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SAP, one of the largest enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions in the world, is evolving. SAP S/4HANA is the latest version of this popular business suite. And in light of its unique architecture that facilitates faster, real-time analytics and computational capabilities, SAP S/4HANA migration is a hot topic for many enterprises!
For over 40 years, SAP has been a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes, helping them execute mission-critical tasks—to the point that the software has become an integral part of business operations. However, come 2027, SAP will end support for its current business suite applications. Although this is in large part being done to encourage SAP S/4HANA migration, the advantages of the new generation’s performance enhancements are undeniable.
If your business is still on the fence about data migration to S/4HANA, then you’re missing out on its increased efficiencies, flexibility, and ease of use. And the longer you wait for the transition, the farther you’ll fall behind the competition.
Why Should We Migrate to SAP S/4HANA?
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Data migration to S/4HANA is more than just a technical upgrade—it’s a tool to transform your business. Full migration brings with it a multitude of benefits and an enviable return on investment.
Here are 3 compelling reasons to consider the upgrade.
1.Improved performance
SAP S/4HANA is designed to improve performance in multiple ways. Its most important feature is in-memory technology. Here, embedded analytics enable faster processing of data as well as generating insights in real time. Moreover, centralized data helps with coordination across different departments.
2.Digital Transformation
Many companies have large and complex data landscapes that are increasingly difficult to manage or have become redundant over time—all of which can be costly to clean up.
Harmonizing data is a core feature of digital transformation. S/4HANA can migrate historical data, remove duplications, and consolidate trusted data into a single structure. This makes your data systems more streamlined and efficient.
Another major benefit of S/4 HANA is that it allows the automation of repetitive tasks, using more than 150 robotic process automation (RPA) bots. Moreover, its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology automates data collection and generates intelligent insights.
3.Cost Saving
SAP S/4HANA migration can help you cut costs in several ways. Thanks to its in-memory technology and simplified data model, you won’t have to invest in additional IT infrastructure. Further, as it reduces data redundancy, even the maintenance expenses go down. You’ll also notice significant cost savings in day-to-day operations.
S/4HANA's real-time processing and analytics capabilities help companies make better-informed decisions and take corrective actions faster. HANA provides a single, integrated view of business processes to reduce errors and improve efficiency.
How Long Will It Take to Fully Implement?
The timeline for implementing SAP S/4HANA migration differs from company to company. Critical criteria include the complexity of the project, the size of your organization, and the level of customization required. Full implementation may take anywhere from six months to over a year, including the time required for testing, migration, and troubleshooting.
Because these steps can be complex and time-consuming, enterprises frequently opt for a phased implementation of SAP S/4HANA migration. This means starting with a specific business unit before rolling it out fully. The benefits of this approach lie in minimizing disruption as well as allowing you to become more accustomed to the system before tackling full implementation.
Do remember, however, that the implementation process doesn’t end with the initial deployment. Going forward, you’ll need to consider ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and improvements to keep the system running smoothly.
To minimize the risk of delays or complications, it makes sense to work with an experienced SAP partner or consultant who can guide you through the implementation process.
What Is Needed to Fully Implement SAP S/4HANA?
SAP provides several tools to make data migration easier. Here are some that you’ll need for installing SAP S/4HANA and migrating data.
SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit
The SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit automates data migration and data cleansing. It’s a user-friendly and intuitive process. The cockpit provides a step-by-step approach to migration, which includes pre-checks, system preparation, testing, and post-migration activities. You can also use this tool to track and troubleshoot any errors that may occur during the migration process.
Moreover, the migration cockpit lets you perform a "simulation" or a dry run. This helps to test the process, validate the steps, and identify any issues that could potentially result in data loss or corruption.
SAP S/4HANA Migration Object Modeler (MOM)
MOM defines and maps data migration objects, made up of individual data elements, between the source and target systems. Further, it provides a data modeling feature that allows users to create and edit data models. This is useful for preventing data corruption.
SAP Landscape Transformation (SLT)
SAP Landscape Transformation (SLT) is a tool used for real-time data replication and data integration between different systems. This means that any changes made to the data in the source system are immediately replicated in the target system. The result is near real-time data availability—a hugely useful feature for reporting and analytics.
Software Provisioning Manager (SWPM)
The SWMP is what you use to create a backup of the system prior to migration. In addition, to help with installing new software and migrating the data, it performs post-migration tasks, such as updating the system configuration and applying post-migration patches.
In addition to these migration tools, you’ll need to develop a comprehensive project plan that outlines the scope, timelines, and milestones of the implementation, and dedicate a project team for the task—not to forget training end-users and IT staff to ensure proper system usage and maintenance.
Will Our Third-Party Add-Ons Impact the Migration?
Any customized changes you’ve made to your existing SAP system won’t necessarily be compatible with the new system. And if re-coding or replacement is required, it will increase the time and resources required for the migration. To avoid this, first, do a code review and impact analysis to determine whether these custom developments can be replaced by standard SAP functionalities.
As an added precaution, you should retest third-party add-ons once the migration is complete. This will determine whether the custom developments are working as expected.
Approyo: Your Data Migration Partner
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Migration to SAP S/4HANA fits perfectly with your company's digital transformation goals—making your business more agile, capable, and productive. Moreover, with support for the current SAP suite set to end by 2027, it's important to make the migration now.
Partnering with an experienced SAP cloud provider like Approyo can make your migration process close to seamless. Approyo has managed over a thousand SAP environments worldwide. To start with, they’ll conduct a thorough discovery and assessment to ascertain your cloud readiness. After this, their dedicated IT team will map out the entire process for migrating your system, based on best practices. Approyo also provides options for ongoing support and monitoring after project completion.
With Approyo, you can trust that your workload migration will be stress-free and efficient. Contact them today for a consultation.
American tech companies are actively expanding into global markets to both grow their customer bases and access new pools of talent. However, this international reach also exposes them to new threats to safety and security. For instance, foreign threat actors including governments regularly target American data and intellectual property.
A security breach can cost a business in numerous ways. Lost data impacts its ability to continue operations. What’s more, criminals may sell an organization’s confidential information or commit blackmail. There’s also the threat of fines for failure to protect sensitive information.
The Government’s Role in Protecting American Tech Companies
Fraud protection and data security are the responsibility of American tech companies and the government. The U.S. government has taken some steps to protect businesses from foreign influence. For instance, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews foreign investments in U.S. companies—and their national security implications.
But is this enough? China has been accused of acquiring American tech companies to steal technology and overtake America as a tech innovator. Russia actively fights against American interests. Foreign countries may also use stolen tech to spy on U.S. citizens.
As innovation becomes more critical to the economy, there’s growing pressure for the American government to do more to protect the nation’s tech firms. Otherwise, we risk the collapse of a company’s—or even the country’s—infrastructure.
Technology fuels everything from businesses and personal activities to military applications. It’s so widespread that people take it for granted. But the United States can’t afford serious losses to its IT sector; finance, health, and transportation rely on secure data. Reinforced policies are necessary.
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The Threat of Data Theft to American Tech Companies
As data becomes a more valuable commodity, it’s attracting the attention of criminals. Thieves who make off with business data can sell it on the black market or exploit it for themselves. For instance, hackers can drain bank accounts using stored credentials or threaten to expose customers’ private information to the public.
American tech companies are particularly susceptible to threats because they rank among the most innovative on the planet. Criminals plot against these organizations for economic and political gain. They can steal data from company servers or from American employees working overseas.
Now that people and resources depend heavily on information, the government must defend it.
The Cost of Data Theft
Companies should know the risks of doing business overseas. For one thing, they’re vulnerable to data breaches, ransomware, and other attacks. Financial losses can add up to millions of dollars for a single occurrence. But the loss of reputation and customers can be even more severe.
And in the aggregate, it’s not just about individual companies—they’re also putting the country at risk. American security depends on tech leadership. The defense and finance of the nation are now tied to its technology.
Tech enlarges the size of an attack—a single exploit can affect thousands of organizations. What’s more, practically everyone is now exposed to data in the cloud. Medical and financial data are especially vulnerable to hacks. And it’s not just outright theft that’s a risk, but also the acquisition of sensitive data through corporate mergers and joint ventures.
For example, foreign companies may offer several times the market value to acquire American companies. That should raise suspicions. These companies may have close ties to their governments and may be purchasing American companies for their data and trade secrets.
How to Improve Current Policies
The U.S. government can improve its defense of American tech companies by increasing its oversight of international mergers. After all, takeovers risk putting unique tech in enemy hands. And it’s not just military technology that’s sensitive; medical technology also exposes U.S. lives to threats and should have stronger oversight.
Oversight should focus on a combination of risks: corporate takeovers, exports of sensitive technology, overseas operations, and security policies for data stored in international cloud facilities. A new federal agency specifically dedicated to this task would make sense.
Often enough, the U.S. government responds to threats only after tech companies report them. The government should instead anticipate security risks more actively and collaborate more closely with the private sector.
At the same time, U.S. government intervention has already slowed down some investment in American tech companies. Therefore, policies must strike a balance in which they protect businesses against overseas threats without unduly interfering in the market.
America Needs Firm Policies in Place
The U.S. intelligence community has recently started advising American tech companies on emerging technologies to protect. This information should be more widespread and updated as new advances unfold. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) and other developments may overturn the world order. If America wants to remain ahead, policies must recognize which technologies and companies need defense.
The Chinese and Russian governments are employing all means at their disposal—including illegal measures—to gain a strategic advantage. They’re willing to hack into U.S. companies and place insiders to access data.
As a result, America and its tech companies must understand the situation as a potential conflict and enact policies appropriate to this level of implications. Foreign governments are attempting to usurp America’s technology lead. Only firm policies will staunch the loss of data and security.
The foreign powers threatening U.S. technology companies are run by dictators who don’t share American values. Therefore, the United States should enforce strict requirements on proposed mergers and joint ventures. It should also spend resources securing data on particularly important innovations. Finally, violations of American data security must be found and punished.
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Protecting American Tech Companies
While there’s plenty of opportunity for American tech companies to do business internationally, there are also plenty of risks. Data breaches have become more common and larger in size. Foreign attackers are working to undermine the safety and security of U.S. data—and the American public.
Government protections have only gone so far. More resources geared toward modern security threats and greater public-private cooperation will help protect American technology and data. Innovation will continue as policies improve. In the meantime, tech companies and the people who rely on their products and services must remain alert.
American tech companies like Approyo are working to improve data security internationally. For instance, Approyo’s Overwatch monitors IT infrastructure for clients globally, 24/7/365. Contact us today to see how we can help secure your business.
The phrase “employee fraud” sounds scary, as the destruction caused by employee fraud can be quite substantial. Even worse, no company is immune. Employees entrusted with company resources can turn on the organization and do immense damage from within.
Corrupt workers may steal then cover their tracks. It’s not just money or physical products; they can also steal or expose data. And as everyone knows, in the digital economy, data is the lifeblood of business. Lost data will expose companies to fines and lost business, severely undermining the entire organization.
If you think employee fraud is uncommon, think again. Nearly all companies are victims of employee theft. And, on average, it takes two years for employee fraud to be found out. Some forms of fraud have subtle effects, while others can rack up more than a million dollars in losses.
In total, the costs of employee theft add up to around 7% of annual revenues, driving many businesses into bankruptcy. When it comes to technology companies, more than a fifth of employees steal. What’s more, new types of international fraud present growing risks.
So, how can you defend against employee fraud? Cloud technology from SAP helps. It can detect suspicious patterns and alert you to potential fraud before the damage gets out of control. If you need assistance deploying anti-fraud measures, you can rely on Approyo, the leading full SAP service provider.
What is Employee Fraud?
Employee fraud is the use of deceit by a worker to take financial or other resources from the company. This is commonly known as an “inside job.” For instance, employee fraud occurs when a worker produces false financial reports and extracts money from the organization.
There are many categories of employee fraud, and not all of them involve theft for personal gain. Some other examples include accepting or giving bribes, taking company data, and abusing one’s official authority. Other than direct financial gain, motivations include fear, envy, or assisting someone else.
Types of Fraud
Many types of employee fraud involve financial transactions, for the obvious reason of adding to the employee’s own wallet. The criminal may make fraudulent payments or modify payments, or they may intercept payments to or from the company. In some cases, this may go as far as creating entirely new accounts in the company’s system.
Fraud can also occur during procurement—the acquisition of products and services. Normally, this procedure is carefully designed to prevent unfair practices, but unscrupulous people attempt to circumvent such controls.
For example, someone may cheat the system to select the winning bidder unfairly. Another fraudster tactic is to arrange procurement for overpriced or non-existent products. In some cases, the insider works in collusion with someone at a vendor to break the system.
Any type of deliberately inaccurate claim constitutes fraud, such as an employee who makes a claim for travel expenses without traveling. This also covers claims larger than the amounts spent as well as falsified authorizations.
Regardless of the rationale and the specific offense, employee fraud can have devastating effects on a business. Most companies lack the necessary controls to detect and prevent fraud. The costs can tally up to immense sums of money, in addition to a damaged reputation and lost customers.
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How Employee Fraud Affects Tech Companies
Technology companies can be left exposed by the fraudulent use of their data. For example, employees may take advantage of their access to confidential information for personal gain. They may sell customers’ personal data or the company’s trade secrets. What’s more, the exploited assets don’t have to be digital. Employees may also abuse hardware or any other company resource for their own ends.
Another category of employee fraud affecting tech companies involves personnel management. For instance, employees may falsify the amount of work they’ve done, which is more of a risk with offshore workers. They may also take sick leave while not sick or abuse other policies.
Accounting fraud and payroll fraud are two relevant categories in which the company’s accounts or the employee’s billable hours are falsified. One such risk for American companies working with outside help is that there may be fake payroll for employees who don’t even exist.
Common Warning Signs of Employee Fraud
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The sooner you spot employee fraud, the less impact to your organization. Here’s a list of key warning signs. While they don’t necessarily show a crime is being committed, they at least deserve your attention.
If international workers aren’t online or answering calls when they should, there may be a problem.
When an employee seems to live a lavish lifestyle well above what you’re paying, this is the most common red flag. For example, fancy cars that aren’t normally affordable for a person with that job should raise eyebrows.
The opposite situation is also a signal, as an employee in financial trouble may resort to fraud. This is the second most common warning sign.
Addiction often feeds the financial issues that lead to occupational crime. Other personal problems such as broken marriages can also spur fraudulent behavior.
An employee who becomes more secretive and controlling about their work may have started committing crimes against your organization.
Hearing reports about an employee should tip you off. Fraud is often found through complaints made by others.
A sudden or unexpected change in your business’ financial activity should trigger a warning. If you’re seeing more transactions recently, it’s worth investigating.
An employee who consistently disregards the rules is circumventing important controls. This indicates possible ill intent. Even a broadly “shrewd” attitude can reveal criminal acts.
If an employee performs actions without the appropriate logging, they may be attempting to manipulate the system or avoid detection. Transactions should have evidence in case an investigation becomes necessary.
These are just some of the warning signs. There are other suspicious behaviors you may notice, and no warning sign on its own necessarily means an employee is committing fraud. Rather, these signs point to anomalies that may have ordinary explanations but deserve further consideration.
Other Warning Signs of Employee Fraud
Dealing with overseas workers adds to the challenge of finding fraud. For instance, they may regularly have to access the company’s online resources at odd hours. This behavior would be a warning sign for local employees, which complicates the matter for international employees. Watch for these additional red flags:
Lying about actions or using logins other than their own should ring alarm bells. A dishonest employee is not one you would want anyway, but this may indicate more serious fraud.
Talking or writing negatively about the company can hint at problems. Many fraudsters feel aggrieved, for example, if they didn’t get a promotion they expected. Employees who genuinely like the company are far less likely to commit fraud against it.
Asking for access to sensitive resources is another red flag. People who seem abnormally interested in having access to data or authority may be planning an attack. Employees should only have access to the data they need for work.
Unusual transactions should have a valid justification. If an employee wants to modify transactions or accounts, there should be a specific defensible reason.
Having too close of a relationship with suppliers is suspicious. Conflicts of interest can result in poor deals that cost your company. An employee’s tight personal ties with third-party vendors should be out in the open and minimized.
Mood problems can also give away fraud. Often enough, the criminal will feel worry over the misdeeds. This can result in the person acting defensive or irritable.
An effective anti-fraud system finds signals before, during, and after a crime. Approyo can help you establish practical controls to detect evidence of employee fraud. With a policy for risk management and appropriate staff education, you can mitigate the tolls of this serious problem.
Detect Employee Fraud Sooner
Employees are entrusted with certain privileges that are essential to accomplishing their work. However, these privileges also expose the company to fraud risks. Your own workers know the system better than anyone else, and they are ideally placed to commit a crime then conceal the evidence.
The frequency with which inside jobs are reported in the media testifies to these risks. In a sense, just being an employee is already a warning sign. However, it’s important to use more specific indicators to focus on the higher-risk elements within your organization.
If you identify fraud early, you can often handle the problem. But if it goes unnoticed for months or years, the damage may become unrecoverable. It costs a lot less to remedy fraud if you detect it through IT controls rather than only finding out when the police tell you.
Most organizations notice at least one warning sign before a fraud is found. In some cases, there are multiple warning signs. Ignore these red flags at your own peril.
The Demographics of Employee Fraud
While there are common warning signs of employee fraud, it’s also useful to develop a general profile of a fraudster. For instance, the people who commit employee fraud are on average 48 years old, with men more likely than women to offend.
Most perpetrators don’t have any previous conviction, which can make them harder to find in advance. In addition, they usually haven’t been previously fired or disciplined for fraud, even if they have committed prior fraud.
Around half of fraudsters work alone, while 18% work with a partner and 33% work in larger groups. The more people who are involved in a crime, the larger the fraud’s costs tend to be. Also, older criminals and those who have been with the company longer cause larger losses on average.
Fraudsters often have other troubles at work, too. In general, they aren’t the most stable people. Bullying is common enough, as well as showing up late or failing to go to work. Nearly half of offenders have had work issues such as negative evaluations, pay cuts, and the threat of losing a job.
Employee fraud is more likely when there are easy opportunities. For example, an individual given excessive access to company resources or not enough supervision poses more of a risk. Similarly, American companies with overseas workers may be less able to supervise these employees and therefore become susceptible to fraud risks.
How to Avoid Hiring Potential Fraudsters
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While there’s no surefire way to detect all fraudsters, the right tools and techniques can decrease the risk. Of course, it’s best to deter and prevent fraud even before the offender joins your company.
Publicize Your Policies
Having a clear policy can deter some frauds. If people see the risks they face, they will more likely reconsider before ripping off the company.
Get Fraud Insurance
Fidelity bonds offer insurance payments if the policy-holder is affected by fraud. Tech companies can purchase fidelity bonds to protect themselves against risks including computer theft. If an employee abuses company resources for personal gain, the policy covers those losses.
Audit Employees’ Work
Random audits are another way to find and prevent frauds. You can do this on your own or work with an external partner. The goal is to sample transactions and ensure they’re valid. This doesn’t entail micromanaging every aspect of employees’ behavior, but rather selectively and fairly ensuring processes are working as they should.
Require Regular Breaks and Vacations
An unusual technique to decrease the risk of fraud is to encourage or require employees to take breaks from work. Taking leave usually involves someone else handling the same duties, which may uncover fraud. Some guilty employees attempt to work year-round to cover their tracks.
Also, those who work without pause become overly focused on money and may lose sight of the reasons not to cheat. So, increasing people’s days off can actively discourage fraud. Furthermore, people with good morale and a positive attitude toward the company are less likely to offend.
Offer Good Employee Benefits
Other ways to improve employee morale include providing opportunities for career development and offering benefits such as insurance or retirement packages. When people feel valued, they’re more committed to the company. Many cases of fraud occur when employees feel disrespected.
Technological and Financial Methods to Prevent Employee Fraud
Automating your payment systems is an effective way to eliminate some processes where fraud could happen. For instance, if an employee has the opportunity to intervene in a payment manually, that’s a risk of fraud. On the other hand, if the entire process runs on its own, then the employee is denied this opportunity.
Reconcile your balance sheet regularly—say, every quarter—to find and prevent problems. Undetected fraud will probably grow fast, so it’s important to keep tabs on financial activity. When it comes to employee time sheets, you should have a manager who approves these and also examines them afterward for accuracy.
American technology businesses have a duty to deploy access controls so sensitive information is only available for authorized employees. Cloud solutions from Approyo-managed SAP can help you control who has access to what data.
Another way to use technology to prevent employee fraud is to automatically detect large file transfers. These transfers may signal an employee is exfiltrating company data or installing risky software on the organization’s equipment. It’s smart to have an alert sent on suspicious transfers.
Using generally recommended computer security practices will also contribute to fraud prevention. For example, enforce strong passwords that are regularly updated. And, employees should only work with their own credentials.
Finally, while business has become mainly digital, don’t forget to deal with paper documents. After their retention period, you should ensure paperwork is disposed of properly. Crimes can still be committed by modifying or improperly using paper documents.
Managing Employee Fraud
The three stages of dealing with employee fraud are prevention, detection, and response. Ideally, you want to institute systems that prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. In practice, when fraud does occur, it’s important to notice it as soon as possible. Then, a firm response deals with the perpetrator and deters future offenses.
To manage the potential problems of employee fraud, your organization should implement controls then monitor behavior. This isn’t a one-and-done, but rather an ongoing process to watch and manage risks.
Deterrence is an important component of managing fraud. It may involve internal disciplinary methods as well as litigation or criminal proceedings. Depending on the size of an attack, it can result in fines reaching thousands of dollars or prison terms of several years.
If an employee has sole authority to process financial transactions, this increases the risk of fraud. So, it’s generally advised to have at least two people involved in any financial duties. An employee acting alone may manipulate accounts and payments. Use a system of checks and balances to protect the organization.
Defend Yourself with a Managed Service Provider
Using a managed service provider (MSP) will improve your risk management capabilities while lowering costs and aiding in your digital transformation. And when it comes to SAP products—which support innovation but are complex to use—an MSP is even more valuable.
With a reliable technology partner, you’ll have the industry’s best security and performance, no matter how complex your environment. For American companies working with overseas employees, an MSP is an important asset that can help protect you against employee fraud.
Essentially, the MSP handles technical needs for you. For example, Approyo can manage your enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and IT infrastructure, along with associated services built for the cloud. The efficiency of using professional support quickly delivers your return on investment (ROI).
Any company will encounter difficulties, but a company using an MSP will have access to time-tested solutions. Whether fighting against employee fraud or striving for better regulatory compliance, you can see precisely which steps would serve the purpose and how long they will take.
Approyo works on projects that must comply with regulations for the financial and medical industries among others. Unique monitoring technology protects your data 24/7 against threats, whether they’re internal or external.
Approyo Supports SAP HANA
Approyo offers expert support for SAP HANA, the fast new database. This in-memory database enhances decision-making with its functionality designed for business intelligence. SAP HANA unites your data in a safe and cost-effective store.
Whether you want to run SAP HANA in the cloud or on-premises, Approyo can develop a solution that meets your needs. The solution will grow to keep pace with your business and includes numerous features like real-time analytics and integration with other SAP products.
SAP HANA includes tools to detect and prevent employee fraud. The database analyzes transactions and reports to root out problems. It uses automation to strengthen investigative efforts, which has become practically necessary. Criminals continuously devise new methods to penetrate digital companies, and these tools let you keep pace.
For organizations already using SAP products, it’s smarter to keep data within the HANA database rather than using another tool. HANA makes searches faster and uses live information, improving data governance. You can accurately examine current and past evidence and even conduct predictive assessments of potential fraud.
Mitigate Employee Fraud With Approyo
Employee fraud is a serious problem when it happens, but you don’t have to stand by defenselessly. Noticing the common warning signs is often enough to defuse a situation before it explodes. Avoiding hiring fraudsters is even better.
Cloud technology can now help you identify and stop fraud before it becomes a serious problem. Approyo is the trusted provider for SAP solutions that require a focus on security. Contact Approyo today to increase your protection against employee fraud.
Artificial intelligence (AI) automation in business processes is still at its early stages. In fact, only 12% of companies using AI are exploiting its full potential, giving them a strong competitive advantage. SAP is changing that with its SAP Business AI.
SAP’s integration of artificial intelligence is pivotal for organizations that want to harness the transformative potential of AI in their business processes. For instance, AI automation can improve any process, from automating manual tasks to providing 24-hour chatbots and optimizing the supply chain. Even better, AI can be seamlessly embedded within existing SAP systems.
By delving into extensive data repositories, SAP’s AI model can do what humans can’t: break down large amounts of data to uncover patterns and trends that drive informed decision-making.
Let’s explore the benefits of using AI automation tools, how to integrate them, and the challenges and best practices of implementing them.
Why Integrate AI With SAP?
SAP brought several innovations, crucial changes, and additions to SAP HANA at the start of this year, such as unifying the administration and monitoring tool. It also introduced an improved SAP HANA Cloud Central.
At the SAP Sapphire conference in May, SAP showcased how AI can empower cloud customers to navigate complex challenges and transformations. Here are some of SAP AI’s new capabilities:
Optimized Supply Chain: AI automation within SAP can help improve demand forecasting. This reduces inventory holding costs and ensures products reach customers on time. For instance, AI-driven supply chain forecasting management can reduce errors by 20–50% and cut warehousing costs by 5–10%.
Procurement Excellence: AI automation can streamline procurement processes by assessing supplier performance, onboarding new suppliers, and expediting invoice processing and accuracy.
Sales and Marketing Precision: AI in SAP can provide valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, enabling personalized marketing campaigns. This has a direct impact on return on investment (ROI). In fact, in one study, AI solutions boosted revenue growth for 67% of the companies surveyed and reduced costs for 79% of them.
Human Resources Transformation: AI can help your human resources team acquire talent, engage employees, and remove human bias in hiring.
Innovation Acceleration: By analyzing vast datasets, AI can identify patterns and trends, providing critical insights for informed decision-making. AI can also identify opportunities for innovation and process improvement.
Examples of AI Integration With SAP
There are several ways businesses can integrate AI with SAP. For example, in the healthcare industry, AI-powered chatbots provide patients with personalized healthcare recommendations based on their medical history and symptoms.
AI can also be combined with the SAP Integration Suite to optimize the supply chain. With AI-driven analytics, companies can see the supply chain in real-time. This lets them adjust their logistics and ensure products reach customers on time. The result is improved productivity, greater cost savings, and enhanced customer satisfaction.
For companies using a business process management solution, such as SAP Signavio, AI automation can be very useful. AI can analyze processes modeled within SAP Signavio to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement. This not only streamlines operations but also boosts productivity through faster and more reliable service. AI can also monitor compliance with regulations and internal policies to ensure you adhere to standards. This reduces compliance risks and enhances the quality of products and services.
AI can also be integrated with SAP Build Solutions. For instance, companies can rapidly design and deploy customized applications using AI. And AI-driven chatbots integrated through SAP Build can offer tailored customer support, improving both customer satisfaction and response times.
Chatbots are able to answer frequently asked questions, provide product recommendations and even process orders. By integrating chatbots with SAP, businesses can provide quick and efficient customer service without the need for human intervention. You can also use AI to analyze customer feedback and market trends to identify areas for innovation.
Challenges of Integrating AI With SAP
AI automation with SAP presents some challenges that organizations must consider. Key issues include:
Data Quality: AI automation needs high-quality data so it can provide accurate insights and predictions. So, clean and maintain data regularly. Eliminate duplicates, ensure data consistency, and address any data integrity issues.
Integration Complexity: It’s important to evaluate your existing IT infrastructure’s compatibility with AI systems. You may even need to upgrade or enhance your IT infrastructure. A phased approach can minimize disruptions to existing operations. This will involve rigorous testing and quality assurance to mitigate integration complexities.
Training: Your employees will need adequate training to utilize the full potential of AI. Put a comprehensive training program and support resources in place to empower staff to make the most of AI-integrated SAP systems.
Security and Privacy: AI relies on large amounts of sensitive data to provide intelligent service. Keeping the data secure and ensuring privacy is a major concern as you integrate AI into your business process. Invest in robust security measures to safeguard this sensitive data. You’ll also need to conduct regular security audits to maintain data integrity and privacy.
Best Practices for Integrating AI With SAP
Don’t let the challenges deter you; AI automation can be a game-changer for your business. Follow these best practices to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of your AI systems:
Assess Business Needs and Goals
First, clearly define your business objectives and how AI can help you achieve them. Identify the areas where AI can have the most impact, such as automating repetitive tasks, enhancing decision-making, or improving customer experiences.
Also, be sure to plan for scalability as your business grows. Ensure that the AI and SAP solutions can adapt to changing demands and market conditions. A flexible IT architecture will future-proof your investment.
Data Preparation and Quality Assurance
Prioritize data quality. You’ll need to audit and structure your data to ensure that it’s compatible with AI.
Collaborate With a Trusted Partner or Provider
Working with an experienced SAP provider can simplify the AI integration process. They can offer insights, expertise, and support to ensure that you maximize the value of your investment. They’ll also help you evaluate whether your IT infrastructure can support AI and how the integration process can be properly executed.
For instance, an intelligent monitoring system like Overwatch can give you deep insights into the daily performance of your IT environment.
Train Employees
Develop a training program to ensure that your employees are proficient in using AI-integrated SAP systems. You should also document the integration process thoroughly to ensure that knowledge is transferred across teams. This will help you avoid knowledge silos and empower your employees to handle the AI-SAP integration effectively.
AI Integration Made Easy With Approyo
Using AI automation with SAP can be a dynamic leap for your business transformation. It offers unparalleled efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. There are challenges, but it’s a worthwhile investment. Our new book can help you use tools like ChatGPT to effectively use the power of AI in business.
Choose a trusted partner to ensure that the integration process is not only efficient but also productive. Approyo is an expert in SAP and AI integration. Our seasoned professionals are ready to guide you through the process to ensure a seamless and successful implementation.
Connect with Approyo today to unlock the full potential of AI integration with SAP and secure your business’s competitive future.
Ensuring company success entails proactively looking for ways to keep up with changes in the increasingly competitive business landscape. In an effort to stay ahead of the curve, companies have likely encountered enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. So, ERP vs. CRM: how do they compare?
Both ERP and CRM systems are designed to improve business workflows. However, while the software shares similar features, these systems have many different uses. Therefore, it’s important to carefully compare ERP vs. CRM to determine which platform is more suitable for a company’s needs.
To help decision-makers make an informed choice, this guide will outline the core functionalities of ERP and CRM platforms as well as their pros and cons.
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ERP vs. CRM: Core Functions
ERP and CRM platforms serve as data repositories and central databases for business operations. Both aim to improve an organization’s access to data, enhance task management using automation, and maximize overall profits. However, they have several key differences.
Functions of ERPs
ERP tools are built to gather, manage, and interpret data to maximize the use of company resources. With this software, businesses can streamline a number of back-office activities, including inventory management, supply chain management, accounting, and task delegation.
When considering ERP vs. CRM, the former’s focus is on keeping workflows as efficient as possible and reducing operational costs. As a result, it covers a broader range of business processes.
This provides a comprehensive overview of supply chain processes, from manufacturing to fulfillment. It could include tools for purchase order management, logistics, and distribution.
2. Financial Management
This collects, tracks, and analyzes critical financial data. In addition, it can often generate financial reports, budget forecasts, spending trends, and the like.
3. Inventory Management
This feature keeps tabs on inventory levels as well as the movement of goods during daily operations. It simplifies the automation of inventory planning and logistics and eliminates the risk of downtime due to insufficient raw materials.
4. Human Resources
This is a module focusing on any employee management efforts, from hiring and onboarding to timekeeping and payroll.
5. Customer Relationship Management
Depending on the current ERP system, it could also have integrated CRM features. These often include tools like contact management, unified inboxes, and lead tracking.
Functions of CRMs
CRM platforms are created to collect client data that can be used in building relationships with leads and current customers. They focus on front-office processes such as sales pipeline management, marketing campaigns, and customer support. As a result, companies will have all the information they need to maximize each customer interaction.
Between ERP vs. CRM software, the latter puts more emphasis on increasing sales numbers. As such, it tends to have a more limited toolset than ERP systems. However, because CRMs focus on a specific aspect of a business, they offer more advanced functionalities for customer-facing processes than an ERP.
Here are some CRM software features:
1. Lead Management
This tracks multiple touchpoints to capture prospective customers. From there, it scores and qualifies leads to ensure enough time and manpower are dedicated to strong leads.
2. Contact Management
This module primarily serves as a unified database that stores information on leads and existing customers. This includes their names, contact numbers, addresses, and transaction data to help agents pick up where another left off.
3. Reporting and Analytics
This is a system that collects and interprets all data that goes in and out of the CRM software. It tracks key CRM metrics such as customer retention, return on investment (ROI), and lead conversion to help understand the status of a company’s performance.
4. Pipeline Management
This visualizes the different stages of the sales cycle from first contact to closing so agents can see the status of leads and ensure none fall through the cracks.
5. Automation
This eliminates repetitive tasks like collecting customer information and sending follow-up emails.
6. Document Management
A feature that enables users to draft, edit, and share documents from within the CRM system. This is useful for storing templates of contracts and emails as well as sharing important files with colleagues.
Benefits of Using ERPs
Businesses big and small can reap rewards from using ERP systems. These platforms can help a company:
Boost Efficiency
Most ERP systems leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to automate processes. With this, users can eliminate repetitive manual processes such as product tracking, demand forecasting, and procurements. As a result, employees can reduce time and effort in daily activities.
Reduce Costs
With tools for inventory planning and forecasting, ERPs can help companies optimize the use of resources, which can translate to long-term savings on purchasing and freight expenditures. In addition, thanks to task management and automation functions, ERPs can help companies maximize billable hours.
Streamline Processes
As most ERPs collect data proactively, users can gain insights into key operational metrics. This simplifies data-driven decision-making, which can help companies continually improve business processes.
Enhance Collaboration
ERPs serve as unified hubs where users have access to shared documents, communication systems, and task-queuing systems. With all information in one place, teams can closely collaborate at all times.
Increase Productivity
As ERPs use automation and provide centralized data hubs, teams can focus more on attention-demanding and revenue-generating work. They can also closely monitor productivity numbers and ensure they are making the most of their workday.
Improve Customer Relationships
Many ERPs provide CRM functions. Therefore, sales agents and marketing staff can have the customer information they need to ensure seamless customer journeys.
Benefits of Using CRMs
Looking at ERP vs. CRM, one can’t deny the former offers more extensive toolsets. However, that doesn’t mean CRM platforms can’t keep up when it comes to the advantages they offer. Using these, businesses can:
Centralize Customer Data
CRMs keep all data about leads and customers, from basic contact information to transaction records. As a result, all team members have instant access to files they can use to follow up on or convert leads.
Identify More Leads
With lead-scoring features, CRMs can help teams identify strong leads. This way, employees can dedicate their time to prospective clients who are more likely to convert.
Target Marketing Strategies
CRMs can help you segment leads, determine buyer personas, and generate reports on customer data. Therefore, you can create more targeted marketing and sales strategies that are sure to convert leads.
Reinforce Data-Driven Decision-Making
Much like ERPs, CRMs also collect and analyze information to help users make data-backed business decisions. With this, users can get access to metrics such as conversion rates, lead-generation status, and agent performance.
Improve Collaboration
CRMs may use Kanban boards, Gantt charts, unified document databases, and in-platform communication systems like ERP systems do. As such, they can help team members stay in the loop on the status of all leads and customers.
Which Is Better for Your Company, ERP or CRM?
ERPs and CRMs benefit businesses in different ways, so it’s hard to say one is better than the other. For instance, if the goal is to improve lead conversion, a CRM platform is ideal. But, it won’t help much if the goal is to eliminate supply chain inefficiencies. On the other hand, if a company needs a solution for multiple business processes, an ERP would be a better choice.
However, with changing consumer demands and industry standards, businesses probably require a multifaceted approach to operations. So, having both platforms in the tech stack is worth considering. Luckily, companies don’t have to weigh ERP vs. CRM. Simply invest in integrated solutions.
For example, Approyo offers a comprehensive suite of solutions. With its SAP consulting services, businesses can easily deploy an ERP system that includes a CRM module. This gives access to all the features needed for day-to-day processes. Contact Approyo today to learn more about what they can offer.
Cloud computing is shaping the future of work as enterprises both big and small turn to the cloud to optimize their operations. Be it data storage, processing, or collaboration, many businesses prefer solutions such as SAP on Azure for the flexibility and convenience they provide.
Working in the cloud has opened opportunities like never before. Cost saving is one main benefit; cloud computing also removes the need for local hosting or on-premise software. This not only simplifies the IT environment but also reduces the associated infrastructure costs.
That said, there’s much more that cloud integration brings to your business. For starters, fixing scalability issues through seamless collaboration as well as providing the business intelligence needed for growth.
Here, we’ll find out how cloud services such as SAP on Azure work—and why your business needs them.
How Cloud Integration Works
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Cloud integration brings multiple platforms together so they can operate as a cohesive unit. This requires a system of tools and technologies that connect different applications and IT environments to create a real-time exchange of processes and data.
Additional names for cloud integration include cloud system integration or cloud data integration. Another is iPaaS, or Integration Platform as a Service. Regardless of the name, the goal of cloud integration remains the same—to create a unified, efficient, and easily accessible enterprise IT infrastructure.
Cloud integration aims to improve connectivity and visibility, solve regular data problems, and ensure that businesses run at optimal efficiency.
To transition to the cloud, companies need to transfer data and applications that may be sensitive or critical to their business. Running cloud integrations such as SAP on Azure helps make the transition to the cloud much smoother.
A number of companies are already using a hybrid blend of Software as a Service (SaaS) and on-premises systems. This has the advantage of providing an overall faster base for the integration of cloud data.
Let’s dive in and learn more about the types of cloud integration.
Types of Cloud Integration
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Cloud integration is achieved by integrating either data or applications—and sometimes even services and systems. Integration can take place from cloud-to-cloud, cloud-to-on-premise, or a combination of both.
Data Integration
Data integration refers to the synchronization between data repositories—the procedure whereby data is transferred, processed, or transformed. The objective is to create an effective flow of data between different repositories.
Application Integration
Application integration is more about interoperability, and it focuses on various applications that add enhanced functionality. Compared with data integration, it involves much more than simply sending requests and applying system commands. In addition, application integration gives a company complete control over their digital infrastructure.
With SaaS, businesses can choose to build their own cloud integration platform. However, this tends to be a complicated course of action that comes with added challenges and extra expenses. Moreover, this type of platform is not scalable.
Another option is for companies to use a third-party cloud integration platform—for instance, running SAP on Azure. It’s a great alternative that can maximize efficiency while minimizing integration time.
The main drawback of the former route—building an in-house cloud integration platform—is that it needs to be upgraded every time a new app arrives or a further requirement emerges. Third-party platforms such as SAP on Azure solve this problem.
By using a cloud integration platform, you can expect both data and application integration to be fast, efficient, scalable, agile, and reusable.
Next, we’ll unpack the key benefits and challenges of cloud integration.
Benefits and Challenges of Cloud Integration
Cloud solutions are meant to optimize business activities. They make data integration easier and improve information visibility and sharing.
Businesses rely on a hybrid mix of SaaS platforms, where cloud data integration is becoming increasingly essential. Here are some of the more important advantages.
Benefits of Cloud Integration
Synchronizes Data
The first and main benefit of cloud integration is that it enables IT systems and applications to operate on the same data. Synchronization helps businesses avoid data conflicts that could lead to errors and produce low-quality, unreliable information. Further, data synchronization is fundamental to ensuring that diverse operational functions remain secure and compliant.
Effective synchronization gives users access to the latest data—including real-time updates. Additionally, cloud integration maximizes business efficiency by enabling the quick and streamlined transfer of data.
Automates Workflows
Another major benefit of cloud integration is that it automates workflows. Many manual tasks have been made redundant as a result of improving technology. Today, these responsibilities are taken care of by software and tech instead of employees. In addition to eliminating boring and repetitive tasks, automation reduces the chance of human error—and work gets done faster too!
Cloud integration can fully automate tasks such as data entry. And in the case of workflow automation, data gets transferred seamlessly and doesn’t lose its integrity when shifting from one app to another.
Enables Flexibility and Scalability
Cloud integration enables flexibility and gives organizations the chance to scale their IT systems. By upgrading work practices, identifying new systems, and providing additional benefits to their customers, companies are able to increase their value proposition.
Removes Duplicate Data
Redundancy is quite common in IT. This is because having to store multiple types of the same data can often be problematic. Cloud integration makes it easier to ditch that redundant data while creating better company workflows. Added advantages include reduced storage costs and time-saving for synchronization efforts.
Expands Visibility
Data visibility is vital for business intelligence, and it’s one of the pros of incorporating the cloud into your systems. Visibility allows your team to analyze and assess data in real-time. This means being able to see which applications are being used and where the data is being sent or received. In addition to giving companies superior control over their data, visibility lets you pick up errors quickly and deal with them straight away.
Reduces Unnecessary Spending
One of the top reasons that cloud integration is a must-have for any business? The amount of money that can be saved. By using the cloud, companies can control their spending on data handling. That’s because they can see which applications are being used the most and where to cut costs—all without having to sacrifice performance.
In other words, businesses can make adjustments and use their resources in the most efficient manner possible.
Furthermore, the upfront cost of setting up a cloud integration service—for example, running SAP on Azure—is much lower than building an in-house solution.
Privacy and security are integral to any business. A significant challenge with cloud integration is that your data is exposed to a third party. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that the service provider will steal your data, it’s nonetheless an important factor when choosing an integration platform.
A data breach is a serious security issue with the potential to damage your reputation and business. Opt for a service provider with a good reputation and a name for delivering top-notch solutions for their clients. Moreover, remember to take additional steps to protect your data—for example, implementing measures that enable authorization and encryption.
Lack of Standardization Policies
A lack of standardized policies for compliance can be a huge issue for enterprises when migrating SAP to the cloud. Each business has its own way of maintaining data. And because there are no set rules, this may well impact security and data privacy.
At the same time, cloud integration platforms such as Azure, Jitterbit, and AWS have their own data standards. Here, the diverse formats of data can result in issues like data loss or corruption during migration.
Another challenge arises from hybrid cloud storage. In other words, maintaining two divergent data formats—one for on-site and another for the cloud. This has the potential to create further confusion.
To overcome these deficiencies in the current policy environment, you’ll need to enlist the help of an experienced service provider. That means finding someone who understands how to integrate different formats without causing data loss or corruption.
High Dependency on Internet Connectivity
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Cloud integration and running cloud-based services such as SAP on Azure require a stable and high-speed internet connection. Downtime simply isn’t an option.
An erratic internet connection could prove highly disruptive. For instance, if you use a cloud-based POS for managing a restaurant chain, everything from tracking revenue to managing staff schedules takes place on the cloud. However, without an internet connection, even straightforward tasks like running daily processes can come to a screeching halt.
In this example, traditional systems have a distinct advantage over the cloud. That’s because they run on a closed network. Information is held on a local server that is not dependent on the internet.
Cloud Management Costs
Cloud computing has the potential to save and cost you money. Granted, you won’t have to invest in or maintain IT infrastructures such as hardware and servers. However, there are some hidden costs that may well come to the fore if the cloud is not managed properly.
According to the Flexera 2022 State of the Cloud Report, 32% of cloud spending is wasted. Items in this category range from unused services, apps, and features to underutilized server bandwidth.
Businesses may also not be aware of the numerous discounts and customized packages available to make deployments more efficient.
Insufficient Resources and Lack of Industry Experts
Because cloud technology is a relatively recent phenomenon, professionals need to keep themselves updated with current developments. In addition, it’s necessary to create internal compliance if you want to extract the maximum return from cloud-based applications. That said, finding industry experts with sufficient knowledge can be an obstacle to cloud integration.
Choosing the Best Cloud Integration Platform
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Software systems such as SAP on Azure provide significant benefits, including numbering data intelligence, cost reductions, and more. Moving to the cloud not only boosts efficiency but also gives your business an edge over the competition.
How do you choose the best cloud integration platform? Here are some important requirements to add to your checklist.
Provides a secure way to protect data. A key indicator of a good cloud integration platform is data security. It should provide a secure way to protect data—while transferring and at rest—without any chance of loss or a data breach.
Makes it easy to integrate with other applications. Businesses often require a suite of services and applications to perform daily tasks. Communication between distributed systems, microservices, and serverless applications is essential to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience.
A reliable cloud integration platform should allow seamless integration between different applications. Further, it should provide all the tools and features that enable interoperability—without the need to write custom code every time a new application is added.
Avoid any platform that makes it difficult to integrate with other applications. This is especially the case with features such as reporting or troubleshooting, where complications are likely to arise.
Moves data in real-time. Another feature of a great cloud integration platform is the ability to automate and move data in real-time. This way, you can track the progress of your data and monitor it for any suspicious activity. Make sure that your preferred platform offers real-time connections to data and applications.
Top Cloud Integration Platforms
Whether you’re searching for SAP to cloud migration solutions or just general cloud adoption, these are some of the best cloud integration platforms available today.
Microsoft Azure
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Microsoft Azure is one of the most trusted platforms for transitioning SAP to the cloud. This comes after collaboration between SAP and Microsoft, resulting in the creation of SAP on Azure solutions. This option is highly scalable and adaptive to business needs. In fact, a Forrester Total Economic Impact study estimates that hosting SAP on Azure can lead to a massive ROI of 102%.
Azure is an SAP-certified platform. Further, it’s the most high-performing tool available to scale your SAP cloud infrastructure. Azure offers 192GB to 12TB SAP HANA virtual machines in several regions.
SAP on Azure is probably the best bet for mission-critical SAP workloads. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) predictability to speed up processes and also comes in handy when developing a new product.
In addition, running SAP on Azure delivers real-time, AI-backed insights and deep analytics—tools that can help you improve business outcomes and make better decisions. With Azure, the focus shifts from constantly solving IT issues to working on real business problems. Little wonder that it’s known for fostering innovation and growth.
Moreover, integration with Microsoft 365 makes it easier for employees to collaborate and leverage the full power of the software’s capabilities. Once all its enabling features are taken into account, SAP on Azure comes out tops for cloud integration.
IBM Cloud Pak for Integration
IBM believes that the future is more about connecting applications on the cloud than it is about writing code. Their platform is an efficient and high-speed solution that has some of the most powerful tools and features for integrating SAP into the cloud.
The IBM Cloud Integration solution incorporates AI, using repeatable formats and low-code tooling to make integration faster and easier. Operational data can be used to secure deep insights, making the transition to the cloud smoother and more efficient.
With IBM Cloud Pak, companies can enjoy the benefits of API management, event streaming, and application integration. Moreover, it facilitates fast transfers to make the integration process quicker than ever when looking to transition from SAP to the cloud.
On the whole, IBM Cloud Pak is another great way to integrate SAP into the cloud. And the innovative tools and solutions they offer makes it much easier for companies to thrive.
Jitterbit
Jitterbit provides Electronic Data Interchange to integrate back-end applications, ERP systems, and accounting. By trimming costs and eliminating tedious and redundant manual activities, Jitterbit greatly improves the user experience.
As an added benefit, Jitterbit offers specialized solutions for a variety of industries. These include, among others, retail and distribution, manufacturing, electronics and hi-tech, and the automotive industry.
Jitterbit also helps drive the integration process between your business and other systems. Even with the most complicated workflow, Jitterbit’s tools can integrate your data with Microsoft, Sage, Oracle, Intuit, and Epicor, as well as software such as Quickbooks.
Jitterbit offers diversity through cloud-based or on-premise integration. Moreover, it has a web-based dashboard populated with all the data and tools to track progress and transactions. As a further recommendation, Jitterbit is known for its superior customer support and quick response time.
SAP
The SAP Cloud Integration tool brings together data in both business-to-business and application-to-application scenarios. Furthermore, it connects data to multiple endpoints—from both SAP and non-SAP sources—while delivering data on-premise and on the cloud.
SAP’s pre-packaged integration content heightens project efficiency. As a result, your engineers will spend less time writing code and more time connecting applications effectively. As SAP Cloud can be customized for different landscapes, the transition is clearly much simpler.
Over and above these benefits, SAP gives you the option of integrating data in synchronous as well as asynchronous scenarios. It also supports reliable asynchronous messaging with the use of queuing mechanisms.
SAP’s diverse use cases range from supply chain management and procurement to optimizing asset maintenance and sales procedures. In addition, it can modernize core functions such as HR and Finance by improving workflow methods and procedures.
Dell Boomi
The Dell Boomi platform allows you to connect applications, devices, and data to hybrid multi-cloud systems—all with relative speed and ease. Boomi’s drag-and-drop interface, which includes several connectors, is a standout feature. On top of this, Boomi is user-friendly and has an attractive time-value proposition.
Other notable features of Boomi include operational intelligence and reusable formats that help save time and maximize efficiency. As such, errors can be kept to a minimum with intelligent integration mapping and configuration. Furthermore, Boomi helps balance your team’s productivity with templates, process libraries, and custom scripting.
This means that businesses can choose from a vast array of pre-built starter procedures, deploy integrations as suited to their needs, and then centrally manage all applications with the help of a cloud-hosted dashboard.
Boomi claims to deliver a significant ROI in just a three-year period, along with reducing the integration development time substantially. If you’re looking to integrate SAP on the cloud, Boomi is another good option to try.
Approyo’s SAP on Azure Service
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The cloud is more than just a data storage platform. In fact, cloud services are becoming indispensable because of their innovation and business intelligence features that drive growth.
However, selecting the right cloud integration platform can be confusing, as the industry is constantly evolving. SAP on Azure is a good choice due to the capabilities that Azure offers. It not only supplies the best benefits but is also quick, easy to transition, and efficient.
Transitioning to the cloud can present your business with substantial benefits. That’s why choosing the right platform with the right features is vital. SAP on Azure provides you with critical analytics, meaningful insights, predictive tools, and more. It’s also highly adaptive, secure, and reliable, and can increase your ROI thanks to its low operational costs. Moreover, the scalability and improved risk management that SAP on Azure brings will also give you an edge over your competitors.
An SAP management software is a platform that lets companies handle business processes in one integrated system. Data consistency, real-time information, better collaboration, and workflow efficiencies are but a few benefits of this platform. An SAP management software provider plays a valuable role in supporting companies through SAP implementations and migrations.
The key to avoiding the unexpected challenges of a complex endeavor is selecting the right SAP management software provider. However, this can be tricky, as there are many options out there. To help, this list ranks the top three providers for companies to consider as they begin their research.
What Is SAP Management Software
Systems, Applications, and Products (SAP) is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. ERP software is a centralized platform for managing a company’s operational functions such as accounting, sales, logistics, and human resources. Management software represents a big step forward in cross-functional collaboration within a company. The right management software provider can take any industry to a whole new level of efficiency.
Traditionally, business units operate as siloed functions that inhibit collaboration. For example, consider a sales representative who wants to know if a product is available. If the salesperson doesn’t have access to the appropriate system, they will need to contact someone in the inventory department for the information. However, with ERP software, the salesperson can directly access the inventory records to get the answers they need.
SAP management software simplifies data management. By combining operational data into one platform, the system becomes the single source of truth that supports all business functions. In addition, SAP software lets employees work more efficiently, as employees can quickly access the details they need without opening multiple systems. What’s more, SAP management software supports real-time data processing so leaders have the most up-to-date information when making decisions.
When it comes to an effective SAP management software provider, these three companies are the best in the industry:
1. IBM
In 1964, IBM introduced the first mainframe computer, the System/360, which was the start of modern-day ERP systems. The system allowed companies to consolidate their business functions and data into one platform. Since then, the management software provider has evolved from mainframe systems to business enablement consulting for enterprise customers.
IBM’s professional services division facilitates enterprise digital transformation with consulting on strategy, technology, and operations. The company has rebranded its services by consolidating its advisory, implementation, and application management functions under a new program called “BREAKTHROUGH with IBM for RISE with SAP.”
2. Approyo
Approyo is a full-service SAP management software provider and SAP cloud provider. Founder and CEO Christoper M. Carter started the company to support customers through consulting, solutions architecture, hosting, managed services, and SAP S/4 HANA migrations. The company focuses exclusively on SAP and is SAP-certified in SAP HANA operations.
Today’s competitive environment means businesses need to move faster than ever to keep up with the competition. Leaders need accurate, real-time information to make data-backed decisions. SAP HANA is an in-memory database that provides real-time data processing by allowing both transactional and analytical workloads to run simultaneously. This means operational tasks from users get processed for immediate reporting as soon as they happen. The system also uses machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze structured and unstructured data for robust reporting.
SAP S4/HANA is Generation 4 of the SAP business suite, which was designed to run on SAP HANA. SAP S4/HANA integrates operational business functions into one real-time processing suite. The tool streamlines operations by combining the operating system, database, and user interface into a single technology stack.
In addition, although the company offers managed hosting, Approyo can support SAP deployments to Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS provides multiple EC2 instances, production-ready SAP environments, and pre-configured SAP environments.
The company also supports deployments on Azure. With Azure, companies get an inventory of services for functions such as advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Azure also provides security tools such as Azure Security Center and Azure Active Directory.
Approyo believes in making SAP accessible to clients through simple, user-friendly tools such as AI-based monitoring.
3. Deloitte
Deloitte is an SAP management software provider that performs SAP implementations, integrations, and strategy development for enterprise clients. The firm provides on-premise and cloud-based HANA deployments, along with pre-configured HANA solutions.
The Enterprise Transformation team at Deloitte works with customers to modernize and streamline operational functions such as supply chain and customer relationship management (CRM). The Cloud Transformation team empowers clients to deploy SAP in the cloud or as a hybrid deployment. And the Digital Transformation division helps companies integrate advanced technology such as machine learning, the Internet of Things, and robotic process automation.
Avoid SAP Management Mistakes With Approyo
SAP projects have a lot of moving parts. Documenting business processes, project planning and task sequencing, data migrations and testing—it all makes for a complex endeavor. However, working with an SAP management software provider removes these complexities and minimizes risks.
Approyo has the expertise to implement, migrate, and manage SAP solutions to help companies realize the full benefits of this advanced integrated platform. As a leader in SAP managed solutions, Approyo provides custom solutions to help businesses get the most out of their SAP investment. Reach out today for more information.
