Introduce SAP
By Robert Hurt PhD, CFE
Accounting Department
Introduction to SAP
• The company
• The software
• Systems architecture
• Workplace demand
• University involvement
SAP
• Systems, Applications, and
Products in Data Processing
(SAP)
– Origins
• IBM development team
• Rejected by IBM due to
perceived high risk and
low profitability
• Intellectual property
remained with the
development team
• Started SAP on that basis
© SAP 2009 / Page 3
– Name of the Company
• SAP AG
• SAP America
• SAP UK
– Name of the Software
• SAP® R/2®
• SAP® R/3®
• SAP ECC 6.04
Who is SAP?
•
SAP AG
– Founded in Waldorf, Germany in
1972
– World’s Largest Business Software
Company
– World’s Third-largest Independent
Software Provider
• Company Statistics
– Sales and Development locations in
more than 50 countries
– 97,000 customers in more than 120
countries
– 74% of the Forbes 500 companies
run SAP
Source: SAP AG website
© SAP 2009 / Page 4
What is SAP® ERP?
• Worldwide usage
• Designed to satisfy the information needs for
business (small local to large all international)
– Multi-lingual
– Multi-currency
• Designed to satisfy the information needs for all
industries
© SAP 2009 / Page 5
SAP ERP
• Enables a company to link their business
processes
• Ties together disparate business functions
(integrated business solution)
• Helps the organization run smoothly
• Real-time environment
• Scalable and flexible
© SAP 2009 / Page 6
SAP Architecture
• Client/Server Environment
– Client – hardware/software environment that can
make a request for services for a central
repository of resources
– Server – hardware/software combination that can
provide services to a group of clients in a
controlled environment
© SAP 2009 / Page 7
SAP Architecture
• Three – Tier Structure
– GUI: Graphical User Interface or Web Interface
– Application Server: One or more, help distribute
work load
– Database Server: One single data repository
© SAP 2009 / Page 8
SAP Architecture
PCs, Laptops, etc.
Browser Client
Network
Web Server
Internet
Transaction
Server
Presentation
Application
Application
Servers
Database
Database
© SAP 2009 / Page 9
SAP Enterprise System
SD
MM
PP
SM
Service
Mgmt.
Materials
Mgmt.
Production
Planning
QM
Quality
Mgmt.
Sales and
Distribution
PM
Financial
Accounting
CO
Controlling
AM
SAP ECC 6.04
Client / Server
Integrated Business
Solution
Plant Maintenance
HR
Human
Resources
© SAP 2009 / Page 10
FI
IS
Industry
Solutions
Fixed Assets
Mgmt. EC
PS
WF
Workflow
Enterprise
Controlling
Project
System
Workplace demand
• Monster.com
Over 250 listings for accountants with ERP
knowledge / experience
• Robert Half International
Over 100 listings within California for accountants
with ERP knowledge / experience
Workplace demand
• Selected duties & qualifications from position listings
– Maintain proper vendor master files in SAP by overseeing
vendor set up and performing maintenance, deactivation, etc.
as needed on a regular basis.
– Review bills of materials and routings for completeness and
usability in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system
– Experience with a major ERP System
– Proficiency with ERP System such as Oracle or SAP is required
Workplace demand
• Selected duties & qualifications from position
listings
– Complete asset transfers and asset disposals in SAP
– Calculate depreciation expense in SAP on existing assets
– Conduct fixed asset audit program at plants including. .
.update records in SAP
– Set up approved capital projects in SAP
– Capitalize new assets in SAP system