Procurement and Logistics Execution

With SAP ERP Operations, you can quickly maximize cost savings. You can automate and streamline procurement processes to identify, realize, and sustain cost savings for all spend categories.

SAP ERP Operations delivers features and functions that help you manage these business processes:

  • Procurement
    • Perform the complete procure-to-pay process, including requisitioning, purchase-order management, and invoice verification.
    • Manage catalog content and enable employee self-service procurement of material and services.
    • Integrate all business partners, including designers, suppliers, manufacturers, and customers.
    • Collaborate efficiently with suppliers on product development, purchase-order management, invoice processing, and payment management.

With SAP ERP, you can maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, improve capital efficiency with better productivity in logistics, and reduce costs by lowering inventory levels and consolidating shipments through support of the following business activities:

  • Inventory and warehouse management
    • Record and track the quantity and value of all materials, perform physical inventory, and optimize all warehouse resources.
    • Plan, enter, and document warehouse-internal stock movements by managing goods receipts, goods issues, storage, picking and packing, physical stock transfers, and transfer postings.
    • Manage workload planning, wave picking and order consolidation, radio frequency and barcode scanning, handling-unit management, cross-docking, and real-time monitoring of all activities.
  • Inbound and outbound logistics
    • Facilitate the movement of incoming and outgoing physical goods, including logistics involving multiple manufacturers and customers.
    • Support inbound processing with capabilities to monitor the receipt of goods, track external demand, handle advanced shipping notifications, and manage in-yard activities.
    • Operate outbound processes, including posting goods issues, monitoring delivery and distribution activities, and documenting proof of delivery.
  • Transportation management
    • Create optimized transportation plans, execute plans, and monitor shipments to deliver products on time and on budget.
    • Apply flexible options for consolidating deliveries and orders into shipments, including rule-based automation, manual consolidation, and collaborative order combination through the Internet.
    • Manage the multiple processes and reports required for foreign trade.

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SAP Product development & Manufacturing

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:34 AM 0 comments

With SAP ERP Operations, you can achieve manufacturing excellence by delivering superior performance across distributed global and local plant. You can streamline the entire manufacturing process – from planning and scheduling, to sequencing and execution, to analysis – by improving efficiency along the value chain. As a result, you can lower costs, deliver higher-quality products, and boost margins.

SAP ERP Operations delivers features and functions that help you manage the following business activities:

  • Production planning
    • Support a wide variety of basic strategies for production planning and execution.
    • Optimally plan, schedule, and sequence production on the factory floor to deliver promised orders.
  • Manufacturing execution
    • Support the capture of actual production information from the shop floor, providing visibility and transparency across all shop-floor processes.
    • Perform production plans by managing production processes and deploying workers and other resources on the shop floor.
    • Document, monitor, and dispatch inventory during the entire production life cycle.

SAP ERP can also help you accelerate time to market by centralizing the product development and innovation process, improve productivity through efficient collaborative processes, and ensure compliance with new regulations and industry standards through support of these processes:

  • Product development
    • Integrate people and information in a single, streamlined new product development and introduction (NPDI) process – covering product definition, requirements gathering, product development, supplier sourcing and product ramp-up.
    • Optimize inter-enterprise product development, including sourcing of complex components.
    • Monitor the flow of information through engineering, planning, and execution, and document each step of the production process.
  • Life-cycle data management
    • Centralize document management, change and configuration management – from invention to phase-out. Discrete industries can handle bills of materials and routings, and process industries can perform recipe management.
    • Manage and deliver a wide range of product information to ensure immediate access to up-to-date data as the basis for production planning and execution activities.
    • Integrate with CAD systems, geographic information systems (GIS), and many other systems.

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SAP ERP Human Capital Management

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:33 AM 0 comments

SAP ERP Human Capital Management (SAP ERP HCM) is a comprehensive, integrated human resources management solution that delivers unmatched global capability. SAP ERP HCM gives organizations in all industries worldwide the tools needed to manage their most important asset: people. The solution helps executives, human resources (HR) professionals, and line-of-business (LOB) leaders to forecast, plan, and hire the best talent, as well as cultivate the skills of and train their workforce.

Using one HR software suite for all talent management processes, you can more readily understand where your workforce's talents lie – and align the goals of your employees with your organization's overarching business strategy. Using real-time insight into the workforce, your organization can benefit fully from HR strategies and programs – and measure your workforce's contributions to the bottom line.

Automation of core HR processes, such as employee administration, payroll, and legal reporting, increases efficiency and supports compliance with changing global and local regulations.

SAP ERP HCM helps organizations throughout the world to increase their performance by helping to ensure an efficient, focused, and engaged workforce. With integrated building blocks and an unmatched partner ecosystem, SAP ERP HCM supports shared services and business process outsourcing – further reducing cost and risk for organizations like yours.

Attract and Retain the Best People and Talent

People are critical to success – in every business, in every industry. See how SAP software and ecosystem can help your company find, nurture, and retain the best people and talent with the necessary competencies – so that you can meet your business objectives.

Duet and Alloy Extend HCM Functionality to the Desktop

Specific human capital management functions are available as extensions to Microsoft Office and Lotus Notes through Duet or Alloy, the first joint products for use with Microsoft Office or Lotus Notes, and SAP. Duet and Alloy software are revolutionizing the way information workers access enterprise applications.

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SAP ERP Operations -2

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:33 AM 0 comments

Gain Control. Gain Insight. Create Value.

To best serve customers, organizations are focusing more on the agility and speed of delivering products and services. The efficiency of the entire operational process chain impacts an organization's ability to serve its customers well. Operational excellence is the ability of an organization to achieve a high level of customer service, while reducing operating costs. An organization can then run its business at the speed of change with more agility, from its suppliers to its customers, no matter which changes occur in the market and in demand.

For many organizations, the SAP ERP Operations solution has become the software backbone that contributes to excellent performance supporting end-to-end operational processes in all key areas: procurement and logistics execution, product development and manufacturing, and sales and service. This excellence is a culmination of SAP's experience over more than 30 years, with thousands of successful customers in more than 25 industries.

With SAP ERP Operations, your organization can realize its full efficiency and cost-effectiveness potential. With smoother day-to-day operations, you can maximize your profitability, free up resources and budget so that you can invest more in innovation. Gaining competitive advantage, you can look toward the future, and operate as a best-run business over the long term.

With SAP ERP Operations, you can:

  • Automate and streamline operational processes with greater adaptability.
  • Increase productivity in your operations with a role-based solution and centralized information.
  • Extend collaboration to all value chain partners.
  • Improve operations performance with strategic business insight.

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SAP ERP Operations

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:31 AM 0 comments

With SAP ERP Operations, you can achieve perfect order management with the highest levels of customer satisfaction. You can reduce operational costs by simplifying and automating the entire order-to-cash cycle, increase sales by encouraging the use of profitable sales and interaction channels, and ensure high customer satisfaction by delivering accurate, on-time information to customers.

SAP ERP Operations delivers features and functions to help you support the following business activities:

  • Sales order management
    • Manage the complete sales order management process, including handling inquiries, quotations, order generation and processing, as well as contract and billing-cycle management.
    • Use the e-commerce platform in SAP ERP Operations to help you rapidly turn the Internet into a profitable sales and interaction channel.
    • Develop effective incentive programs, including sales and brokerage commissions, profit sharing, and bonuses.
  • Aftermarket sales and service
    • Address the basic requirements for customer support, such as the management of installations, service contracts, warranties, service requests, and orders.
    • Manage all aspects of service-order processing within the service organization, from responding to the customer's initial inquiry to confirmation and billing.
  • Professional-service delivery
    • Manage all aspects of service delivery, including tracking activities, recording time spent on services, and analyzing profitability.

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Microsoft, SAP and Infor are the leader in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). The software revolution ushered in an era of data centralization and seamless flow of integrated information within the organizations. Today, from small, medium to big companies belonging to diverse fields use enterprise software to efficiently and cost effectively manage their information and business processes in lesser time. An array of ERP software is available in the market but before choosing any of those you must know which would be the best and easiest for you to install and operate. You will be in a better position to find out which ERP would fulfill all your needs if have clearly defined your requirements beforehand. Lastly, you must analyze what extra benefits the new ERP would give you over your existing management system.

1. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 is the best ERP software for mid-sized and larger companies. It is an effective business management tool that works by consistently and drastically improving the productivity of a company. Especially, Microsoft fans would love using it as they would be able to manage it with ease. It has a user-friendly interface that allows accurate and reliable decision making. By flawlessly connecting employees, customers and partners, its synchronization tools effectively help in information sharing and business planning.

2. SAP R/3

SAP R/3 was developed and introduced in the ERP industry by SAP AG. It is also known by the name of SAP ERP. This integrated enterprise resource planning system can be successfully implemented in midsize and large organizations. Its collaboration tools helps in linking the internal and external public in a better way. Its unique features and tools helps a company stand out in global marketplace as it can support important business operations without any hassles. It helps in safety management by letting the teams study changing market and industry trends and warning the company about possible risks. It offers a secure platform for other products of the company to function upon.

3. SAP Business One

SAP Business One successfully connects accounting, inventory control and human resource within an organization. It is tailored to meet the specific software needs of both small and medium sized enterprises. Its 15 core module structure includes every important module from Administration to e-commerce.

4. Infor ERP XA

Advanced ERP software Infor XA has been developed to fulfill the unique requirements of distinct manufacturers only. It is an IBM System i-based solution. The latest version has prominent features like upgraded inventory management processes and mixed-mode processes that include repetitive, engineer-to-order, configure-to-order, manufacture-to-order and assemble-to-order. Most importantly, it also contributes to high system speed offering enhanced service and quick maintenance procedures to the company professionals.

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SAP NetWeaver

Posted by 7WONDERS On 5:31 AM 0 comments

is SAP's integrated technology platform and is the technical foundation for all SAP applications since the SAP Business Suite. SAP NetWeaver is marketed as a service-oriented application and integration platform. SAP NetWeaver provides the development and runtime environment for SAP applications and can be used for custom development and integration with other applications and systems. SAP NetWeaver is built using open standards and industry de facto standards and can be extended with, and interoperate with, technologies such as Microsoft .NET, Sun Java EE, and IBM WebSphere.

SAP NetWeaver's release is considered as a strategic move by SAP for driving enterprises to run their business on a single, integrated platform that includes both applications and technology. Industry analysts refer to this type of integrated platform offering as an "applistructure" (applications + infrastructure). It is widely held that this approach is driven by industry's need to lower IT costs through an enterprise architecture that is at once (1) more flexible; (2) better integrated with applications; (3) built on open standards to ensure future interoperability and broad integration; and, (4) provided by a vendor that is financially viable for the long term.[citation needed]

SAP is fostering relationships with system integrators and independent software vendors, many of the latter becoming "Powered by SAP NetWeaver".

SAP NetWeaver is part of SAP's plan to transition to a more open, service-oriented architecture and to deliver the technical foundation of its applications on a single, integrated platform and common release cycle.

Composition

NetWeaver is essentially the integrated stack of SAP technology products. The SAP Web Application Server (sometimes referred to as WebAS) is the runtime environment for the SAP applications -- all of the mySAP Business Suite solutions (SRM, CRM, SCM, PLM, ERP) run on SAP WebAS.

Products

The core products that make up SAP NetWeaver include:


  • SAP NetWeaver Application Server
    SAP NetWeaver Process Integration (PI)
    SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal (EP)
    SAP NetWeaver Master Data Management (MDM)
    SAP NetWeaver Mobile
    SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence
    SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment (CE)


SAP has also teamed with hardware vendors like HP, IBM, Fujitsu-Siemens, and Sun to deliver appliances (i.e., hardware + software) to simplify and enhance the deployment of NetWeaver components. Examples of these appliances include:

    BI Accelerator
    Enterprise Search

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SAP ERP

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:53 AM 0 comments

For more than 35 years, SAP has been honing the tools and methodologies that help our customers adopt new business software functionalities. The result: optional enhancement packages that enable you to take advantage of the ongoing innovations you need – when you need them.

The enhancement package for the SAP ERP application provides new or improved software functionality that you can implement in a modular fashion. There's no need to run a major upgrade project. And, you keep your core software stable while you activate only the new features and technical improvements you want – on your own timetable – to add the most value to your business.

Innovate According to Your Schedule: Benefit from a Selective, Nondisruptive Approach

SAP designed the enhancement package for SAP ERP to easily deliver business- and industry-specific functionality, enterprise services bundles, and other functions that enhance and simplify the use of the SAP ERP application through improvements to the user interface and processes.

You can activate the latest enhancement package via the switch framework, which gives you the flexibility to choose what you want to implement, helps isolate impacted objects, and minimizes testing requirements. This rapid, nonintrusive deployment of selected improvements enables you to innovate benefit from superior solution fit without risking side effects to other parts of your applications.

Enhanced Functionality as Enterprise Services: Streamlining Basic Business Processes

Our enhancement package for SAP ERP delivers functionality that streamlines basic business processes, improves employee productivity, sharpens business insight, and enables you to adapt quickly to changing industry requirements.

The enhancement package includes collections, or bundles, of enterprise services. Each bundle provides new services, as well as documentation on how the services can help extend and reconfigure processes or groups of related processes. Each bundle includes explanations of relevant processes, groups of processes, and roles, along with descriptions of business objects and tips on how to put the new services to work.

SAP is the first software provider to use SOA to deliver new functionality, enterprise services bundles, and simplified user interfaces through enhancement packages. Enterprise services are one of the ways that SAP is implementing a program of service as part of our strategy to provide SOA across all products. SAP customers and partners can suggest ideas for new services and help develop them by participating in the Enterprise Services Community program.

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SAP Supply Chain Management

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:51 AM 0 comments

You face enormous pressure to reduce costs while increasing innovation and improving customer service and responsiveness. SAP Supply Chain Management (SAP SCM) enables collaboration, planning, execution, and coordination of the entire supply network, empowering you to adapt your supply chain processes to an ever-changing competitive environment.

SAP SCM is part of the SAP Business Suite, which gives organizations the unique ability to perform their essential business processes with modular software that is designed to work with other SAP and non-SAP software. Organizations and departments in all sectors can deploy SAP Business Suite software to address specific business challenges on their own timelines and without costly upgrades.

SAP SCM can help transform a linear, sequential supply chain into a responsive supply network – in which communities of customer-centric, demand-driven companies share knowledge, intelligently adapt to changing market conditions, and proactively respond to shorter, less predictable life cycles. SAP SCM provides broad functionality for enabling responsive supply networks and integrates seamlessly with both SAP and non-SAP software. The application:

  • Delivers planning and execution functions that are integrated by design
  • Supports best practices and provides preconfigured software for enabling collaborative business, accelerating implementation, and reducing costs
  • Is recognized by key industry analysts as the market-leading SCM application

Real-time demand and signal-based replenishment need to drive supply chains. Companies need to balance supply and demand and run their businesses based on actual-versus-forecasted demand.

With SAP SCM, you can model your existing supply chain; set goals; and forecast, optimize, and schedule time, materials, and other resources with these planning activities:

  • Demand planning and forecasting
  • Safety stock planning
  • Supply network planning
  • Distribution planning
  • Strategic supply chain design

Key Planning Benefits of SAP Supply Chain Management

SAP SCM enables you to:

  • Increase demand accuracy and order fulfillment satisfaction levels
  • Reduce inventory levels and increased inventory turns across the network
  • Increase profitability and productivity
  • Integrate sales and operations planning process

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SAP ERP Operations

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:49 AM 0 comments

To best serve customers, organizations are focusing more on the agility and speed of delivering products and services. The efficiency of the entire operational process chain impacts an organization's ability to serve its customers well. Operational excellence is the ability of an organization to achieve a high level of customer service, while reducing operating costs. An organization can then run its business at the speed of change with more agility, from its suppliers to its customers, no matter which changes occur in the market and in demand.

For many organizations, the SAP ERP Operations solution has become the software backbone that contributes to excellent performance supporting end-to-end operational processes in all key areas: procurement and logistics execution, product development and manufacturing, and sales and service. This excellence is a culmination of SAP's experience over more than 30 years, with thousands of successful customers in more than 25 industries.

With SAP ERP Operations, your organization can realize its full efficiency and cost-effectiveness potential. With smoother day-to-day operations, you can maximize your profitability, free up resources and budget so that you can invest more in innovation. Gaining competitive advantage, you can look toward the future, and operate as a best-run business over the long term.

With SAP ERP Operations, you can:

  • Automate and streamline operational processes with greater adaptability.
  • Increase productivity in your operations with a role-based solution and centralized information.
  • Extend collaboration to all value chain partners.
  • Improve operations performance with strategic business insight.

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Is Your ERP System Provider a Psychopath?

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:44 AM 0 comments

Here’s an often overlooked factor in ERP software selection, and it’s got nothing to do with ERP functions or features:

Personality.

That’s right, personality. No, I’m not talking about the personality of your presumptive ERP systems (see also: pathetic fallacy).

Nor am I talking exclusively about the personality of the ERP vendor sales reps, say, or of the software demo team.

I’m talking about the vendor’s corporate personality (or corporate culture) as a whole.

For example, some ERP vendors are perceived as being arrogant. Some are perceived as being consummately professional, if a little unfriendly. Some are perceived as being just a bit, well, quirky. I’m not mentioning any names, you’ll notice. That’s because I like my lifestyle. It’s a quiet, lawsuit-free lifestyle.

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Is Your ERP System Provider a Psychopath?

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:44 AM 0 comments

Here’s an often overlooked factor in ERP software selection, and it’s got nothing to do with ERP functions or features:

Personality.

That’s right, personality. No, I’m not talking about the personality of your presumptive ERP systems (see also: pathetic fallacy).

Nor am I talking exclusively about the personality of the ERP vendor sales reps, say, or of the software demo team.

I’m talking about the vendor’s corporate personality (or corporate culture) as a whole.

For example, some ERP vendors are perceived as being arrogant. Some are perceived as being consummately professional, if a little unfriendly. Some are perceived as being just a bit, well, quirky. I’m not mentioning any names, you’ll notice. That’s because I like my lifestyle. It’s a quiet, lawsuit-free lifestyle.

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PLM (Vendors) and Lean Product Development

Posted by 7WONDERS On 4:42 AM 0 comments

guess you may have an idea about who will be the third vendor I’m going to discuss concerning the relevance between its product lifecycle management (PLM) offerings and the lean product development (LPD) concept. Yes, it is PTC. Like Dassault Systèmes and Siemens PLM Software, PTC is also located in the CAD-PLM camp (read this article if you want to know more about how I categorized major PLM vendors into two categories) that provides both PLM tools and PLM as the management platform.

Recently, I had a close look at PTC’s PLM solutions during the certification process for PTC Windchill. My overall impression is that Windchill is a well-built PLM solution for discrete manufacturing industries. It is one of the most comprehensive PLM solutions that I have ever seen. Besides its longevity within the core PLM area (i.e., the base foundation of PLM covering design and product-related aspects of PLM such as management of material specifications, product structures, documents, classifications, design collaboration, etc.,), Windchill’s advancements on product development, portfolio management, and project management are also impressive.

Besides my overall impression, the following two elements are what I will use to relate PTC to LPD.

Product Sustainability

Being “lean” requires companies to reduce unnecessary use of resources and non-value-added activities, but within product development, the efforts in developing compliant and environment-friendly products can’t be treated as something unnecessary. Without regulatory and compliance capabilities embedded into product development processes, an organization can’t meet the increasing product sustainability requirements from customers.

PTC was able to strengthen its capability in helping develop more sustainable products through acquisitions:

  • In December 2008, PTC announced its acquisition of Synapsis Technology, Inc., a vendor focusing on environmental regulatory compliance solutions.
  • In June 2009, PTC acquired Relex Software Corporation, another specialized software and service provider for product reliability and safety.

In my opinion, material compliance, product reliability, and product safety all lead to one direction—product sustainability.

Social Product Development

Social product development is not a new concept within the PLM domain but it can’t reach the prosperity unless social computing technologies are widely adopted. Generally speaking, having a broader range of product stakeholders’ (including customers’ and end-users’) opinions as the input in the earliest possible stage of product development is an exemplary approach to making downstream processes leaner.

In December 2008, PTC started offering Windchill ProductPoint (a PLM solution built on top of Microsoft SharePoint) with social product development as one of the main selling points. This approach shows PTC’s efforts of using SharePoint’s Web 2.0 features for internal socialization among product designers and developers. I hope PTC will go further and include more participants in product socialization, and incorporate the social product development features into its other Windchill offerings.

On PTC’s Web site—categorized under business initiatives—there is a page dedicated to LPD. Personally, I’d like to see more information than it currently provides, but at least it shows the company’s belief that LPD is one of the top business initiatives related to PLM adoption.

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ERP Implementation KPIs

Posted by 7WONDERS On 2:08 AM 0 comments

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system cost is divided into two major parts: software cost and hardware cost. Software cost is depends upon many factors, number of users, implementation, customization, user training etc. After investing a huge amount on ERP project organization wants quick and better ROI. For SME, it is a significant decision.

Key Performance Metrics (KPIs) of ERP Implementation Investments in ERP project for organizations in the SME segment is an important decision. Hence the evaluation of an implementation and benefits accrued is an important factor in the overall success of an implementation project. Effectiveness of an implementation can be somewhat gauged by KPIs of business processes. KPIs are benchmarks with qualitative or quantitative values that help an organization assess the effectiveness of the processes that have been implemented in the ERP system. However it may not be suitable to expect important improvement in these values immediately after the implementation. An organization needs to give itself the time to take up the changes brought about in by the ERP system to practically achieve the KPI targets.

Examples of these metrics are as follows:

• What is the financial input necessary for achieving the targeted key performance level?
• What benefits the organization derives from a certain level of performance?
• Are the internal processes effective and efficient in assuring of performance?
• Does the new ERP system have sufficient potential for possible future customer needs?
• Measuring the monetary perspective, customer perspective, internal process perspective and human resource perspective goal
• Measure budget compliance hardware, software, training, and consulting goal
• Measure gamut of processes reduce bottlenecks
• Reduce Operational Problems: problems with customer order processing, problems with inventory processes, problems with standard reports
• Availability of the ERP system: average system availability, average downtime, and maximum downtime

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Reasons of ERP Projects Failure

Posted by 7WONDERS On 2:07 AM 0 comments

The defining element in the success or failure of an ERP implementation is mainly one of project management. The presenter draws on observation, past experience and research to build a best practice based strategy, or approach that will lead to a successful experience.

Most of the times organization have seen ERP projects fail for the following reasons:

1. Software selection was wrong
2. The software does not work as promised by vendor
3. Too many customization or interfaces to the software were attempted.
4. Lack of top management sponsorship for the project
5. Lack of a proper project plan and their execution
6. Poor or no training was provided to the user
7. Lack of business or technical resources committed to the ERP project
8. Lack of effective change management strategies
9. User refuse to use new system, it is again due to improper training
10. A business merger terminates a existing implementation

Here, I will attempt to share through consultant's experience, observation and research various strategies that give you the best chance of achieving a successful ERP implementation experience.

Critical factors toward achieving a successful ERP implementation are:

1. Selection of the right software
2. Manage organization's expectations
3. Mitigate risks
4. Exploit the best business practices built into the ERP software
5. Get the step by step phase wise implementation
6. Prepare proper blueprint
7. SRS study - this will help you in selection of software
8. GAP analysis to map organization process and software
9. Selection of experienced vendor- new company or vendor may not be able to give you proper support and service even after Go-live.

Take a systematic approach. It is also important to point out early on in any discussion about successful ERP implementation some important points and realities about ERP implementations in general. This can be:

1. The ready to use or perfect ERP system does not exist.
2. ERP implementations are different in every organization - it never be the same as previous
3. There is no perfect ERP project
4. No implementation is ever complete- It requires support and services, upgrades and updates, technological changes, etc.

Organization should be open for these situations and ready to adopt new challenges and opportunities.

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NetSuite Accpac and Epicor ERP Soft

Posted by 7WONDERS On 2:06 AM 0 comments

NetSuite Exact Syspro Accpac Epicor and Excel ERP system have capabilities to centralize all business process into single database and provide better control. Read brief information about all these enterprise software below:

1. Net suite

Net suite ERP solution is one of its kinds. It is the only on-demand ERP solution which can manage and control back-office operations. It is an all-inclusive business suite that can support operations like financial, order fulfillment, purchasing, inventory, time and billing, payroll, employee self-service, Web presence, etc. It is best suited to diverse enterprises and nonprofit organizations, which need to customize their systems for specific needs. It can be installed immediately.

2. Exact Software

This revolutionary ERP system is best for organizations that crave for impeccable connectivity. Exact Software equally connects both internal and external links and employee of a business. It teams up conventional ERP with a number of operations such as customer relationship management (CRM), business activity monitoring, electronic workflow management, project management and business intelligence. It helps in analyzing and predicting the business operations and the results can be used to formulate future plan of action. Thus, it eliminates complications from the processes.

3. Syspro

Syspro is among the leading enterprise resource planning software vendors. SYSPRO solutions' enable companies to exercise complete control over different aspects of their workflow by directing planning and management functions. It permits the organizations to create their own exclusive manufacturing process that can successfully meet all their needs and new challenges that arise in the industry.

4. Accpac

The Sage Group has designed Accpac ERP software to suit the business requirements of the small and medium sized enterprises. This software can accomplish tasks like accounting, Customer relationship management and business management. USP of Accpac is that it employs Web Services as basic foundation for operating business applications.

5. Epicor

Epicor is a comprehensive ERP solution providing a number of real-time business utilities. It is targeted to manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality and services companies located in U.S. It offers business- specific solutions as it consists of ground-breaking service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web services technology.

6. Excel ERP

Excel ERP is amongst the most user friendly ERPs. It requires trouble-free, organized and risk free implementation. Moreover, it can be customized as per the short/long term goals and objectives of the company.

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An office refurbishment can provide enormous benefits to staff productivity and morale when completed but it can also sap time and enthusiasm from your staff whilst the process is being considered, planned and finally underway.

Maybe an office refurbishment is required to improve space ratios and take advantage of smaller footprint workstations, or just to bring your office environment up to a modern standard and to rearrange existing team structures.

Or possibly an office refurbishment project is necessitated due to a relocation, or the opening of a new office or the merger of two companies or two previously discrete locations.

Whatever your reasons for undertaking an office refurbishment there are a number of steps to overcome to ensure that your project creates the:

  • Right outcome
  • In the right timescale
  • And for the right price
If you can achieve all these then you should be well on the way to a successful refurbishment project and advance planning and attention to detail throughout the project will help achieve all three of these objectives.

Staff can also feel threatened by the change a refurbishment and reorganisation project brings and these emotions need to be expected and anticipated. By focusing on the positive aspects and keeping staff informed and involved, it is possible to minimise these fears, but the time required should not be underestimated, and this liaison process should start as early as possible.

It is likely that you will want to bring in external teams to advise and manage the day to day running of the project but with some simple strategies and proper expertise you can ensure your staff can continue to focus on their business of running your business during what is a time consuming and challenging period.

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Microsoft, SAP and Infor are the leader in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). The software revolution ushered in an era of data centralization and seamless flow of integrated information within the organizations. Today, from small, medium to big companies belonging to diverse fields use enterprise software to efficiently and cost effectively manage their information and business processes in lesser time. An array of ERP software is available in the market but before choosing any of those you must know which would be the best and easiest for you to install and operate. You will be in a better position to find out which ERP would fulfill all your needs if have clearly defined your requirements beforehand. Lastly, you must analyze what extra benefits the new ERP would give you over your existing management system.

1. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 is the best ERP software for mid-sized and larger companies. It is an effective business management tool that works by consistently and drastically improving the productivity of a company. Especially, Microsoft fans would love using it as they would be able to manage it with ease. It has a user-friendly interface that allows accurate and reliable decision making. By flawlessly connecting employees, customers and partners, its synchronization tools effectively help in information sharing and business planning.

2. SAP R/3

SAP R/3 was developed and introduced in the ERP industry by SAP AG. It is also known by the name of SAP ERP. This integrated enterprise resource planning system can be successfully implemented in midsize and large organizations. Its collaboration tools helps in linking the internal and external public in a better way. Its unique features and tools helps a company stand out in global marketplace as it can support important business operations without any hassles. It helps in safety management by letting the teams study changing market and industry trends and warning the company about possible risks. It offers a secure platform for other products of the company to function upon.

3. SAP Business One

SAP Business One successfully connects accounting, inventory control and human resource within an organization. It is tailored to meet the specific software needs of both small and medium sized enterprises. Its 15 core module structure includes every important module from Administration to e-commerce.

4. Infor ERP XA

Advanced ERP software Infor XA has been developed to fulfill the unique requirements of distinct manufacturers only. It is an IBM System i-based solution. The latest version has prominent features like upgraded inventory management processes and mixed-mode processes that include repetitive, engineer-to-order, configure-to-order, manufacture-to-order and assemble-to-order. Most importantly, it also contributes to high system speed offering enhanced service and quick maintenance procedures to the company professionals.

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SAP Resume Preparation

Posted by 7WONDERS On 2:02 AM 0 comments

1. Your Domain Experience Counts: For functional folks, if you do not have tons of IT experience in the module, you don't need to sweat it. Domain expertise counts a lot. For example, if you are applying for an SAP SD or CRM functional job, typically 6 to 7 years of IT functional experience in is mandatory. However, you can easily slip in a couple of years of actual domain experience - say as a Sales Manager or a Marketing Manager. This is especially useful for folks who come from industry background with domain expertise but who are just getting trained in the actual module itself.

2. Focus on Problems Solved: Actually this is true for any kind of resume. Specifically more so for SAP resumes. Try to focus on how you resolved a particular functional issue. For example, an SAP FICO resume could say - "Configured dummy company codes to deal with Special Logistics Processes " as opposed to just saying "Configured company code, credit control area.. etc ". The interviewer will then ask you, what kind of "special logistics process" did you deal with. You can explain more on the actual business problem and your solution.

3. Focus on your most recent project: Most interviews do not go beyond the past 2 or 3 projects. So focus 50% on your current project, 30% on your second project and 10% on the third project. Don't bother too much beyond that.In rare situations they go beyond the third project, but only when the interviewer does not understand your first 2 pages.

4. Restrict your resume to 3 or 4 pages: Some people have the habit of expanding their resume beyond 5 or 6 pages. This is totally unnecessary. Interviewers do not have time to read so many pages. Each interview (at least contracting jobs ) do not last for more than 30- 45 minutes. And the focus as discussed before will be on the first 2 pages.

5. List Logos of your clients if they are well-recognized. For example, if you have worked with "Johnson & Johnson" or "Google" 8 years ago, try to at least put a logo of these clients in the first page with the heading "Major Clients worked with". This will add a professional touch. For further Professional Tips and SAP Resume Preparation Tips visit us.

6. Use Most-Searched Keywords: Recruiters try to only pick resumes that match the keywords in the requirements. For example, if a recruiter is looking for resumes that contain keywords "Campaign Management" in SAP CRM Resumes, and if you have worked on CRM campaign management, try to list the keyword in the resume. Do not just say worked in "campaigns". The better the match the better the match of the resume being picked up by the recruiter. However, try not to stuff the resume with all possible keywords.

7. Maintain Multiple Resumes: Yes - This might sound very strange, but its true. Candidates with multiple resumes stand a better chance of getting an interview call than someone with a single resume. But you will have to do a fine balancing act here. Over-do it and you will be penalized as a fake. The primary reason why you need to maintain multiple versions is to ensure that you are covering potentially complementary areas if you are really qualified. For example, if you are an SAP Basis, Security, GRC/Virsa consultant, you can maintain 2 resumes - one focussing on your general Basis/Netweaver/Security skills and another focussing on Basis and GRC skills in more detail.

8. Avoid Grammatical and Spelling Mistakes: It looks highly unprofessional to have grammatical or spelling mistakes in your resume. Not everybody is very good in English - Find a good friend and ask him/her to review it or get professional resume preparation help. Either way, don't let a bad resume go out.

9. Eliminate "Not-So-Necessary" details: These days recruiters/employers do NOT look at your "other" interests. Please avoid listing your hobbies that are not related to your area of work. For example, if you are looking for a job in SAP, you can list your language proficiency in German or list your proficiency in Spanish or Japanese - Sometimes recruiters look out for functional consultants with specific language skills. However, plese do not list your skills in Kite flying or classical music.

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Review on Tally ERP

Posted by 7WONDERS On 2:01 AM 0 comments

Tally is a well known product for accounting software. But when it comes in ERP there are few pros and cons, which you must know. After an effective application of Tally 9, there were still a few problems that were experienced. User conflicts due to multi-users of the system were thought to be permanent.

The major disadvantage of Tally ERP is- it starts from accounting whereas business starts from sales. Even tally has faced so many problems to launch Tally ERP. They want to give same flexibility in their ERP like Tally accounting software, because Tally existing customers have the same expectations.

TDS calculation has become simpler in Tally ERP it can be done with great ease. The overall data for the same is generated in the software system, and updates the bank account and is included in the report generation. This single feature makes it extremely good. The installation process of Tally ERP has been made easy as compared to other ERPs available in the market. Once installed it lets tones of information accessible throughout the day. It also provides incremental implementation which allows many functions to be run at the same time from even different locations. The problem with the EVAT computations with the vast collection of files into a quick and easy step preparation is possible without any ignore. Payment of water, electricity, telephone bills and other bills from any location and generating business report or stock status is made easier.

Moreover, this software enables powerful remote capabilities that enhance collaboration. It has enabled finding qualified personnel. Customization in this software is easy and faster. Great support, good brand, faster implementation and Tally integrator has made the software reduce cost of ownership, hence better equipped to be used in businesses. It is highly recommended a trail for any business needs. Also for those who want to experience the most easy and convenient way of keeping the business data on complete cycle, all key reports, cash, receivable, and month end bank reconciliation, from human resources information to each performance report, all is traceable in fast effective step. Forecasting and predicting future business performance is also possible.

Tally ERP is good to buy for small and medium size organization. But if your organization is based on process manufacturing, discrete manufacturing or any other process which Tally may not support, you should think twice before buying it. Take proper consultation before finalizing ERP for

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The SCM Push Upward

Posted by 7WONDERS On 8:07 PM 0 comments

Supply chain vendors of the past only provided a single product that addressed one aspect or function within the supply chain. However, certain business requirements have become the norm, such as vendor collaboration, changes in workflow, event management, performance management, PLM, labor requirements, key performance indicator (KPI) analysis, real-time inventory, manufacturing execution systems, WMS, transportation requirements, advanced planning and scheduling, and partner-supplier collaboration. SCM vendors feeling the tightening of the market have started to address their shortcomings, and are including more ERP-like modules to expand their solutions.

SCM software traditionally employs a strategy of covering everything within the four walls of the warehouse. The addition of ERP modules aims at tying into the entire supply chain and its collaborative aspects. Trading partners (and now logistic companies) are coming together with manufacturers to unite services, products, and customer experience. Demand management and SRM are intricate parts of SCE, and tier one vendors like HighJump, RedPrairie, and Manhattan Associates have now included very detailed iterations of this module.

Since detailed information is required, most tier one WMS vendors, and even the smaller vendors (ASI, Radio Beacon, RF Pathways, and Scancode) within the SCM space, have also added and developed new functionality to compete with this shift in business model.

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The Downward Push of ERP Vendors

Posted by 7WONDERS On 8:04 PM 0 comments

ERP vendors are expanding their market share at the expense of SCM vendors. ERP solutions encompass a wide range of functionality that includes most of the business processes of an organization. Traditional modules like accounting, BI, customer relationship management (CRM), advanced planning and scheduling, manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping are all standard ERP offerings today.

Most ERP functionality is usually stronger within a particular function of the enterprise (such as financials), while accommodating the other functions within its infrastructure. Other business functions within the ERP infrastructure are incorporated within the same platform, and there is no need for additional interfacing between each operation. Although ERP software covers many modules, its functionality within a module may vary widely, and may not incorporate an adequate level of detail for a particular function like an engineered-to-order product.

Many organizations have elected to implement best-of-breed SCE software on top of their current ERP system to address the shortcomings of functionality within the supply chain. An example where additional functionality was needed in the warehouse is Indigo Books & Music. Indigo implemented SAP corporate-wide, and then had to install an additional WMS (HighJump) to cater to its warehousing requirements. This is common for other companies, such as Nike, Daydots, and 99 Cents Only Stores, where ERP systems have been installed along with WMS solutions to manage the warehouse.

Companies like Catalyst, HighJump, Manhattan Associates, and RedPrairie have all interfaced to SAP successfully, and Catalyst is even approved by SAP for its interface between the WMS and the ERP. Generally speaking, new SCM functionality now incorporated into the ERP products is more detailed and stable from a platform and functionality aspect.

This new level of functionality incorporated within ERP may be the element that is currently missing to handle today’s increasing need for real-time information and accuracy. Tier one vendors, aware that their solutions were lacking in detailed supply chain functionality, have spent extensive research and development resources to improve these shortcomings. SAP, for instance, has dramatically increased functionality within its WMS offering.

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SAP Crystal Reports

Posted by 7WONDERS On 5:58 AM 0 comments

Crystal Reports software enables you to easily design interactive reports and connect them to virtually any data source. Your users can benefit from on-report sorting and filtering – giving them the power to execute decisions instantly.

And with Crystal Reports Visual Advantage, you can gain even more functionality for compelling reports. This bundled product includes Crystal Reports and Xcelsius Engage, giving you the power to create highly formatted reports with what-if scenario models, interactive charts – and deliver them via the Web, e-mail, Microsoft Office, Adobe PDF, or embedded in enterprise applications. As a result, you can leverage your reports to make better operational and strategic decisions.

With Crystal Reports, you can:

  • Leverage professional reporting - priced for everyone
  • Empower end users to explore reports with on-report sorting and parameters
  • Minimize IT and developer effort with interactive reports
  • Develop powerful data mashups
  • Save valuable report design time
  • Embed professional-looking reports in Java and .NET applications
  • Tailor your solution by adding report management and viewing tools

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SAP Real-Time Offer Management

Posted by 7WONDERS On 5:56 AM 0 comments

The SAP Real-Time Offer Management software is an advanced analytical real-time decision engine that enables you to optimize any decision-making process, such as for cross-sell and up-sell offers, retention, service-level adherence, and lifetime value boosting. The software takes into account all relevant information, including up-to-the-moment interaction information, to help you to take the most appropriate next action to enhance customer relationships on all customer interaction channels.

SAP Real-Time Offer Management supports the following processes, including:

  • Offer management
    • Centrally create and manage offers across all interaction channels.
    • Easily define offer targets, eligibility rules, and policies.
    • Simulate and test offer effectiveness before putting it into production.
    • Create and deploy offers without IT dependence.
  • Real-time decision making
    • Make intelligent real-time recommendations for cross sell, up sell, retention, and next-best actions.
    • Take into account all relevant customer information, including session information and other factors such as agent skills and an offer's value, to make the optimal recommendations.
    • Leverage advanced optimization and arbitration real-time analytics accompanied with personalized decision support.
  • Self-learning
    • Automatically adapt offering prioritization to shifting market trends, customer tastes, and seasonality effects.
    • Learn from every customer interaction to anticipate future customer demands.
    • Experiment and automatically learn from responses to recommend offers with highest likelihood of being accepted.
  • Offer analytics
    • Gain insights into offer effectiveness by understanding how and why offers are performing.
    • Review your agents' effectiveness in promoting offers and their conversion rates.
    • Gain a more thorough understanding of your customer segments by seeing their reactions to various offers.
    • Leverage the insights to build more effective and targeted offers.

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Terminal Server specification if required

Posted by 7WONDERS On 9:22 PM 0 comments

It is recommended to have a dedicated Terminal Server/Citrix Server. There may be performance losses if Microsoft SQL Server is running on the Terminal Server/Citrix Server.

Operating System

Windows 2000 server

Service pack (latest)

Windows 2003 server

Service pack (latest)

Windows 2003 server

Required for business portal for GP

Windows 2000 SBS

Service pack (latest)

Windows 2003 SBS

Service Pack (latest)

SQL 2000

Service Pack (latest)

MSDE

SQL 2005 Sp1

GP V9.0 Sp1

Citrix (Optional)

Citrix Metaframe

System Specification

Speed

Dual PIII 500Mhz or larger. Single processor e.g. Xeon

Disk Space

2 x 18 Gb minimum

RAM

1 GB

Virtual Memory should be set to 1.5 x Ram

Video

Minimum 800X600

CD

Required

Network card

Required

100mb or 1Gb

Backup Drive

Required


Category : edit post

Large company –30 users plus.

Posted by 7WONDERS On 9:20 PM 0 comments

Workstation specification

Below are details of the minimum suggested specification.
It is possible to run on lower specified machines but performance may be affected.

Operating system

Windows XP

Windows 2000

PC Specification

Speed

PIII 500Mhz

Disk Space

Available 500MB

RAM

512 MB

Video

Minimum 800x600

CD

Required

Network Card

Required

100 MB or 1 GB

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Operating System




Windows 2000 server

Service pack (latest)


Windows 2003 server

Service pack (latest)


Windows 2003 server

Required for business portal for GP


SQL 2000

Service Pack (latest)


SQL 2005 Sp1

GP V9.0 Sp1

System Specification



Speed

Single Xeon processor 2.4 GHz or higher.
Dual processor capable

Or equivalent dual processor

Disk Space

Raid 1 (2 disk ) (2 x 9 Gb)

Depending on data volumes and resilience required. This would be for Operating systems and application programs. These disks should be mirrored so that a hard disk failure would not cause a serious problem.


Raid 1 (2 disk ) (2 x 18 Gb)

Depending on data volumes and resilience required. This would be for transaction log files. These disks should be mirrored so that a hard disk failure would not cause a serious problem.


Raid 5 (3 x 18 Gb)

Depending on data volumes and resilience required. This would be for data. Raid 5 would mean that any one disk could fail, be removed and replaced without any significant interruption to processing. (Hot Swappable)

RAM

2-4 GB

Windows server many need custom configuration



Virtual Memory should be set to 1.5 x ram

Video

Minimum 800X600


CD

Required


Network card

Required

100Mb or 1Gb

Backup Drive

Required

Category : edit post

Small company – 1-10 users.

Posted by 7WONDERS On 9:13 PM 0 comments

Operating System

Windows 2000 server

Service pack (latest)

Windows 2003 server

Service pack (latest)

Windows 2003 server

Required for business portal for GP

Windows 2000 SBS

Service pack (latest)

Windows 2003 SBS

Service Pack (latest)

SQL 2000

Service Pack (latest)

MSDE

SQL 2005 Sp1

GP V9.0 Sp1

System Specification

Speed

Dual PIII 500Mhz or larger. Single processor e.g. Xeon

Disk Space

2 x 18 Gb minimum

RAM

1 GB

Virtual Memory should be set to 1.5 x Ram

Video

Minimum 800X600

CD

Required

Network card

Required

10/100 or greater

Backup Drive

Required


Category : edit post

3.1 Panel Definitions

    .1 Stand-alone panels ( SAP's ) shall be considered to be any panel connected to a primary communication network.
    In addition, SAP's shall control central plant equipment ( i.e. air handling unit equipment, boiler plant equipment,
    chiller plant equipment ).

    .2 Terminal unit controllers ( TUC's ) shall be considered to be any panel connected to a SAP through a
    sub-communication network. In addition, TUC's shall control HVAC terminal devices serving one single
    thermostatic zone (i.e. VAV terminal unit, dual-duct terminal unit, fan-coil terminal unit, water-loop heat pump unit).

3.2 Power Conditioning

    .1 Provide filters to protect the system from power line surges and voltage transients.

3.3 Power Failure Protection

    .1 Provide automatic retention of RAM and real time clock from any power failure of at least SEVENTY-TWO (72)
    hours duration. This feature will be checked during the commissioning phase.

    .2 Provide for automatic restart of the system upon power return.

3.4 Hardware Failure Isolation

    .1 Any component malfunction shall not damage any of the remaining components.

    .2 Provide over voltage protection on inputs and outputs.

3.5 Ease of Hardware Replacement

    .1 SAP and TUC replacement shall be possible without any hardware modification.

3.6 Database Back-Up and Off-Line Storage

    .1 The system shall have the capability to be taken off line in the event of failure or for maintenance and returned to
    operation without the need for entering any portion of the software program manually. To accomplish this, an
    off-line disk storage device shall be utilized to provide software backup and reload.

    .2 On-site backup and verification of the entire system, with full applications software, shall be less than TWO (2)
    seconds per real point. This feature will be checked during the commissioning phase.

3.7 Memory

    .1 Each SAP on the main network proposed shall have enough random access memory (RAM) for all of the
    following:

    .1 Trend Logs - One and a Half (1.5) TL for each input and output point connected to the SAP with 100
    samples each.

    .2 Totalizers - ONE (1) for each digital point connected to the SAP.

    .3 Time Schedules - ONE (1) for every 3 output points connected to the SAP.

    .4 Annual Schedules - ONE (1) for every 6 output points connected to the SAP.

    .5 Controllers - TWO (2) for each analog output point connected to the SAP.

    .6 Software Points - THREE (3) for each output point connected to the SAP.

    .7 Operator Control Language (OCL) - TWENTY (20) syntactically correct lines each with at least 4 operators,
    for each output point connected to the SAP .

    .8 Descriptor - ONE (1) for each user definable point, real or software, in the SAP. In addition, on multi-SAP
    systems, every descriptor in the system must be accessible from every operator interface device.

    .9 In the event there are TUCs networked to the SAP, which do not have their own memory meeting items .1
    through .7, the SAP must have full memory for all TUC points as well as points connected directly.

    .10 Provide with shop drawing submittal, calculations which confirm the foregoing RAM requirements are met for
    each SAP.

3.8 SAP Processing Speed

    .1 Effective SAP Processing Speed - Maximum permissible execution time is TWO (2) seconds. Execution time is
    defined as the time it takes the SAP CPU to execute all application software in the SAP, with no system timing
    errors, from some point in the software back to the same point, assuming full memory usage, as defined in Clause
    3.7 above, while simultaneously responding to operator or terminal display requests and carrying out normal inter-SAP communications averaged over a ONE (1)-minute period. This will be done during the commissionary phase by setting up a counter in each SAP and monitoring their counting rate.

3.9 System Display Speed

    .1 The minimum time to change from one dynamic screen to another is 7 seconds. This test will be carried out from a remote site with the Corporation's standard modem and will be the average of 10 typical displays for the project.Test will be carried out with the specified system configuration, excluding multi-user and alarming functions.

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This scalability analysis for SAP running on IBM System X hardware provides Citrix XenApp architects, System Integrators, and project managers with data to help design and capacity plan a XenApp environment.

Implementing SAP using the Citrix Access Suite enables organizations to better serve its employees and customers by providing the flexibility to access the latest SAP applications from virtually anywhere, on any device via any network, while administrators gain financial flexibility from lower IT operating costs and enhanced data security.

SAP uses Citrix internally to provide access to SAP and 40+ other applications and, as a result, have lowered their total cost of ownership by over 35%. Citrix and SAP are global partners and collaborate around a number of technology and customer facing initiatives.

The scalability analysis for SAP running on IBM System x hardware provides Citrix Presentation Server architects, System Integrators, and project managers with data to help design and capacity plan a Citrix Presentation server environment.

This study also provides a description of the testing environment as well as the workflows executed to gather the scalability data. By leveraging the methodology and workflows used in this analysis, similar testing scenarios can be performed to benchmark future or alternative hardware platforms.

This Citrix white paper looks at:
- Test methods
- Scripted test
- Real user test
- Real users with task list
- Combination
- Scalability test methods summary
- SAP scalability testing method on IBM System X
- Test environment
- Hardware specifications
- Software specifications
- Windows server 2003 environment
- Citrix presentation server configuration
- SAP configuration
- Mercury loadrunner configuration
- Scalability methodology
- Testing process
- Planning the test
- Creating vUser scripts
- Benchmarking
- Creating the scenario
- Running the scenario
- Monistoring the scenario
- Analyzing test results
- Measurements
- Scalability Analysis for Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 32b
- Scalability Analysis for Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 x64
- Workflows

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