Preface ... 21 Acknowledgments ... 29 PART I SAP and Enterprise Computing: The Basics 1. SAP: The Company ... 33 The Beginnings of SAP ... 33 Examining the Growth of SAP ... 34 SAP in the 1980s ... 34 SAP in the 1990s ... 35 Entering the New Millennium ... 36 SAP Today ... 37 Conclusion ... 39 2. The SAP Approach to Enterprise Software ... 41 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP ... 41 The Origins of Standard Business Software ... 43 The Challenge of Integration ... 43 Overview of SAP NetWeaver ... 44 Uniting IT and Business Requirements ... 45 Open Application Environment ... 46 Using Composite Applications ... 46 SAP Support for Business Processes ... 47 SAP and Big Data ... 49 Where Is SAP Headed ... 50 Cloud Computing ... 50 Mobile Computing ... 52 Self-Services for Increased Efficiency ... 53 Benefits of Using SAP Software ... 54 Conclusion ... 55 3. Business Suite 7 Overview ... 57 Overview of Business Suite Solutions ... 58 SAP ERP ... 58 SAP Customer Relationship Management ... 60 SAP Supplier Relationship Management ... 61 SAP Product Lifecycle Management ... 62 SAP Supply Chain Management ... 63 SAP Business Suite 7 Benefits ... 63 Conclusion ... 65 PART II SAP Products 4. SAP ERP Financials ... 69 How SAP ERP Financials Fits in an Enterprise ... 69 Optimized Cash Flow ... 70 Better Business Insight ... 72 SAP ERP Financials and Analytics ... 72 Improved Compliance ... 73 A Closer Look at SAP ERP Financials ... 76 Key Features and Functions ... 76 Industry-Specific Financial Management ... 79 SAP Simple Finance ... 80 SAP ERP Financials Case Study 1 ... 80 Phase 1: Cash, Debt, and Investment Management ... 81 Phase 2: Global Cash Visibility ... 82 Phase 3: Straight-Through Processing ... 83 Phase 4: Hedging of Foreign Exchange ... 83 SAP ERP Financials Case Study 2 ... 84 The Challenges ... 85 The SAP Solution ... 85 Conclusion ... 85 5. SAP ERP Operations ... 87 SAP ERP Operations Overview ... 88 Product Development and Collaboration ... 88 Procurement ... 89 Operations: Sales and Customer Service ... 90 Operations: Manufacturing ... 90 Enterprise Asset Management ... 93 Operations: Cross Functions ... 93 Collaborating with Value Chain Partners ... 93 A Closer Look at SAP ERP Operations ... 94 SAP ERP Operations Solution Map ... 94 Key Features and Functions ... 95 Product Development and Collaboration ... 97 Procurement ... 99 Operations: Sales and Customer Service ... 103 Operations: Manufacturing ... 104 SAP Enterprise Asset Management ... 106 Operations: Cross Functions ... 108 SAP ERP Operations Case Study 1 ... 110 The Challenges ... 110 The SAP Solution ... 110 The Benefits ... 111 SAP ERP Operations Case Study 2 ... 111 The Challenges ... 112 The SAP Solution ... 112 The Benefits ... 112 Conclusion ... 113 6. SAP ERP Human Capital Management ... 115 How SAP ERP HCM Fits in an Enterprise ... 116 Workforce Process Automation to Improve Efficiency ... 117 Improving Talent Management ... 117 More Efficient Workforce Deployment Management ... 118 End-User Service Delivery ... 118 Gaining Insights through SAP ERP HCM Analytics ... 119 A Closer Look at SAP ERP HCM ... 120 Key Features and Functions ... 121 Talent Management ... 122 SAP Visualization ... 123 Workforce Process Management ... 126 Workforce Deployment Management ... 127 End-User Service Delivery ... 128 HR Renewal ... 128 SAP ERP HCM Case Study 1 ... 129 The Challenges ... 130 The SAP Solution ... 130 Looking toward the Future ... 131 SAP ERP HCM Case Study 2 ... 132 The Challenges ... 132 The SAP Solution ... 132 The Benefits ... 133 Conclusion ... 133 7. SuccessFactors ... 135 SuccessFactors Components and the Cloud ... 135 A Closer sakriti opis