Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• How can customers stay on SAP ECC and continue to innovate?

  Many SAP customers are reluctant to move to S/4HANA just yet -- or maybe ever. Here are some ways companies can optimize the SAP ERP Central Component and find ways to innovate. Continue Reading

• 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

• S/4HANA migration needs strong project management

  Vinci Energies Group shows that an SAP S/4HANA migration is a difficult project that requires strong management, but the new functions have real business value. Continue Reading

• New Onapsis service helps uncover SAP security issues

  Security firm Onapsis released its Business Risk Illustration, which helps companies assess and deal with SAP security vulnerabilities, such as the 10KBLAZE exploit. Continue Reading

• Verizon works to integrate its supply chain management system

  Verizon chief procurement officer John Vazquez explains why the company is integrating several SAP systems to help manage more than $80 billion in annual spend. Continue Reading

• SAP security risks need more attention, but patching is a challenge

  SAP organizations are more vulnerable than ever, as hackers are increasingly targeting ERP systems. Experts warn SAP customers to implement security patches early and often.Continue Reading

• UX analysis is key to S/4HANA migration at AES

  User experience software from Knoa helped an energy company choose what transactions to migrate from SAP ECC 6 on an Oracle database to an SAP HANA database, and then to S/4HANA.Continue Reading

• How does a design thinking methodology ensure your SAP apps work well?

  Gavin Quinn of Mindset Consulting shares how SAP Fiori app developers can use design thinking and Agile methodologies to ensure applications are great for users.Continue Reading

• How do you turn app designs into great SAP Fiori apps?

  Gavin Quinn of Mindset Consulting shares how SAP Fiori app developers can use certain tools and strategies to turn an app design into a great SAP Fiori app.Continue Reading

• How do I avoid having too many Fiori tiles?

  The design rule of thumb is to keep the Launchpad tile count under 20. But what about power users who need to launch more applications? Here are several good options to try.Continue Reading

• To create a real-time data analytics system, 49ers huddle with SAP

  The San Francisco 49ers teamed with SAP to develop a real-time analytics platform on SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP HANA that enhances the fan experience at Levi's Stadium.Continue Reading

• How does design thinking with SAP help Fiori development?

  SAP Fiori is more than a new UI for SAP applications; it's a comprehensive UX development platform. Gavin Quinn tells why design thinking enables you to build great Fiori apps.Continue Reading

• What are the best strategies for managing demand variability?

  One of the main challenges for manufacturers, supply chain managers and materials planners is demand variability. Here are 10 strategies for gaining control.Continue Reading

• Data managers must hustle preparing for GDPR regulations

  Data privacy expert and SAP consultant Stephen Lofthouse outlines a six-step process that data managers can follow to be compliant with GDPR regulations.Continue Reading

• Software license management tools can help with SAP indirect usage

  Companies can use third-party license management tools to audit their SAP environment to address indirect access issues, but the tools need to be a part of an overall strategy.Continue Reading

• Avoiding SAP indirect access woes requires good faith

  Some customers are concerned that SAP will hit them for indirect access licensing fees, but they can avoid trouble if they act in good faith and better understand their contracts.Continue Reading

• SAP indirect access issue needs clarity for users, experts say

  The indirect licensing access issue is confusing to many SAP customers, and the company's efforts to explain it have not been fully successful, according to industry analysts.Continue Reading

• What are my options for SAP support services?

  Learn about the many other online resources -- both inside SAP and in the broader tech community -- for finding answers to your questions before starting a support ticket.Continue Reading

• What KPIs can assess demand-driven MRP when using SAP ERP?

  Setting up demand-driven metrics and using analytics to monitor them can provide benefits such as helping to reduce working capital commitments and improving service levels.Continue Reading

• Swisscom makes gains by shrinking data warehouse systems

  When Swisscom needed to merge two SAP ERP systems and several SAP BW data warehouses, it upgraded to one SAP BW on HANA system to reduce data from 5 TB to 1 TB.Continue Reading

• What's the best way to write an SAP support ticket?

  Try other avenues first, but then prepare an SAP support ticket that will clearly describe and recreate your incident, so SAP can assign it to the right experts.Continue Reading

• How does SAP Maintenance Event Builder enable upkeep?

  SAP Maintenance Event Builder brings better organization to smaller maintenance projects by combining maintenance tasks, rescheduling and resource availability checking.Continue Reading

• Snow Software's Paulini on nuances of SAP indirect access

  In this Q&A, Joachim Paulini discusses what the Diageo and InBev indirect access cases mean for SAP users and how understanding their licensing can save them from a similar fate.Continue Reading

• How can you reduce the bullwhip effect with demand-driven MRP?

  Reducing the bullwhip effect requires a fundamental and strategic shift from supply-focused materials planning to demand-focused materials replenishment.Continue Reading

• How do the cloud and on-premises SAP HANA deployment options differ?

  You can offload most -- but not all -- management, handle it in-house or try something in between. Here's a rundown of the HANA deployment choices, ranked by administration effort.Continue Reading

• How can I address ERP problems caused by a rushed implementation?

  When ERP implementations are rushed, system issues are likely to arise in multiple areas. Here's how to do damage control and avoid a full-on failure.Continue Reading

• What SAP Solution Manager tools enable a full test scenario?

  Cost, ease-of-use, user familiarity and reporting needs are some of the deciding factors a company can use when choosing SAP Solution Manager tools for Business Suite on SAP HANA.Continue Reading

• Quick copy/cut & paste tip using SAP Ctrl+Y

  With the SAP Ctrl+Y feature, you can quickly copy text in SAP by simply highlighting it with your mouse.Continue Reading

• Two-tier ERP for SAP depends on integration, corporate standards

  Whether you stick with SAP or go with outside vendors like NetSuite and Microsoft, experts say just a few key factors will drive the choice of the second-tier ERP.Continue Reading

• Courtroom lessons from a failed SAP ERP implementation

  A consulting firm's expert witness explains what SAP and a global manufacturer did -- and didn't do -- that led to a major SAP ERP implementation failure.Continue Reading

• What does S/4HANA Supply Chain offer production planning?

  The line of business Enterprise Management product S/4HANA Supply Chain offers a production-planning component that features materials planning tools and intuitive dashboards.Continue Reading

• What should you know about S/4HANA Sourcing and Procurement?

  SAP S/4HANA Enterprise Management Sourcing and Procurement offers streamlined procurement, workforce management, and travel and expense management, to name a few benefits.Continue Reading

• What SAP software training steps do companies overlook?

  SAP software training should be a priority. One expert explains how companies often get it wrong -- and what they can do to get it right.Continue Reading

• How important is a comprehensive SAP testing process?

  A thorough SAP testing process is critical to a successful implementation. Here are four components you will need.Continue Reading

• How do you ensure stock visibility during a subcontracting process?

  Subcontracting can help you manage non-core or bottlenecked production processes effectively.Continue Reading

• How does Batch Information Cockpit support batch traceability?

  An expert explains how SAP ERP Batch Information Cockpit traces material batches to help planners more efficiently manage defective materials and products.Continue Reading

• How can accounting for scrap in SAP ERP improve materials planning?

  When taking stock of materials requirements, SAP MRP can accommodate for a certain amount of scrap to help prevent shortages.Continue Reading

• How can SAP Commercial Project Management help project planners?

  For large, complex projects, planners may want to take advantage of the features in SAP's Commercial Project Management system. An expert outlines its capabilities.Continue Reading

• Does SAP Sample Management offer a leg up on product quality inspections?

  Sample Management in SAP Quality Management goes beyond regular quality inspection options by providing better visibility into sample testing data.Continue Reading

• SAP mobility walks the runway

  More companies say that making their ERP data accessible from mobile devices is a top priority, and the SAP mobility push is providing the tools to make that happen. Central to SAP mobility are Fiori applications. While the name is a bit mythical, ...Continue Reading

• How can effective SAP License Management lead to costs savings?

  SAP licenses can be a huge expense, but there are ways for enterprises to reduce licensing costs and ensure a better ROI on SAP investments.Continue Reading

• How SAP QIM provides comprehensive insight into customer complaints

  Companies can use SAP's Quality Issue Management application to get a 360-degree view of customer complaints, from their origin through the complaints handling process.Continue Reading

• How does SAP MM quota arrangement prevent supply chain disruption?

  Quota arrangement in SAP MM enables materials planners to efficiently manage a material's uninterrupted supply from multiple suppliers.Continue Reading

• SAP HANA Marketplace offers experimental approach

  SAP's HANA Marketplace is growing rapidly, having caught the eye of customers and software developers. Startup and veteran companies are using the HANA Cloud Platform to create unique products.Continue Reading

• Packaged integrations ease the flow of data between Employee Central, SAP ERP

  Packaged integrations can help ease integrating core SAP HCM data from SuccessFactors Employee Central into SAP ERP, writes Luke Marson.Continue Reading

• SAP MII extends mining machine manufacturer's real-time reach

  Joy Global added SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence and saw new productivity gains. Find out what they were.Continue Reading

• What are the differences, similarities between SAP BWA and HANA?

  SAP BWA paved the way for the HANA in-memory database, so are the two all that similar? Ethan Jewett lays it out in this Ask the Expert column.Continue Reading

• Do the terms HANA Enterprise Cloud, HANA Cloud Platform confuse you?

  If you're not sure about the differences between the SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud and the SAP HANA Cloud platform, you're not alone.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between SAP enhancement packs, support packs?

  There are small but important differences between SAP support packs and enhancement packs. Expert Ethan Jewett explains.Continue Reading

• How do SAP Materials Requirements Planning and MRP areas differ?

  Wondering what the difference is between SAP Materials Requirements Planning and MRP areas? We have the answer.Continue Reading

• How does SAP help companies manage big data?

  From HANA to IQ, consultant Ethan Jewett outlines the SAP tools companies can use to manage big data.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between SAP ABAP and SAP Basis?

  Confused by the difference between SAP ABAP and SAP Basis? Developer Ethan Jewett explains how to tell them apart.Continue Reading

• How do Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), Flexible Planning differ?

  SAP Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is easy to implement, but SAP Flexible Planning can handle more complex processes, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between different SAP production types?

  In this tip, expert Jawad Akhtar outlines how to differentiate between discrete, process and repetitive production types and how SAP ERP supports them.Continue Reading

• How does SAP BI compare with other suites, 'best of breed' tools?

  In this Ask the Expert column, Ethan Jewett explains the biggest difference between SAP BI and 'best of breed' tools, as well as other suites.Continue Reading

• Attach documents to an SAP object without having to use SAP DMS

  With SAP Services for Object, users can attach information to an SAP object without using the SAP Document Management System, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• SAP XSteps now helps automate, simplify discrete manufacturing

  Long a staple in process manufacturing, SAP XSteps now helps discrete manufacturers record production data, as well as automate production processes.Continue Reading

• SAP data warehousing: What are the options?

  There's no one way to go about data warehousing, explains data expert Ethan Jewett. Here's what you need to know about deciding which route to take.Continue Reading

• Quick fixes for the most common post go-live SAP error messages

  There are a number of SAP error messages that can occur post ERP go-live, writes Jawad Akhtar. Here's how to knock them out.Continue Reading

• Use SAP Backflush functionality to automate production processes

  Companies save themselves headaches by automating production processes using SAP Backflush and Automatic Goods Receipt functions, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• Tap SAP Information Steward to see how BEx query changes affect reports

  Companies should use SAP Information Steward's Metadata Management tool to avoid 'broken' BI reports, writes SAP expert Don Loden.Continue Reading

• Tackle SAP master data templates in phases for better SAP ERP success

  Focusing on SAP master data templates twice before go-live can improve a project's chance of success, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• How can Failure Mode and Effects Analysis reduce risk?

  The Failure Mode and Effects Analysis tool can be used to prevent process and production failures within SAP ERP systems, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• How do I handle co-products, by-products in SAP ERP?

  Learn the difference between co-products and by-products in the manufacturing process, and how to handle each within a company's SAP ERP system.Continue Reading

• Ensure better standards with SAP Quality Certificates

  Companies can ensure higher standards when it comes to delivered and procured goods by deploying SAP Quality Certificates, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• Safeguard the SAP master data creation process with SAP ECM

  With SAP Engineering Change Management (SAP ECM) businesses can get a better handle on the master data creation process, expert Jawad Akhtar writes.Continue Reading

• Cut inspection costs with the SAP QM module's DMR functionality

  Save time and money inspecting the quality of procured or produced materials with the SAP Dynamic Modification Rule (DMR), writes expert Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• Get the most out of SAP ERP reports and features

  Smart manufacturers should consider taking advantage of the native SAP ERP reports in the logistics and supply chain modules, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• Join the SCN SapphireNow community

  Learn more about the the SCN SapphireNow community.Continue Reading

• Improve Imports process in SAP Materials Management with a workaround

  The Imports process in the SAP Materials Management procurement function is not as good as it should be. Here's how to fix it, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• Use SAP Classification to bring sanity to SAP master data

  Managing SAP master data can be a headache, but it doesn't have to be, writes Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• Looking ahead with SAP Long Term Planning simulations

  Use SAP Long Term Planning simulation scenarios to make better decisions about procurement, production, resource planning and warehouse storage.Continue Reading

• Help prevent supply chain problems with SAP EWS

  The often-overlooked SAP Early Warning System module alerts companies before supply chain problems arise, writes SAP expert Jawad Akhtar.Continue Reading

• Fine-tune SAP procurement processes with materials management tools

  Mastering procurement elements within the SAP materials management module can help companies wring more value out of their purchasing processes.Continue Reading

• Code to cost savings: Making the case for third-party SAP support

  A Forrester analyst outlines when companies should look into third-party SAP support vendors such as Rimini Street -- and when they shouldn't.Continue Reading

• Expert Advice: How to get the most out of SAP workflow

  These SearchSAP.com articles feature all sorts of expert advice on how to use SAP Workflow, a tool that helps firms automate business processes.Continue Reading

• Spinnaker to fight Rimini Street for third-party SAP support market

  It was only a matter of time before SAP third-party support and maintenance provider Rimini Street had some competition from other vendors. That time has come.Continue Reading

• Where can I find SAP FI/CO certification questions to prepare for the exam?

  Learn the best sources for finding SAP FI/CO certification questions to help you prepare for this important exam.Continue Reading

• As SAP R/3 support fades, upgrades to ECC 6.0 accelerate

  With the clock ticking on the end of SAP R/3 support and maintenance, the pace of customers upgrading to SAP ECC 6.0 is picking up, according to a survey of SearchSAP.com readers.Continue Reading

• SAP HANA best suited for solving ERP performance issues

  SAP expert Tony De Thomasis lays out a plan for companies looking to deploy SAP HANA.Continue Reading

• Company shares its SAP support staff with others to cut IT costs

  One California company is saving nearly $1 million a year by sharing its SAP IT staff with companies that have similar SAP environments.Continue Reading

• The move from SAP support to Rimini Street pays off for some

  The move to Rimini Street means lower SAP software support costs for companies that don't see the value in upgrading to ECC 6.0.Continue Reading

• SAP StreamWork now supports open programming standard OpenSocial

  SAP now supports the open programming standard OpenSocial, in a move intended to further develop the fledgling application and make it more attractive for business users.Continue Reading

• Outsourcing SAP support with one provider or two a dilemma for many

  Choosing one provider to host SAP and deliver Basis support can result in cost savings, operational efficiencies and better quality of service.Continue Reading

• Choosing an SAP Basis support provider rests on many factors

  In addition to pricing, companies need to take into account cultural fit, personal chemistry and proven expertise when evaluating SAP Basis outsourcing partners.Continue Reading

• Java administration in SAP: Three tips for Basis administrators

  Sooner or later, Basis administrators will have to get used to Java administration in SAP. Read tips for finding information on a Java instance and monitoring memory utilization.Continue Reading

• SAP extends support and maintenance on R/3 4.6c

  With many customers still on older releases, SAP announced it would extend the timeline for support and maintenance, allowing customers more time to move to ECC 6.0.Continue Reading

• Changing time zones in SAP ECC 6.0

  An SAP user wants to know the risks of changing time zones in ECC 6.0.Continue Reading

• Fixing error during SAP iDoc PORDCR1 integration

  An SAP user is receiving an error message while integrating SAP iDoc PORDCR1 for a purchase order.Continue Reading

• Getting data to show in an SAP ALV Grid

  An SAP user is trying to run a report in an SAP ALV Grid online and wants to know how to get the data in the report to appear along with the header.Continue Reading

• Transferring data to new sales orders in SAP VA01

  An SAP user needs to transfer customer purchase order spreadsheet data to SAP VA01 to create a new sales order.Continue Reading

• Solving SAP print problems

  Many of you have written to say that printing from SAP is a lot like root canal. The process is slow and painful, but necessary. Our experts drill down to solve print issues here.Continue Reading

• Migrating from an SAPscript to an SAP Smart Form

  An SAP user is working with an SAPscript form to create the form development for an Invoice List, and wants to know if it's possible to migrate the SAPscript to an SAP Smart Form.Continue Reading

• How to fix a slip print-out error in an SAP Smart Form

  An SAP user is looking to fix an error with a packing slip print-out in an SAP Smart Form.Continue Reading

• Aligning bar codes on an SAP Smart Form

  An SAP user is trying to align a barcode in the center of a defined window on an SAP Smart Form.Continue Reading

• Using SAP IDocs to update "further dates" information in an SAP transaction

  SAP expert Axel Angeli explains how to update the "further dates" tab information in am SAP transaction through an SAP IDoc.Continue Reading

• Performing RFC connection checks in NetWeaver BW with SAP TREX

  SAP administrators can use SAP TREX to diagnose and repair broken RFC connections between SAP NetWeaver BW and the blades of the BW Accelerator.Continue Reading

• Understanding the SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator

  This chapter download explains the basics of the SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator and how to repair connections to the NetWeaver BW system.Continue Reading

• Assigning personnel numbers in SAP HR

  An SAP HR users wants to know how to assign a person to two different personnel numbers in SAP HR while generating a single invoice.Continue Reading

• How to generate Time Quotas in SAP HR

  SAP HR expert Sheryl Middleton explains how to view data in quota overview tables after running Time Evaluation in SAP HR.Continue Reading