requirements – You can track and monitor compliance in areas such as environment, health, and safety.
* Improved cash flow – Information transparency and real-time business intelligence can lead to shorter cash-to-cash cycle times. Reduced inventory levels and increased inventory turns across the network can lower overall costs.
* Higher margins – With SAP SCM, you can lower operational expenses with more timely planning for procurement, manufacturing, and transportation. Better order, product, and execution tracking can lead to improvements in performance and quality – and lower costs. You can also improve margins through better coordination with business partners.
* Greater synchronization with business priorities – Tight connections with trading partners keep your supply chain aligned with current business strategies and priorities, improving your organization's overall performance and achievement of goals.
Business Benefits
SAP SCM can help you transform a traditional linear supply chain into an adaptive network with the following benefits:
* Faster response to changes in supply and demand – With increased visibility into the supply chain and adaptive supply chain networks, you can be more responsive. You can sense and respond quickly to changes and quickly capitalize on new opportunities.
* Increased customer satisfaction – By offering a common information framework that supports communication and collaboration, SAP SCM enables you to better adapt to and meet customer demands.
* Compliance with regulatory requirements – You can track and monitor compliance in areas such as environment, health, and safety.
* Improved cash flow – Information transparency and real-time business intelligence can lead to shorter cash-to-cash cycle times. Reduced inventory levels and increased inventory turns across the network can lower overall costs.
* Higher margins – With SAP SCM, you can lower operational expenses with more timely planning for procurement, manufacturing, and transportation. Better order, product, and execution tracking can lead to improvements in performance and quality – and lower costs. You can also improve margins through better coordination with business partners.
* Greater synchronization with business priorities – Tight connections with trading partners keep your supply chain aligned with current business strategies and priorities, improving your organization's overall performance and achievement of goals.
SAP Supply Chain Management:
SAP Supply Chain Management:
Technical Details
An adaptive supply chain network requires integration. From a business perspective, integration enables you to reach beyond enterprise boundaries and link with suppliers and customers. From a technology perspective, integration allows you to leverage existing investments and reduce total cost of ownership.
SAP Supply Chain Management (SAP SCM) ensures seamless integration through the technology foundation of SAP NetWeaver. SAP NetWeaver aligns people, information, and processes across technologies and organizations. It provides a coherent, scalable architecture that lets you integrate your existing technologies while creating a foundation for a new generation of flexible, cross-enterprise processes.
SAP NetWeaver also enables an Enterprise Services Architecture that combines enterprise applications with Web services and open technologies – enabling truly adaptive business. A crucial aspect of Enterprise Services Architecture is the composite application framework. It allows the integration of new functionality into processes that can be configured and reconfigured across the value chain. The composite application framework contains the tools, methodologies, and rules that allow SAP and our partners to develop "snap-on" processes.
Targeting Total Cost of Ownership
Integration isn't the only way SAP SCM lowers total cost of ownership. SAP SCM features a user-friendly interface, ready-to-use business processes, and out-of-the-box integration of vendor-managed inventory (VMI), supplier-managed inventory (SMI), event management, performance management, and other key processes.
In addition, SAP promotes operational stability by offering operational guidelines and by continuously improving our administration and monitoring tools. SAP EarlyWatch Alert and other monitoring services provide remote access to SAP service and support.
Finally, SAP SCM is now built on a single technology component, SAP Supply Chain Management 4.0 (SAP SCM 4.0). Combining SAP Advanced Planning & Optimization (SAP APO), SAP Event Management, and SAP Inventory Collaboration Hub (SAP ICH), SAP SCM 4.0 can be installed on a single database and administered as a single system. The architecture remains unchanged, so you can continue to use existing knowledge and documentation.
SAP SCM 4.0 is based on SAP Web Application Server and requires SAP GUI. For SAP APO within SAP SCM 4.0, you need liveCache. SAP APO also contains SAP Business Information Warehouse (SAP BW), which is required for SAP APO within SAP SCM 4.0.
SAP ICH has its own Web user interface based on Business Server Pages (BSP) technology. Out-of-the-box integration with SAP ICH requires SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI). Master data integration with SAP ICH requires SAP R/3 plug-in 2003.1. For some SMI scenarios in which suppliers require Web-based user-management functionality, you need SAP User Management Engine (SAP UME).
Technical Details
An adaptive supply chain network requires integration. From a business perspective, integration enables you to reach beyond enterprise boundaries and link with suppliers and customers. From a technology perspective, integration allows you to leverage existing investments and reduce total cost of ownership.
SAP Supply Chain Management (SAP SCM) ensures seamless integration through the technology foundation of SAP NetWeaver. SAP NetWeaver aligns people, information, and processes across technologies and organizations. It provides a coherent, scalable architecture that lets you integrate your existing technologies while creating a foundation for a new generation of flexible, cross-enterprise processes.
SAP NetWeaver also enables an Enterprise Services Architecture that combines enterprise applications with Web services and open technologies – enabling truly adaptive business. A crucial aspect of Enterprise Services Architecture is the composite application framework. It allows the integration of new functionality into processes that can be configured and reconfigured across the value chain. The composite application framework contains the tools, methodologies, and rules that allow SAP and our partners to develop "snap-on" processes.
Targeting Total Cost of Ownership
Integration isn't the only way SAP SCM lowers total cost of ownership. SAP SCM features a user-friendly interface, ready-to-use business processes, and out-of-the-box integration of vendor-managed inventory (VMI), supplier-managed inventory (SMI), event management, performance management, and other key processes.
In addition, SAP promotes operational stability by offering operational guidelines and by continuously improving our administration and monitoring tools. SAP EarlyWatch Alert and other monitoring services provide remote access to SAP service and support.
Finally, SAP SCM is now built on a single technology component, SAP Supply Chain Management 4.0 (SAP SCM 4.0). Combining SAP Advanced Planning & Optimization (SAP APO), SAP Event Management, and SAP Inventory Collaboration Hub (SAP ICH), SAP SCM 4.0 can be installed on a single database and administered as a single system. The architecture remains unchanged, so you can continue to use existing knowledge and documentation.
SAP SCM 4.0 is based on SAP Web Application Server and requires SAP GUI. For SAP APO within SAP SCM 4.0, you need liveCache. SAP APO also contains SAP Business Information Warehouse (SAP BW), which is required for SAP APO within SAP SCM 4.0.
SAP ICH has its own Web user interface based on Business Server Pages (BSP) technology. Out-of-the-box integration with SAP ICH requires SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI). Master data integration with SAP ICH requires SAP R/3 plug-in 2003.1. For some SMI scenarios in which suppliers require Web-based user-management functionality, you need SAP User Management Engine (SAP UME).
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