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SAP ERP 6.0 provides more than 300 functional enhancements that can improve process efficiency. In addition, it integrates the functions of most SAP industry solutions so that these solutions no longer NEED to be installed and set up separately. The new software also simplifies daily business tasks through more APPEALING and integrated user-interface concepts that increase user productivity and satisfaction – for example, by enabling the use of Duet software for integrating Microsoft applications. Go to the solution browser tool for SAP ERP to FIND out more. This tool allows you to identify new features and functions and their business benefits in a given release of SAP ERP and enhancement packages.

After you upgrade to SAP ERP 6.0, you can enhance the functionality of your application without performing a further upgrade thanks to a new deployment technology – the SAP enhancement packages for SAP ERP. The enhancement packages simplify the way you manage and deploy new software functions for SAP ERP. They enable you to take advantage of the LATEST software innovations while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.

You can implement selected components and then activate selected business functions and enhancements on demand to meet your business requirements. This unique delivery and deployment method for enterprise software, enabled by the flexibility of enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA), lets you access new ERP functions while holding on to your core functions. As a result, you can isolate the impact of software updates and quickly bring new functions online through shortened testing cycles without impeding core business PROCESSES.

SAP ERP 6.0 provides more than 300 functional enhancements that can improve process efficiency. In addition, it integrates the functions of most SAP industry solutions so that these solutions no longer need to be installed and set up separately. The new software also simplifies daily business tasks through more appealing and integrated user-interface concepts that increase user productivity and satisfaction – for example, by enabling the use of Duet software for integrating Microsoft applications. Go to the solution browser tool for SAP ERP to find out more. This tool allows you to identify new features and functions and their business benefits in a given release of SAP ERP and enhancement packages.

After you upgrade to SAP ERP 6.0, you can enhance the functionality of your application without performing a further upgrade thanks to a new deployment technology – the SAP enhancement packages for SAP ERP. The enhancement packages simplify the way you manage and deploy new software functions for SAP ERP. They enable you to take advantage of the latest software innovations while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.

You can implement selected components and then activate selected business functions and enhancements on demand to meet your business requirements. This unique delivery and deployment method for enterprise software, enabled by the flexibility of enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA), lets you access new ERP functions while holding on to your core functions. As a result, you can isolate the impact of software updates and quickly bring new functions online through shortened testing cycles without impeding core business processes.

The general SAP recommendation is to always upgrade to the latest SAP ERP release to be able to use the latest functionality SAP offers. SAP ERP 6.0 is the “go-to release” and the foundation for any future innovations.

Use the Product Availability Matrix at http://service.sap.com/pam to find out about all SAP upgrade options. The Product Availability Matrix bundles technical and release planning information on SAP components for QUICK reference. You will find information on the availability of SAP component RELEASES (product versions), maintenance end dates and upgrade paths, as well as technical release information (DB PLATFORMS, JSE platforms, OPERATING systems, LANGUAGES, countries, and so on).

The general SAP recommendation is to always upgrade to the latest SAP ERP release to be able to use the latest functionality SAP offers. SAP ERP 6.0 is the “go-to release” and the foundation for any future innovations.

Use the Product Availability Matrix at http://service.sap.com/pam to find out about all SAP upgrade options. The Product Availability Matrix bundles technical and release planning information on SAP components for quick reference. You will find information on the availability of SAP component releases (product versions), maintenance end dates and upgrade paths, as well as technical release information (DB platforms, JSE platforms, operating systems, languages, countries, and so on).

Undoubtedly SAP is the MARKET leader in ERP and has almost one-third the market share. Interestingly SAP has captured two thirds of the market share in INDIA though ERP business is less than two years old in India.

{2/3rds of market share in TERMS of revenues but not NUMBER of sites/organizations}

Undoubtedly SAP is the market leader in ERP and has almost one-third the market share. Interestingly SAP has captured two thirds of the market share in India though ERP business is less than two years old in India.

{2/3rds of market share in terms of revenues but not number of sites/organizations}

There is no easy way to segment the ERP market in a precise manner that can be readily adopted by an organization as a thumb rule. HOWEVER SAP R/3, Oracle Applications, BaaN Series, People Soft & Ramco Marshall represent the high-end of the ERP market. SSA BBCS & JD EDWARDS represent the medium-end market. Scala, Intentia Movex & QAD MFG / PRO represent the LOW-end of the market.

This DIVISION is generally based on past installation, pricing and positioning of the products by the ERP vendors themselves. It does not necessarily mean that low end products lack features or high end products have all features. It may be instructive to note that a large company HLL uses QAD MFG/PRO (a low end ERP) and a small company Microland uses SAP R/3 (a high end ERP).

There is no easy way to segment the ERP market in a precise manner that can be readily adopted by an organization as a thumb rule. However SAP R/3, Oracle Applications, BaaN Series, People Soft & Ramco Marshall represent the high-end of the ERP market. SSA BBCS & JD Edwards represent the medium-end market. Scala, Intentia Movex & QAD MFG / PRO represent the low-end of the market.

This division is generally based on past installation, pricing and positioning of the products by the ERP vendors themselves. It does not necessarily mean that low end products lack features or high end products have all features. It may be instructive to note that a large company HLL uses QAD MFG/PRO (a low end ERP) and a small company Microland uses SAP R/3 (a high end ERP).

Once again Gartner GROUP and IDC, DATA Quest are the prime SOURCES of ERP market related information. India SPECIFIC information is made available by IDC India.

Once again Gartner group and IDC, Data Quest are the prime sources of ERP market related information. India specific information is made available by IDC India.

An ideal background of ERP CONSULTANTS would be several years of domain knowledge (HR, Finance, Material etc) followed by extensive SOFTWARE training and implementation experience with at least a couple of real-world implementations.

Technical knowledge by way of DEEP IT training HELPS but not mandatory. Knowledge of business process by way of formal business school education, once again is of help but not necessary. However business knowledge by the way of experience and consulting is a must.

An ideal background of ERP Consultants would be several years of domain knowledge (HR, Finance, Material etc) followed by extensive software training and implementation experience with at least a couple of real-world implementations.

Technical knowledge by way of deep IT training helps but not mandatory. Knowledge of business process by way of formal business school education, once again is of help but not necessary. However business knowledge by the way of experience and consulting is a must.

Customization is the job of fitting the ERP software to meet the demands of a particular ORGANIZATION. This would MEAN the mapping of the organizational structures, processes & environment of the organization into the corresponding model of the organization that is embedded in the ERP software. In other words, it is a mapping of the real WORLD into the model world of the particular ERP software.

The structure and processes REPRESENT one part of customization; the creation of master DATA, input-output forms, validations, reports, queries, formats, authorization, backup / restore procedures, data administration procedures, disaster recovery processes etc., represent the full gamut of customization.

Customization is the job of fitting the ERP software to meet the demands of a particular organization. This would mean the mapping of the organizational structures, processes & environment of the organization into the corresponding model of the organization that is embedded in the ERP software. In other words, it is a mapping of the real world into the model world of the particular ERP software.

The structure and processes represent one part of customization; the creation of master data, input-output forms, validations, reports, queries, formats, authorization, backup / restore procedures, data administration procedures, disaster recovery processes etc., represent the full gamut of customization.

AWB stands for ADMINISTRATOR WorkBench. AWB is a tool for CONTROLLING, monitoring and MAINTAINING all the processes connected with data staging and PROCESSING in the business information whearhousing.

AWB stands for Administrator WorkBench. AWB is a tool for controlling, monitoring and maintaining all the processes connected with data staging and processing in the business information whearhousing.

Meta Data: Data that describes the structure of data or MetaObjects is called Metadata. In other WORDS data about data is known as Meta Data.

Master Data: Master data is data that remains unchanged over a long PERIOD of time. It contains information that is always needed in the same WAY. Characteristics can bear master data in BW. With master data you are dealing with attributes, texts or hierarchies.

Transaction data: Data RELATING to the day-to-day transactions is the Transaction data.

Meta Data: Data that describes the structure of data or MetaObjects is called Metadata. In other words data about data is known as Meta Data.

Master Data: Master data is data that remains unchanged over a long period of time. It contains information that is always needed in the same way. Characteristics can bear master data in BW. With master data you are dealing with attributes, texts or hierarchies.

Transaction data: Data relating to the day-to-day transactions is the Transaction data.

The Star Schema consists of the Dimension Tables and the Fact Table. The MASTER Data RELATED tables are kept in SEPARATE tables, which has reference to the CHARACTERISTICS in the dimension table(s). These separate tables for master data is termed as the Extended Star Schema.

The Star Schema consists of the Dimension Tables and the Fact Table. The Master Data related tables are kept in separate tables, which has reference to the characteristics in the dimension table(s). These separate tables for master data is termed as the Extended Star Schema.

Performance Heavy reporting along with regular OLTP transactions can produce a lot of load both on the R/3 and the DATABASE (cpu, memory, disks, etc). Just take a LOOK at the load put on your system during a month end, quarter end, or year-end — now imagine that occurring even more frequently.

Data analysis — BW uses a Data Warehouse and OLAP concepts for storing and analyzing data, where R/3 was designed for TRANSACTION processing. With a lot of work you can get the same analysis out of R/3 but most likely would be easier from a BW.

Performance Heavy reporting along with regular OLTP transactions can produce a lot of load both on the R/3 and the database (cpu, memory, disks, etc). Just take a look at the load put on your system during a month end, quarter end, or year-end — now imagine that occurring even more frequently.

Data analysis — BW uses a Data Warehouse and OLAP concepts for storing and analyzing data, where R/3 was designed for transaction processing. With a lot of work you can get the same analysis out of R/3 but most likely would be easier from a BW.

Business Content is a pre-configured set of role and task-relevant information models based on consistent METADATA in the SAP Business Information Warehouse. Business Content provides SELECTED roles within a company with the information they need to CARRY out their tasks.

These information models essentially contain roles, workbooks, queries, InfoSources, InfoCubes, KEY figures, characteristics, update rules and extractors for SAP R/3, mySAP.com Business Applications and other selected applications.

Business Content is a pre-configured set of role and task-relevant information models based on consistent Metadata in the SAP Business Information Warehouse. Business Content provides selected roles within a company with the information they need to carry out their tasks.

These information models essentially contain roles, workbooks, queries, InfoSources, InfoCubes, key figures, characteristics, update rules and extractors for SAP R/3, mySAP.com Business Applications and other selected applications.