SAP ERP software and modules
SAP ERP software and modules help businesses get real-time updates across the organization. Our experts and writers tackle the issues posed by SAP's staggering array of modules -- from the traditional core modules such as financial accounting and controlling to newer offerings -- including implementation strategies and best practices.
Top Stories
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Feature
20 Dec 2023
Evaluating today's 8 leading ERP software vendors
Here's an overview to help you understand the strengths, market positioning and major product lines of eight leaders in ERP, with quick takes from industry analysts. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Dec 2023
10 ERP trends for 2024 and beyond
AI-driven automation is fast transforming an ERP market that continues its long march to the cloud, as many buyers seek modernization, efficiency and help with ESG reporting. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Dec 2023
Explaining the hidden costs of ERP implementations
It's easy to know what the software costs, but what about variables like customization, productivity and training? Experts reveal the pitfalls so you can avoid expensive surprises. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Dec 2023
ERP implementation: 10 steps for success
Follow these well-trod steps, line up the best people, be fully aware of the most common mistakes, and use the right metrics to ensure your ERP project delivers on its promises. Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2023
Accenture, SAP partner on supply chain visibility
A partnership between Accenture and SAP builds supply chain capabilities on SAP IBP that enables organizations to identify and respond to changes in supply, demand and inventory. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Oct 2023
Grow with SAP tries to make midmarket a big market
Midmarket organizations may find S/4HANA Cloud via Grow with SAP an attractive vehicle to the cloud. But SAP faces challenges in going after the market segment. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2023
SAP dangles bigger carrots for S/4HANA Cloud, Rise
SAP unveiled products and services to spur cloud migrations, including the new S/4HANA Cloud, private edition; a premium plus package for Rise with SAP; and migration services. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2023
GenAI moves into enterprise spend at SAP Spend Connect
At Spend Connect Live, SAP unveiled plans to embed generative AI into its spend management applications and introduced its Spend Control Tower for enterprise spend analysis. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2023
SAP joins generative AI crowd with Joule
SAP's Joule is the company's generative AI assistant for its cloud portfolio, but the technology is still in the early stages and the ERP giant will need to prove its value. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Jun 2023
Arista ditches spreadsheets, email for SAP IBP
As rapid growth outstripped Arista Networks' spreadsheet-based supply chain processes, the company implemented a digital supply chain with SAP Integrated Business Planning. Continue Reading
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Conference Coverage
01 Jun 2023
SAP Sapphire 2023 news, trends and analysis
The conference showed SAP is responding to the demand for generative AI and highlighted SAP cloud products, services and testimonials from companies that have moved to the cloud. Continue Reading
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Podcast
31 May 2023
SAP AI initiatives expand on several fronts at Sapphire 2023
TechTarget editors discuss SAP AI announcements and demos unveiled at Sapphire 2023 conferences in Orlando and Barcelona, including SAP's generative AI partnership with Microsoft. Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
ERP roundup: SAP partners unveil new products at Sapphire
At SAP Sapphire 2023, SAP partners and ISVs displayed products and services aimed at automating processes, improving security and managing moves to S/4HANA Cloud. Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2023
SAP's new sustainability ledger tracks carbon emissions
If companies want to improve sustainability efforts, they will need to treat environmental reporting like financial accounting. SAP unveiled the green ledger to facilitate this. Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2023
SAP pushes business-grade AI, but customers aren't biting
Business-oriented AI headlined this week's SAP Sapphire, which includes new partnerships with vendors like Microsoft, but customers expressed only cursory interest. Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2023
SAP Business AI and sustainability dominate Sapphire
The new SAP Business AI, which embeds AI into a number of SAP products, and new SAP sustainability products including its 'green ledger' highlighted the first day of SAP Sapphire. Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2023
SAP's next step for CRM? Industry-oriented CX
SAP has tightened its approach to CX, providing a composable architecture designed for specific industries that shifts away from competing with market leaders such as Salesforce. Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2023
AI, cloud and networks set to take SAP Sapphire stage
SAP Sapphire 2023 will be dominated by news about generative AI, but SAP needs to clarify information around S/4HANA Cloud and prove its products help customers solve problems. Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2023
SAP gets dose of AI with IBM Watson
SAP will now integrate IBM Watson into the SAP Start digital assistant for its cloud applications. But there are questions about how much value this adds. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Mar 2023
Jabil's S/4HANA Cloud move: Shift now, transform later
When it came time to move from SAP ECC to S/4HANA Cloud, Jabil chose to lift-and-shift systems in stages. Business transformation will come after the cloud migration. Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2023
SAP looks to grow S/4HANA Cloud presence in midmarket
Grow with SAP is a new program targeted at driving SAP S/4HANA Cloud sales in the midmarket, but can it address the perception that S/4HANA Cloud is too complex for those companies? Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2023
SAP agrees to sell Qualtrics stake for $7.7B
SAP's sale of Qualtrics reaches its final stage as it sells shares for $7.7 billion. The deal recoups the initial investment but may signal that SAP is moving out of XM software. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Feb 2023
Pandora embarks on SAP S/4HANA Cloud digital transformation
When its ERP system became outdated, Pandora chose S/4HANA Cloud for its business process transformation. The new system is expected to unify data and improve customer experience. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2023
Process mining tool provides guidance based on past projects
SAP Signavio Process Explorer is a next step in the evolution of process mining, delivering recommendations on transformation projects based on thousands of completed projects. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2023
Layoffs hit 2.5% of SAP workforce; Qualtrics up for sale
SAP is reducing its workforce in a 'targeted restructuring' and selling Qualtrics. The layoffs mimic other vendors, and the sale could benefit both companies, analysts said. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jan 2023
SAP leadership gets good grade, but has room to improve
SAP CEO Christian Klein has performed well under tough conditions, observers said, but he still must deal with challenges like improving product strategy and S/4HANA migrations. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2023
SAP's future hinges on opening up its IT stack
SAP's first 50 years centered on core ERP systems for internal business operations, but the years ahead must focus on extending functionality outside of the enterprise. Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2022
SAP Sustainability Control Tower looks to ease ESG reporting
SAP Sustainability Control Tower enables companies of all sizes to gather and manage ESG data. The revamped SaaS model focuses on better ease of use and quicker return of value. Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
SAP improves UX functionality for Intelligent Spend
At SAP Spend Connect, the vendor unveiled new updates to SAP Intelligent Spend applications, including a consumer-like buying experience and a centralized procurement capability. Continue Reading
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Podcast
14 Sep 2022
Not so stodgy: SAP 50th anniversary shows it adapts to change
Analyst Vinnie Mirchandani, author of 'SAP Nation 3.0,' says adaptability, customer loyalty and periodic management shakeups are the keys to SAP's longevity. Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2022
Santander joins SAP MBC to embed financials into processes
SAP Multi-Bank Connectivity has added Santander Bank to its partner list to help companies reduce the complexity of embedding financial services into ERP applications. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Aug 2022
At 50, SAP finds itself at another crossroads
Over its 50-year history, SAP rode business and technology trends to the top of the ERP industry, but it now is at a crossroads and will need to continue to innovate to thrive. Continue Reading
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Podcast
10 Jun 2022
How an HR-IT partnership can serve the greater good
MOD Pizza's Tara Gambill explains how enterprise IT initiatives, including the digital transformation of HR by deploying SAP SuccessFactors HXM, helped drive the chain's rapid growth. Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2022
SAP exec: Begin to prepare a sustainability strategy now
In this Q&A, SAP's Jim Sullivan discusses why sustainability has become an issue that companies need to take seriously, taking into account more regulation and consumer attitudes. Continue Reading
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Podcast
25 May 2022
SAP Sapphire 2022 models a digitally transformed future
TechTarget editors who were on site in Orlando and The Hague analyze SAP Sapphire 2022, which is being held in person for the first time since 2019 and extended to nine cities. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 May 2022
SAP innovation wing aims to shape future of ERP technology
Self-learning AI and analytics that are smart enough to launch dashboards and alerts are among the research projects that could someday become SAP products. Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2022
Sapphire 2022 provided scaled-down value
Rise with SAP took a backseat to sustainability at SAP Sapphire 2022, which returned as a live event. There were no big products announcements, just a flurry of updates. Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2022
SAP Sapphire focuses on speed, disruption, sustainability
At SAP Sapphire 2022, the ERP vendor highlighted accelerating business transformation, disruptions to supply chains and sustainability as main challenges that businesses face. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 May 2022
SAP Sapphire returns as a scaled-down live event
SAP Sapphire 2022 is back with an in-person and virtual program. Rise with SAP will be a hot topic, but SAP also needs to focus on SAP Business Network and Business Technology Platform. Continue Reading
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Podcast
27 Apr 2022
What's so special about industry clouds?
TechTarget editors discuss the emergence of industry clouds from ERP vendors, including Infor, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP. Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2022
SAP teams up with BCG on sustainability strategy
SAP and BCG combine products to enable implementing sustainability programs around eliminating carbon emissions, reducing waste and tracking environmental, social and governance information. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Apr 2022
Top SAP S/4HANA alternatives to add to your ERP shortlist
SAP S/4HANA competitors from Microsoft, Oracle and QAD have much of the capability and scalability you need but with less of the hassle. Here's how they compare. Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2022
Unilever pursues supply chain sustainability with blockchain
Unilever deploys blockchain-enabled GreenToken by SAP to help ensure the palm oil used in its products comes from responsible sources and doesn't contribute to rainforest loss. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Mar 2022
4 steps for creating an analytics strategy on SAP ECC
Many companies can benefit from analytics' capabilities, and organizations staying on SAP ECC can still create an effective analytics strategy. Learn how. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Mar 2022
5 steps for boosting SAP ECC security
Cybersecurity remains a top priority for organizations. Learn some key steps that companies with SAP ECC should follow to boost their security and stay safe. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Feb 2022
How SAP tools could help you move to continuous accounting
SAP tools like SAP Business Planning and Consolidation can help companies switch from periodic closing to continuous accounting and planning. Learn more about how it works. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2022
Solving GAAP vs. IFRS, other accounting challenges with SAP
SAP ERP products can help users with international accounting challenges like GAAP vs. IFRS. Learn how the software can potentially make the process easier. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Feb 2022
How can SAP's Financial Closing Cockpit streamline closing?
SAP's Financial Closing Cockpit and its next-generation cloud iteration could help companies manage their closing more efficiently. Learn more about the applications' capabilities. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2022
SAP reports strong Q4 earnings; acquires Taulia
SAP Q4 2021 cloud earnings were strong, and the company added to its portfolio by acquiring Taulia for cash management and investing in intelligent contract firm Icertis. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Jan 2022
What SAP product supports project-based teams?
SAP's SuccessFactors Dynamic Teams could help support project-based teams in the workplace and solve associated challenges. Learn more about the new capabilities. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Jan 2022
How can SAP IBP help address supply chain challenges?
As supply chain issues continue to affect companies, SAP's Integrated Business Planning could help improve users' supply chain management. Learn how. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Dec 2021
Should SAP users move from APO to IBP?
SAP is emphasizing its Integrated Business Planning product and moving its Advanced Planning and Optimization tools out of the spotlight. Learn whether users should transition to IBP. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Dec 2021
How can SAP's predictive analytics improve SCM?
SAP's predictive analytics could help users with their supply chain management as supply chain problems persist. Learn more about how these capabilities could benefit users. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2021
Vendors position ERP as heart of circular economy model
ERP vendors SAP and IFS are positioning themselves at the forefront of enterprise sustainability efforts just as businesses focus on reducing waste and prepare for new regulations. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Nov 2021
Overview of SuccessFactors Center of Capabilities
Here's how SuccessFactors Center of Capabilities can help identify employee abilities, employees who should be upskilled and the projects that have attracted employee interest. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Sep 2021
The at-a-glance guide to the latest SAP ERP choices
IT leaders may find it difficult to distinguish between the versions of S/4HANA. Here's a cheat sheet on the strengths and weaknesses of each. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Aug 2021
How does SAP intend to support a circular economy?
SAP's circular economy efforts include its new software Responsible Design and Production. Learn how it can help producers take responsibility for their environmental impact. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Aug 2021
Bold vision for SAP Business Network not yet a reality
SAP is trying to create a 'network of networks' with its SAP Business Network, which it unveiled in June, but it still has to knit all the elements together. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jul 2021
Deloitte SAP Industry Cloud apps aim to fill ERP gaps
The head of Deloitte's $4 billion SAP practice explains the consultancy's role in SAP's new industry applications and how Kinetic Microservices can extend S/4HANA Cloud. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Jul 2021
Which SAP software supports sustainability?
SAP is releasing new sustainability software to give organizations the environmental data they need to achieve climate targets. Learn more about each type. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Jul 2021
How does SAP Product Footprint Management work?
SAP Product Footprint Management can help companies assess and manage their environmental impact. Learn about some of the software's capabilities. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jun 2021
SAP makes play to be core of corporate sustainability efforts
SAP debuted sustainability products so that companies can measure and manage carbon emissions and participate in the circular economy. But are customers ready? Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jun 2021
A buyer's guide to customer-managed S/4HANA Any Premise
Customer-managed S/4HANA Any Premise is best for users who prefer to use a different set of tools and processes than HEC and have more control over the environment. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2021
SAP Business Network major focus at Sapphire Now 2021
SAP announced new initiatives such as the SAP Business Network to help companies become intelligent enterprises. Experts described the messaging as impressive but lacking in detail. Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Jun 2021
Sapphire 2021: Unlocking an intelligent business community
Supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic enabled SAP to rethink business networks. Now its strategy is to reduce friction so businesses can work together as a community. Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
SAP forms financial services partnership with Dediq
SAP and financial industry investment firm Dediq are forming a new business unit to develop applications that help banks and insurance firms with changing processes. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Feb 2021
Understand SAP Industry Cloud and how it works
SAP's industry-focused approach to the cloud is meant to provide vertical functionality and digital transformation with less disruption. Here are some examples. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
SAP, Microsoft partner against Salesforce
Starting in mid-2021, Microsoft and SAP plan to integrate Teams into the latter's business application portfolio. The move is seen as a response to rival Salesforce. Continue Reading
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Answer
20 Jan 2021
How can SAP Work Zone for HR help enable a digital workplace?
Part of SAP SuccessFactors HXM, Work Zone for HR is a digital workspace meant to boost employee experience. Learn more about its features and functions. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jan 2021
SAP Commerce Cloud dresses up digital storefronts
SAP Commerce Cloud is designed to help companies launch digital commerce sites, which may be useful for large enterprises and digital commerce sites with complex processes. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Jan 2021
SAP Business Network, S/4HANA critical for SAP in 2021
SAP's 2021 will be a mix of familiar challenges such as moving customers off legacy systems to S/4HANA and new opportunities such as its SAP Business Network, according to experts. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Jan 2021
What is SAP Field Service Management and what can it do?
Organizations need to get more from their technicians and field workers, and SAP Field Service Management is meant to help. Learn what it can do. Continue Reading
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News
29 Dec 2020
SAP in 2020: COVID-19, Klein takes command and Qualtrics IPO
From leadership changes to the massive disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a year like no other for SAP. Here are some of the most important SAP 2020 stories. Continue Reading
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News
28 Dec 2020
SAP files for Qualtrics IPO
SAP announced plans for a Qualtrics IPO in July. On Monday, the official paperwork was filed. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Dec 2020
What Qualtrics integration questions should IT ask of SAP?
Qualtrics has certain technical integration challenges, and IT needs to address questions to uncover what they are and how they will affect the implementation. Here's a look. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Dec 2020
How HR can best use Qualtrics in the employee lifecycle
To improve the employee experience, the problems must first be understood. Here's a look at how HR can delve into sentiment and the best moments to do so. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Dec 2020
SAP Intelligent Spend Management shows where the money goes
In this Q&A, SAP's John Wookey explains the current makeup of the SAP Intelligent Spend Management and Business Network group and how it helps companies track their spending. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Nov 2020
Does Infoporter aid SAP ERP HCM-Employee Central data migration?
Learn how SAP data migration tool Infoporter assists in moving from SAP ERP HCM to SuccessFactors Employee Central and why IT teams might find it helpful. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Oct 2020
What are some SAP license optimization best practices?
Optimizing SAP licenses is critical in today's insecure business landscape. Here are some best practices organizations can follow to lower costs and get the most from their investment. Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2020
Partnerships add more supply chain visibility to SAP LBN
New SAP Logistics Business Network partnerships provide users with key logistics data on shipment location and estimated arrival times for road, freight and ocean shipments. Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2020
Wookey returns to SAP to head Intelligent Spend unit
Industry veteran John Wookey is back at SAP to run the newly formed SAP Intelligent Spend and Business Network as SAP Ariba executive Chris Haydon departs. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Sep 2020
How can SuccessFactors CPM improve performance management?
Learn how SuccessFactors Continuous Performance Management can help more organizations realize that a good employee experience requires ongoing performance management. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Sep 2020
Real-life look at SAP intelligent RPA uses, benefits, limitations
SAP intelligent RPA works with the SAP ecosystem to help automate time-consuming processes. Learn what intelligent RPA is, how some companies are using it and a few of its limitations. Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2020
SAP sets alternatives to master/slave, blacklist/whitelist
SAP is making language for documentation, training materials and user interfaces and on websites more inclusive. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Aug 2020
How can SAP Analytics Cloud help boost business agility?
SAP Analytics Cloud is meant to boost business agility, which business leaders need now more than ever. Take a look at the tool's features and how it might help. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Aug 2020
How is SAP Climate 21 meant to reduce CO2 emissions?
SAP released program to help companies go green and achieve better sustainability. Here's a look at Climate 21 and its Product Carbon Footprint Analytics. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Aug 2020
Penn State graduates from legacy ERP to SAP S/4HANA
Penn State University recently completed a greenfield SAP S/4HANA implementation to replace an old COBOL-based system with a modern, transformative ERP. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jul 2020
Use Qualtrics surveys to boost employee engagement
SAP Qualtrics surveys may help uncover workforce sentiment so business and HR leaders can act on it and help improve employee engagement. Learn what that entails. Continue Reading
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News
23 Jul 2020
SAP and IBM deepen partnership to boost digital transformation
SAP and IBM are enhancing their longstanding partnership by teaming up to help companies develop industry-specific applications on SAP Industry Cloud and move to S/4HANA. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2020
SAP, Siemens partner to advance digital manufacturing
A new deal between SAP and Siemens combines SAP ERP systems with Siemens Teamcenter PLM platform, enabling companies to develop an end-to-end digital thread for manufacturing. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jun 2020
7 SAP S/4HANA implementation issues to address
A move to S/4HANA is critical for SAP users, but getting it right is difficult. Here's a look at seven issues to address. Continue Reading
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Podcast
23 Jun 2020
Sapphire Now 2020 unveiled a new, more forward-looking SAP
Lofty goals to fight climate change and link intelligent enterprises signaled CEO Christian Klein's intention to lead a generational shift at SAP and appeal to younger customers. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Jun 2020
What do SAP leadership changes signify for company strategy?
SAP recently announced that Jennifer Morgan was no longer co-CEO and that Christian Klein would take the helm. Learn what that means for the company's strategy. Continue Reading
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Conference Coverage
04 Jun 2020
SAP Sapphire 2020 news, trends and analysis
This year's Sapphire conference was "reimagined" as an online event for SAP to re-pitch the intelligent enterprise as key to resiliency in challenging times. See coverage here. Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2020
SAP, InstaFreight partner to reduce freight costs, complexity
The SAP Logistics Business Network integration with InstaFreight is aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of finding carriers and shipping goods throughout Europe. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 May 2020
How can SAP tools help during a COVID-19 economic downturn?
Managing cash flow, anticipating demand and getting insight into data are three critical ways to manage COVID-19's effects. Here are a few tools meant to provide those capabilities. Continue Reading
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Podcast
22 May 2020
In crisis, opportunity: Downturn in ERP industry has upside
The inaugural ERP Confab examines what the economic downturn from the pandemic means for ERP users and vendors. Plus: a deep dive into SAP and its upcoming virtual Sapphire show. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 May 2020
SAP App Center a bridge between ISVs and customers
SAP customers and ISV application developers describe how they use the SAP App Center to find and deploy useful, integrated and technically validated SAP apps. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Apr 2020
How can Employee Central boost localized COVID-19 compliance?
The SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll Localization is one of the systems' core benefits. Now, SAP has released COVID-19 legal changes monitoring. Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2020
SAP co-CEO Morgan departs, leaving Klein to fly solo
Jennifer Morgan will step down as SAP co-CEO after six months in the position. Christian Klein will become sole CEO as the ERP vendor continues to face an uncertain time. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Apr 2020
SuccessFactors implementation methodology: Overview of choices
There are three different SuccessFactors implementation methodologies. Here's the information you need in order to select the one that will work best for your company. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Apr 2020
How Concur AP automation streamlines accounts payable
Some finance departments are turning to SAP Concur for accounts payable automation to manage processes and increase accuracy. Here's what the automated process looks like. Continue Reading