Introduce SAP

By Robert Hurt PhD, CFEAccounting Department

Introduction to SAP

• The company

• The software

• Systems architecture

• Workplace demand

• University involvement

SAP

• Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing (SAP)

– Origins• IBM development team

• Rejected by IBM due to perceived high risk and low profitability

• Intellectual property remained with the development team

• Started SAP on that basis

– Name of the Company• SAP AG

• SAP America

• SAP UK

– Name of the Software• SAP® R/2®

• SAP® R/3®

• SAP ECC 6.04

© SAP 2009 / Page 3

Who is SAP?• SAP AG

– Founded in Waldorf, Germany in 1972

– World’s Largest Business Software Company

– World’s Third-largest Independent Software Provider

• Company Statistics

– Sales and Development locations in more than 50 countries

– 97,000 customers in more than 120 countries

– 74% of the Forbes 500 companies run SAP

© SAP 2009 / Page 4

Source: SAP AG website

What is SAP® ERP?

• Worldwide usage

• Designed to satisfy the information needs for business (small local to large all international)– Multi-lingual

– Multi-currency

• Designed to satisfy the information needs for all industries

© SAP 2009 / Page 5

SAP ERP

• Enables a company to link their business processes

• Ties together disparate business functions (integrated business solution)

• Helps the organization run smoothly

• Real-time environment

• Scalable and flexible

© SAP 2009 / Page 6

SAP Architecture

• Client/Server Environment

– Client – hardware/software environment that can make a request for services for a central repository of resources

– Server – hardware/software combination that can provide services to a group of clients in a controlled environment

© SAP 2009 / Page 7

SAP Architecture

• Three – Tier Structure

– GUI: Graphical User Interface or Web Interface

– Application Server: One or more, help distribute work load

– Database Server: One single data repository

© SAP 2009 / Page 8

Database

Application

Presentation

Browser ClientPCs, Laptops, etc.

Network

Application Servers

Database

Internet Transaction Server

Web Server

SAP Architecture

© SAP 2009 / Page 9

© SAP 2009 / Page 10

SAP Enterprise System

SAP ECC 6.04

FIFinancialAccounting CO

Controlling

PSProjectSystemWF

WorkflowISIndustrySolutions

MMMaterials Mgmt.

HRHumanResources

SDSales and Distribution

PPProductionPlanning

QMQualityMgmt. PM

Plant Maintenance

SMServiceMgmt.

Client / ServerIntegrated BusinessSolution

ECEnterpriseControlling

AMFixed AssetsMgmt.

Workplace demand

• Monster.com

Over 250 listings for accountants with ERP

knowledge / experience

• Robert Half International

Over 100 listings within California for accountants

with ERP knowledge / experience

Workplace demand

• Selected duties & qualifications from position listings

– Maintain proper vendor master files in SAP by overseeing

vendor set up and performing maintenance, deactivation,

etc. as needed on a regular basis.

– Review bills of materials and routings for completeness and

usability in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system

– Experience with a major ERP System

– Proficiency with ERP System such as Oracle or SAP is required

Workplace demand

• Selected duties & qualifications from position

listings– Complete asset transfers and asset disposals in SAP

– Calculate depreciation expense in SAP on existing assets

– Conduct fixed asset audit program at plants

including. . .update records in SAP

– Set up approved capital projects in SAP

– Capitalize new assets in SAP system