SAP Solution: S/4 Finance

It's more than a release upgrade, and SAP knows that about digital transformation. Nevertheless, with the latest ERP version and an in-memory computing database, it is trying to convince the SAP community that Hana, Fiori, Cloud and S/4 are sufficient.

With the Act on the Digitization of the Energy Transition, the productive start of smart meters can get underway. Meter operators must establish complete process support for smart metering as quickly as possible. An efficient process design can be realized on the basis of SAP IS-U, the SAP IM4G add-on and a market communication component.

There is always room for improvement, and working with SAP software is always subject to a learning curve. Were the many modifications really necessary?

There are always two sides. When two argue, there are sometimes three opinions. So is SAP Business Suite 7 a legacy, a mature product, or a wealth of experience?

Let's forget all the marketing and the fine words of the Sapphire keynotes: S/4 Finance and S/4 Logistics are add-ons - similar to the well-known Enhancement Packages (EhP) - for SAP Business Suite 7 on Hana (SoH). You can get started quickly with them, but you can't live with them sustainably.

Can the new S/4 Business Suite deliver on the promise of a "digital core for digital business processes" for supply chain and logistics as well? An initial reality check reveals: The goal is becoming (more) visible on the horizon with each new release. But there is still a long way to go until then.