With the growth of the digital revolution and its accompanying innovations like RPA, cloud computing, AI, etc., software suppliers are rapidly modifying their existing product portfolios to accommodate the new surge of business requirements. SAP, the ERP industry juggernaut, is hardly an exception. The basic ERP product of SAP has consistently been ECC, but throughout the years, the software heavyweight has focused on developing an intelligent ERP system.
The said developed model is not an improved version of its core ECC but rather an entirely new business package with a simple core, an in-memory database developed by SAP, a role-based consumer experience named Fiori, and extra versatility to incorporate and broaden advanced technologies in the cloud with the SAP S/4HANA cloud platform.
What is S/4HANA at SAP?
SAP S/4HANA is the most recent ERP system in SAP’s ERP software. The program is the fourth product generation centered on the groundbreaking SAP Hana database technology and was released in 2015. The SAP S/4HANA Cloud and On-Premise options are available to users. ERP systems are utilized for demand-driven resource planning. It is utilized to govern operations and meaningfully connect departments and functional units. Individual components encompass accounting, sales, production, and marketing systems. ERP software can also do more complicated tasks for managing consumers and the supply chain.
As a replacement for the SAP ECC core product, SAP S/4HANA was introduced as a next-generation intelligent ERP system. The Software as a Service (SaaS) version is meant to assist businesses in simplifying procedures and easing the transition to digitalization by leveraging modern technology. Moreover, undertaking SAP S/4 HANA services can simplify challenging legacy systems and plan and predict core company procedures much faster. Speaking of which, it also provides the most significant technological advantage to consumers because their efficiency is enhanced.
The “S” in S4 Hana means “simple,” whereas the “4” indicates the generation sequence. Relative to the SAP core product, SAP ECC, which is still utilized by most businesses, SAP S/4HANA offers numerous unique features that fundamentally transform the system landscape. Since SAP plans to stop providing main-stream support for its old ERP products by 2027, many SAP ECC users are considering switching to S/4HANA.
What benefits does SAP S/4HANA offer?
With the release of SAP S/4HANA, the company has entirely reinvented its ERP systems. In essence, the intelligent ERP solution is regarded as the most revolutionary SAP development since 1992. The SAP R3 enterprise resource planning (ERP) software was introduced at that time, allowing a corporation’s operations to be recorded and managed. Due to technological advancements like machine learning and predictive analytics, SAP S/4HANA is more than a simple data management system. It may streamline and automate corporate operations and explicitly equip businesses for a digital future, increasing their competitiveness.
- The practical benefits of SAP S/4HANA in a nutshell:
The new Fiori interface design provides a streamlined and individualized user experience. Users have expedited access to vital information and receive decision help and alerts. This encourages productive and role-based work. The software can also be utilized on mobile devices thanks to the updated design principles.
The SAP Hana in-memory database allows individuals to access their information in real-time, resulting in enhanced efficiency. Rather than being stored on a hard drive, the data is stored collectively in the main memory, thereby avoiding data duplication. Such a streamlined data format not only decreases the size of the database but also enables ad hoc studies and transactional processes to be performed within the same application.
SAP S/4HANA is accessible in diverse versions and payment mechanisms, allowing customers greater flexibility. In the event of a transition, clients may opt for the on-premises version, the hybrid model, or the subscription-based cloud version. The latter is hosted on an SAP server, saving consumers money on hardware and maintenance expenses. Businesses also profit from shorter invention cycles and reaction times.
S/4HANA Releases
SAP offers numerous S/4HANA deployment options, both on-premises and in the cloud. SAP Business Suite correlates to the on-premise version in content, functionality, support, and industry solutions. Here, consumers have access to the full suite of ERP services and can choose their updates. S/4HANA Cloud, launched two years after S/4HANA On-Premise, provides several functions in a streamlined form.
The Marketing, Finance, and Professional Services clouds are available to users. SAP S/4HANA Enterprise Management Cloud includes the whole ERP suite. SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Jam, SAP Hybris, SAP Ariba, and SAP Fieldglass are compatible with both on-premise and cloud deployments.
Final Thoughts
SAP S/4HANA is unquestionably the intelligent real-time ERP solution of the future. It allows businesses to streamline existing processes or establish them from scratch. They can attain a high level of automation and openness by utilizing modern technologies like machine learning and simulation. A flexible and role-specific user interface that is mobile-friendly and mobile-friendly and adjusts to the individual user enables role-specific work. With the exception of earlier ERP systems, SAP S/4HANA’s in-memory database enables quick access to all data and its analysis. It allows consumers to make well-informed judgments quickly.