Everyone agrees that SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) is one of the pillars that has been the backbone of many companies since the nineties, and strangely enough, this comprehensive set of solutions was originally designed almost 30 years ago and still finds use in the modern business world. In this article, we will discuss the SAP system, with its pros and cons.
Advantages of SAP
Integration, and solid data
One of the first things we would mention is the flexibility in integrating with business processes, for example, it is possible to make a bridge between the sales department and the warehouse department, which will ensure high-quality fast communication.
Another advantage would be the availability of a centralized database, which will ensure data purity.
Optimization and analytics:
Systems such as SAP were primarily designed to reduce the amount of paperwork, redirect resources to other, more profitable areas for the company, automate routine operations reduce the number of errors in trivial tasks, and analyze their flow in real time.
Scalability:
SAP’s modular structure allows you to expand your business as it grows, or optimize existing parts for optimal performance, adjusting to changes and ensuring that your ERP keeps pace with your company. Also, The modular system also allows you to improve the CRM system and significantly improve customer service.
Negative Aspects:
SAP implementation and Customization
It’s expensive and time-consuming to implement SAP systems in an existing business, and it necessarily disrupts some of the processes that have already been established.
Although SAP systems give you complete freedom in customization, at some point you may encounter compatibility issues, you need to keep a balance between flexibility and customization to avoid losing flexibility, otherwise, it will be very frustrating if half of your services stop working due to excessive add-ons.
I don’t want to learn it!
Another big problem after the SAP system has been integrated is the complexity of the platform itself for your employees to use. Adaptation may take longer than you expected, and the platform’s UI will not help you with this.
Maintenance and support
Costs can and likely will increase over time, and you will need to invest in staff and third-party services to keep SAP running smoothly.
Conclusion:
The release of SAP was, without exaggeration, a turning point in the history of business, the system allowed companies to digitize established processes and optimize them to a completely different level. But there is one thing: when implementing SAP, you need to understand all the nuances described above, from the balance of customization to the high price and problems with integration into the workflow. You have to keep a balance between the positive and negative factors so that the disadvantages are covered by the long list of benefits provided by the system.
