SAP Story on Shiksha.com

What is SAP?

SAP stands for Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing. It is a product of SAP AG, Walldorf, Germany. It is not easy to define SAP in a specific definition. It is a multidimensional product. It has to be viewed and understood through various angles and perspectives to understand it. SAP is a system, an ERP product, an IT Tool, an IT enabled System (ITeS), an enterprise application, to execute the business process through the various department of the business in an integrated manner. Examples of business processes are such as:-

1.      Procure to pay (material procurement process)

2.      Order to collection (material sales process)

Integrated process means that all the subsequent activities of the process are dependent on its predecessor. If the any activity gets blocked/stopped/unfinished, subsequent owner of next step cannot do anything. It is a natural tendency of employees to flout the rules of doing the process in the absence of any enforcement factor such as an ERP system. It ensures that employees follow the rules and predetermined set of activities to complete a process. It brings discipline in the employees to follow the defined process without any violation.

Integration also means that two departments are involved while executing a transaction and records for both the department has to be updated simultaneously to have accuracy and consistency in the transaction. Integration of financial accounting with all types of goods movement is suitable example and SAP does it automatically. In the absence of SAP, both of these departments have to work together and two employees from these two departments have to work together in tandem to complete the transaction.

SAP ERP is a transactional system while SAP BI is a reporting system (based on data from SAP ERP). SAP APO, BPC, TR are planning tool based on data from SAP ERP system.

From technological advancement point of view current version of SAP is ECC 6.0 with EP 7. ECC stands for Enterprise Central Component (i.e. ERP) and EP stands for Enhancement Pack. Having ECC 6.0 implemented is mandatory to run the business. Putting up the enhancement pack is optional but desirable to use latest features of SAP ERP system

What are its various applications across domains?

SAP an ERP product, consists of various modules, as given below:-

1.      Materials Management (MM)

2.      Sales and Distribution (SD)

3.      Plant Maintenance (PM)

4.      Project System (PS)

5.      Production Planning (PP)

6.      Quality Management (QM)

7.      Production Planning for Process Industry (PP-PI)

8.      Financial Accounting (FI)

9.      Controlling (CO)

There are other ways of defining the modules from business or process perspective:-

1.      Manage Financial Operation (MFO) – FI

2.      Manage Operation (MOP) – CO

3.      Manage Supply Sourcing (MSS) – MM

4.      Manage Logistic (MLO) – MM

5.      Fulfil Order (FOR) – SD

6.      Production Order (PRO) – PP

7.      Build and Maintain Infrastructure (BMI) – (it includes both PM and PS)

8.      Managing Total Quantity (MTQ) – QM

Advance modules of SAP (add on components) which sits on the ECC (ERP) are as follows)

1.      BI-Business Intelligence (MIS reporting system)

2.      APO – Advance Planning and optimizer (supply chain planning)

3.      TR – Treasury Module

4.      BPC – Business Planning and Consolidation

What is the eligibility to pursue a SAP course?‎

Eligibility to pursue SAP courses is not well defined but what market is looking forward is explained as follows. A fresher must have engineering degree (in mechanical, production or industrial engineering) with relevant work experience of minimum 2 years to take course in SAP MM, PM and PP module. Charted Accountant or MBA in finance is required for FI and CO module. For SD module any graduation with minimum 4 years of experience in sales and distribution or MBA in Marketing (may be combined with finance) with minimum 2 years of experience is required. PS, TR and BPC modules are suggested for experience consultant in FI&CO.

In spite of these specific qualifications, there are cases where engineers or commerce graduate are doing FICO and SD consulting. Formal education is one thing but work experience in a specific domain and inclination to learn and excel in other areas drives what module can be pursued by the individual. Moreover, one has to learn other modules during the course of SAP consulting to advance in the career. SAP career starts as Analyst, and advances as consultant, senior consultant, team lead, solution architect / principal consultant / project manager.

Hence, one may start in a specific module as per his/her qualification, work experience or inclination but end up in learning other modules as well.

What are the types of SAP courses and certifications (with the duration and fee range for each course)?

SAP courses are done for specific modules. Hence there are as many courses as the number of modules are there. Duration varies from 27 working days by SAP education partners to 60 working days by non-SAP education partners. Education partners charges hefty fees for the course and they are eligible for issuing certificates. ATOS, Lithium Genovate, NIIT, HCL and JK Technosoft, are some authorised SAP education partner. They may charge between 3-4 lakhs per module for the course and certification exam (online). Every year or two year they keep revising the fee.

Non-SAP education partner, like other institutes are spread across the metro and tire -II cities and IT HUBs like Pune, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Comparatively they charge few thousands for the course but quality of education and learning is also doubtful. Credibility of such institute is very low and employers do not prefer such candidates. Such institutes are good for those who have the opportunity to work on SAP in their organization but in-house training is not good enough to make them a SAP consultant.

What is its career relevance, i.e. scope after pursuing a SAP (IT) course?

One should not directly take plunge into the field of SAP. It takes lot of planning, money and risk taking abilities to make career in this field.

Traditionally, SAP consultants have come from the projects. Either IT organization or the SAP client/customers groom their employees as SAP consultant. Either employees are sponsored for certified course and exam or they are trained in-house by the trainer. Such individuals are lucky to get into the field of SAP with the support of employer with hands on experience on implementation and support project without any risk.

But if someone does not get this opportunity by the employer and he/she wants to get into this field on their own then it involves lot of strategy, money and risk. One has to be very enterprising to go through the learning experience and then finding a suitable job.

To pursue the course in SAP full time one has to leave the current job. Part time courses are also there. One should be ready to do job with less pay package in small companies to gain hands on work experience. If the current job salary is very high then one can opt for certified course and exams. Certified consultants have better credibility in the job market and can be directly employed by tier-I company, but may be with less pay package than the current job.

Starting may be tough but journey is enjoyable. It may involve lot of travelling for implementation project but support projects are peaceful does not involve frequent travelling