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
Worlds Largest Business
Software Company
Worlds 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

SAP 2009 / Page 7

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 Architecture
Three Tier Structure

SAP 2009 / Page 8

GUI: Graphical User Interface or Web

Interface
Application Server: One or more, help
distribute work load
Database Server: One single data
repository

SAP Architecture
PCs, Laptops, etc.

Browser Client

Network
Web Server
Internet
Transaction
Server

Presentati
on
Applicati
on
Databas
e

SAP 2009 / Page 9

Application
Servers

Database

SAP Enterprise System

SAP 2009 / Page 10

SD
Sales and
MM Distributio
n
Materials

Financial
AccountingCO
Controlling

Mgmt.

PP

Production
Planning

SM

FI

Service
Mgmt.

QM
Quality
Mgmt.

PM

SAP ECC 6.04

AM
Fixed Assets
Mgmt. EC

Enterprise
Client / Server
Controlling
Integrated Business PS
Project
Solution
WF System

Plant
Maintenance

HR
Human
Resources

IS

Workflow

Industry
Solutions

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 propervendor 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