Summary

SAP Overview Workshop for Participants

Parminder led a workshop on SAP overview, aiming to bring participants from different backgrounds to a common platform. The workshop covered the basics of SAP, S/4 Hana, and ECC, as well as different business processes and their integration. The role of consultants, end users, and super users was discussed, along with various project phases and types. The session also touched on system navigation, which would be covered in a subsequent workshop. Participants were encouraged to ask questions via chat, and any unanswered queries would be addressed via email.

SAP: Enterprise Resource Planning Overview

Parminder discussed the concept of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, emphasizing that ERP is a software that integrates business processes. He explained that as businesses grow, they require more complex software to manage their operations. Parminder highlighted that SAP is a flagship ERP system, used by 8 out of 10 Fortune 500 companies, due to its strong integration and customization capabilities. He also noted that SAP is a complex system, requiring specialized skills for implementation. The discussion concluded with an overview of SAP products and journeys.

SAP S/4 Hana Training Importance

Parminder discussed the importance of learning SAP's latest product, S/4 Hana, over the older ECC version. He explained that ECC is an older version of SAP's product, which will be obsolete by 2030, and 80% of SAP clients will move to S/4 Hana. He emphasized that learning S/4 Hana is crucial for career success in the SAP industry. Parminder also mentioned that their training program includes both mastery and excellence levels, covering core business processes, configuration, and end-to-end processes. He encouraged participants to enroll in their bundle programs for access to live sessions and full bundle access.

SAP S/4hana Cloud System Differences

Parminder explained the differences between on-premise, private cloud, and public cloud systems for SAP S/4HANA. On-premise systems are owned and managed by the company, while private cloud systems are rented from companies like AWS or Google Cloud Platform. Public cloud systems are subscription-based and managed by SAP. The main difference between private cloud and public cloud is the interface, with public cloud only working on the fury screen. The adoption of public cloud is currently low, with most projects being on private cloud or on-premise. Parminder also mentioned that there are additional training videos available for further details on the differences between these systems.

Understanding Business Processes in SAP

Parminder discussed the importance of understanding business processes in SAP, emphasizing that a functional consultant should have a strong grasp of these processes. He explained the end-to-end process, starting from the sales order, and the different documents required, such as inquiries and quotations. Parminder also highlighted the importance of material availability checks and the commitment to customers. He encouraged the team to work on their business process knowledge and to ask relevant questions during sessions.

Material Availability Check Process Explained

Parminder discussed the process of material availability check and its impact on different departments. He explained that if material is not available, it triggers a process in the planning module, specifically the Material Requirement Planning (MRP). The MRP identifies the shortage quantity and creates a planned order for production. If the material is not available, the MRP also creates a purchase requisition to procure the required material. Parminder emphasized the importance of understanding these integrations between modules. He also clarified that if a source is available, the purchase acquisition can be directly converted into a purchase order, but if not, a request for quotations (RFQ) process is initiated.

Integration of Goods Receipt Process

Parminder discussed the integration of various processes in a system, including goods receipt, finance, and vendor payment. He explained how the finance team gets connected during the goods receipt process and how the system generates liabilities to be paid to the vendor. Parminder also touched on the procurement process, including the creation of purchase orders and the identification of suppliers. He clarified that the terms "Otc" and "Sd" are often used interchangeably in their current project. Parminder also mentioned the concept of planned orders and their conversion into production orders. He highlighted the importance of understanding the full picture of the order-to-cash process and its links with other processes.

Ariba Integration and Module Selection

Parminder discussed the integration of Ariba with the MM module, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right modules based on current experience and interest. He also mentioned the availability of detailed sessions on Ariba integration and the possibility of integrating Quality Management (QM) with the process. Parminder advised attendees to reach out to the support team for guidance on module selection and to put their detailed questions in the support email. He also clarified that the process of goods receipt and quotation is available in depth in Ariba.

Understanding Business Process Integration in SAP

Parminder discussed the importance of understanding business process integration in SAP. He emphasized that consultants need to grasp the concept of integration to succeed in their roles. Parminder also highlighted the significance of having a commerce background for a career in SAP. He explained that integrations are crucial in the implementation process and that consultants often struggle with this aspect. He also mentioned that the training is designed for private cloud and on-premise systems. Parminder further explained that integrations are required in various modules, and consultants need to be flexible to join different sessions for these integrations. He also mentioned that the training includes sessions on automatic account determination, stock transfer orders, and product costing.

SAP Transaction Process Setup Requirements

Parminder discussed the requirements for setting up a transaction process in the SAP system. He emphasized the need for enterprise structure, master data, and configurations. He explained that the enterprise structure includes the company structure, department structure, and how many different sales and purchasing departments would be there. The master data includes the customer, material, and general ledger accounts. Configurations include the order type and enterprise structure. Parminder also mentioned that the consultant is responsible for setting up these processes, while the business team handles the master data after the implementation. He also touched on the need for developments if the business requirements cannot be met through configurations and master data.

SAP Implementation Roles and Training

Parminder discussed the importance of understanding the different roles and projects in the SAP implementation process. He explained that end users are the real customers who use the system, while core users and super users are involved in the project and handle level one support. Consultants can work in various roles such as implementation, support, testing, master data, training, and solution architecture. Parminder also mentioned that the landscape and navigation of the SAP system would be covered in the next workshop. He emphasized that the training provided is comprehensive and includes a self-paced course, job and mastery, and implementation project exposure. He also mentioned that the training covers different types of projects such as Greenfield, Brownfield, rollout, support, discovery, and proof of concept.

Enrollment Process for Mastery Bundle

Parminder discussed the enrollment process for a bundle that includes pre-recorded and live sessions. He mentioned that the live sessions are around 40 hours, with the possibility of going up to 50 hours, and that the total effort required to complete the course is around 240 hours over three months. Parminder also clarified that the bundle does not offer lifetime access, but rather access to the platform for a year. He suggested that the best way to gain experience is through an internship, which is included in the subscription to the mastery and excellence bundle. Parminder also addressed questions about the number of recorded sessions and the effort required to complete the course. He encouraged anyone interested to reach out to the support team for further information.