If you’re interested in the information technology sector, there is far more to it than coding or cybersecurity. Consider a career in Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing — also known as SAP. SAP software refers to a range of software products sold by the German company of the same name. 

Founded in 1972, SAP is considered the fourth largest software company in the world and produces on-premises traditional software as well as cloud software. The software conglomerate serves over 440,000 customers in over 180 countries. 

There are several SAP training programs available to help get you well versed and up to speed in the technology. This can make you a competitive candidate for a slew of positions in information technology and with major companies in the game. 

But first, it is important you have the proper background information. In today’s article, we’re covering some of the most popular software produced by SAP and how they can benefit your business. 

Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERP)

ERP system software, or enterprise resource planning system software, uses the latest technologies – such as machine learning and AI – to offer intelligence, visibility, and efficiency across every aspect of a business. If your company is in dire need of a streamlined process to manage its daily operations, an ERP system software may be the way to go. 

An ERP system software integrates into every core system needed to run a company, including:

  • Finance
  • HR
  • Manufacturing
  • Supply chain
  • Services
  • Procurement, and others

The SAP ERP combines these processes into a single system so that they are easy to manage. Here are some of the benefits associated with an ERP:

  • Higher productivity 
  • Better insights
  • Accelerated reporting
  • Lower risk
  • Simpler IT
  • Improved agility 

SAP Anywhere

SAP also has capabilities in the cloud computing sector. SAP Anywhere is a cloud-based operation management solution that provides business functionalities in the following areas of business:

  • Customer relationship management
  • Order fulfillment
  • Multi-channel commerce
  • Inventory management

If your company uses SAP Anywhere, you can easily manage and track inventory, handle orders, and control the procurement process. The software also offers access to real-time visibility across all warehouses and sales channels.

Support is offered via online training videos, FAQs and phone. If you ever need to contact customer service, SAP’s support system is well-versed in the following:

  • Social media support
  • Customer self-service
  • Customer reporting

SAP Anywhere is the Sell app. This solution features a mobile-first design, which allows users access to information remotely from a mobile device.

Additionally, SAP Anywhere can easily integrate with Google Sheets, Order Matrix and Pay and ShipStation. It offers a subscription license for a one-time fee with an option to add channels and users monthly. 

SAP HANA

SAP HANA is one of the company’s newer software and can be used in person or on the cloud. The program is a combination of hardware and software, which integrates different components of the SAP product line, including:

  • SAP HANA Database
  • SAP SLT (System Landscape Transformation) Replication server
  • SAP HANA Direct Extractor connection
  • Sybase Replication’

What makes SAP HANA so appealing to users is its ability to process a large amount of real-time data in a short time period. This is due to SAP’s in-memory technology which powers fast processing speeds. 

In addition, SAP HANA can access a wide range of data sources including structured and unstructured data from SAP or Non-SAP data source.

The biggest upside is that SAP HANA can reduce the total IT cost for a company.

Supply Chain Management

So, what exactly is supply chain management (SCM)? Supply chain management refers to the management of goods or services, including the movements of materials down the production pipeline as well as the storage. It follows the life cycle of a company’s goods from start to finish. 

SAP Supply Chain Management is a software that uses real-time analytics and tracking to improve lead times and service levels. 

Here are some notable features:

  • Forecasting via statistical modeling and machine learning algorithms to make accurate short-, mid-, and long-term predictions
  • Inventory optimization by setting targets to maximize profits
  • Sales and operations planning
  • Partner and supplier collaboration
  • Improve the flow of material using techniques for demand-driven material requirements planning (MRP)
  • Optimize supply management
  • Intuitive, visual dashboards for user-friendliness 
  • Quick and easy onboarding for teammates to seamlessly adapt

These are just a few of the many different software offered by SAP. SAP is a paid service with plenty of returns for your business. If within your budget, you should highly consider implementing SAP into your hardware. If not, there are several free alternatives that can also help boost productivity and sales for your business.