The digital transformation has fundamentally changed the way companies operate and remain competitive. At the heart of this transformation is often the implementation and optimization of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as SAP®, which make it possible to integrate, automate and simplify business processes. The evolution of SAP product versions, the introduction of the SAP® Business Technology Platform (BTP) and the transformative GROW® and RISE with SAP® offerings are key milestones on the path to digital excellence. In this context, Sysparency presents the SYSPARENCY Business Success Roadmap, a visionary methodology on how AI-generated specifications of SAP® custom programs can usher in a new era of SAP® usage characterized by unprecedented transparency and efficiency.
The evolution of SAP®, from the early versions to SAP S/4HANA® and the cloud-first strategy, demonstrates the continuous innovation to meet the demands of modern business. The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), GROW and RISE with SAP® are central elements of this transformation by offering companies a comprehensive solution for digital transformation.
The evolution of SAP - A brief overview
From its beginnings with R/2 to the revolutionary R/3 architecture to the latest developments of SAP S/4HANA and the cloud-first strategy, SAP® has continuously innovated to meet the demands of modern business. Each version brought improvements in usability, functionality, integration and real-time data processing that helped companies optimize their operations and make informed decisions. Historically, companies have followed SAP’s product roadmap and benefited from the innovative features and advances in digitalization:
1972: Foundation of SAP
- SAP was founded in Mannheim, Germany, in 1972 by five former IBM employees. The aim was to develop software solutions that simplify and automate data processing and management in companies.
1973: SAP R/1
- The first version, SAP R/1 (Real-time data processing/1), a financial accounting system, was launched on the market. It ran on mainframes and offered real-time data processing.
1979: SAP R/2
- With the introduction of SAP R/2, SAP expanded its product range to include an integrated system that went beyond financial accounting and supported other business functions such as materials management and human resources. SAP R/2 was designed for mainframe environments.
1992: SAP R/3
- The introduction of SAP R/3 marked a turning point. It was a client-server version that found wider acceptance in companies of different sizes. SAP R/3 offered modular software that enabled companies to integrate different business processes and manage them in real time.
2000s: ERP Central Component (ECC) and NetWeaver
- SAP R/3 was further developed into the SAP ERP Central Component (ECC) in order to further improve the integration of applications and platforms. SAP NetWeaver was introduced as the technological basis for the integration of business processes and data.
2011: SAP HANA
- With SAP HANA, a revolutionary in-memory database, SAP offered a platform that enabled real-time analysis and transactions on a single data platform. This paved the way for the next generation of business applications.
2015: SAP S/4HANA
- SAP S/4HANA was introduced as the successor to SAP ECC, optimized for the SAP HANA database. It offered simplified data models, improved user experience with SAP Fiori and the ability to process business processes in real time.
SAP S/4HANA Cloud
- The launch of SAP S/4HANA Cloud represented SAP’s commitment to cloud computing by offering a flexible, scalable and easy-to-manage cloud version of S/4HANA. This enabled companies of all sizes to benefit from the advantages of S/4HANA in a cloud environment, with regular updates and innovations without the need for extensive on-premise infrastructure.
Present and future
- SAP continues to focus on cloud solutions, intelligent technologies and the expansion of its ecosystem through partnerships and integrations. The development of SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a continuous process that aims to use the latest technologies to meet the requirements of the digital economy and support companies in their digital transformation.
SAP’s development roadmap shows a clear direction towards more artificial intelligence, 100% standardization of the SAP core system and a cloud-only value proposition to meet the ever-changing demands of the business world.
SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP)
The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) marks a turning point in the way companies approach their digital transformations. As a holistic, integrated suite, BTP offers a wide range of cloud-based services and technologies designed to simplify business processes, accelerate innovation and pave the way to the digital future.
SAP BTP acts as the backbone for digital transformation by bringing together data management, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), analytics and business process integration in a single, coherent environment. It serves as a central platform that enables companies to develop, integrate and extend applications to effectively manage their business challenges. By using SAP HANA database technology, BTP enables large amounts of data to be processed quickly in real time, helping companies to make informed decisions faster.
Customers benefit from SAP BTP in a variety of ways. Firstly, the platform enables improved data integration and management by providing uniform access to data from different sources. This facilitates consistent data analysis and interpretation across the entire company. Secondly, BTP promotes innovation by providing advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning that enable companies to develop intelligent applications that provide predictions, automation and improved customer experiences. Thirdly, the platform supports the agility and flexibility of companies by enabling them to adapt quickly to changing business requirements through the simple integration and expansion of applications.
RISE with SAP®
RISE with SAP® marks a transformative initiative aimed at supporting companies on their path to digital transformation. This comprehensive solution is designed to simplify and accelerate the transition to an intelligent enterprise by bringing together a range of tools, services and best practices into a single, unified offering. It is a Business Transformation as a Service (BTaaS) offering designed to help customers make the transition to the intelligent enterprise by providing everything they need for the transformation – from the necessary software solutions and infrastructure to supporting services.
The concept behind “Rise with SAP” aims to enable companies to transform in a simplified way by offering a holistic solution tailored to the specific needs and requirements of each company. The main components of “Rise with SAP” include:
- SAP S/4HANA Cloud: This is the next generation of the SAP ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system that runs entirely in the cloud. It offers intelligent, integrated business processes that help companies to optimize and simplify their workflows.
- Business Process Intelligence: This component helps companies to understand and analyze their current business processes in order to identify areas for improvement and automation.
- Technology and platform services: “Rise with SAP” provides access to the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), which offers a variety of technologies and services for the development, integration and extension of business applications.
- SAP Business Network: Integration with the SAP Business Network enables companies to digitize their supply chain and communicate and collaborate more efficiently with suppliers, manufacturers and other business partners.
- Tools and services for cloud migration and implementation: SAP offers support and tools to facilitate the transition to the cloud and ensure rapid implementation of SAP solutions.
- Flexible subscription model: “Rise with SAP” is offered as a subscription that enables companies to better control their costs and optimize their IT investments.
Rise with SAP” is designed to enable customers to innovate their business models, improve business processes and gain faster access to innovation, while reducing complexity and achieving greater flexibility in their IT landscapes. It is a key part of SAP’s strategy to support companies on their digital transformation journey and help them become more resilient, efficient and intelligent.
SYSPARENCY Business Success Roadmap: The Vision
The SYSPARENCY Business Success Roadmap integrates these developments into a comprehensive strategy specifically designed to revolutionize the transparency and efficiency of SAP® customizations through the use of AI. At the heart of this strategy is the use of AI-generated explanations, specifications and documentation for individual SAP programs in ABAP, which introduces a new dimension to software development and maintenance. The Sysparency Business Success Roadmap highlights the importance of AI for SAP development, using machine learning and data analytics to generate explanations, specifications and documentation to shorten development times and simplify maintenance.
The development of individual SAP solutions is often time-consuming and resource-intensive. The SYSPARENCY Roadmap uses AI to transform this process. Through machine learning and advanced data analysis, AI can generate precise specifications for ABAP developments that not only shorten development time, but also improve the quality and efficiency of solutions. These AI-supported specifications enable in-depth transparency into the functionality of individual customizations, help to reduce errors and facilitate the maintenance and update of custom code.
The implementation of AI-generated specifications for ABAP developments promotes unprecedented transparency in the SAP landscape. Companies can understand exactly how individual customizations work, which data is processed and how this affects business processes. This transparency makes it possible to identify inefficient processes, minimize risks and improve compliance. It also facilitates communication between specialist departments and IT teams by creating a clear understanding of the technical solutions and their business impact.
The SYSPARENCY Business Success Roadmap shows a clear path for companies to reach the next level of digital transformation. By integrating AI into the development and maintenance of SAP solutions, companies can react to changes faster, more flexibly and more efficiently. This approach promises to fundamentally change the way companies use and customize SAP solutions by creating a foundation for continuous improvement and innovation.
This strategy promises a fundamental change in the further development of historically grown SAP® systems by bringing transparency to the functionality of individual customizations. Unique selling points implemented in SAP® technology as individual programs and a clean-core standard SAP® system are no longer a contradiction in terms. The Sysparency Business Success Roadmap combines both strategies and thus forms a solid foundation for companies to master the challenges of the digital age and ensure long-term success. By creating transparency and accelerating digital transformation, this strategy enables companies to master the challenges of the 21st century and ensure sustainable business success.
