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What's SAP?

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Re: What's SAP?

#141

Post by 72deluxe »

reportgunner wrote: post #49
cm2187 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s the problem with software. There are two categories of software: software that their developers use themselves, and software made for other people. Visual Studio is the prime example of a software made by people who use it, it continuously improves (minus a few hiccups), it is made for the most used functionalities to be at your fingertips, it doesn’t hide stuff in layers of submenus, etc. The list is long of…

I agree with your comment except Visual Studio part. Everytime I use Visual Studio it feels like I'm using a big pile of hacks of varying age.

What language do you write in using Visual Studio?

I use it with C++ and C# and I can't say stress enough how amazing it is to use with C++, compared to the teeth-pulling experience of using xcode for the same tasks (some of which are impossible in xcode, edit-and-continue for example, set next statement).

Re: What's SAP?

#142

Post by tluyben2 »

kumarvvr wrote: post #39
OldGuyInTheClub wrote: post #32

SAP has enabled/mandated an army of people at my company who manage it and ruthlessly control even read access to it. The software is user-hostile, intentionally obscure, and all requests for slightly customized reports have to go through a multilayered approval process - often up to corporate - where it competes for funding against other survivors. Needing something custom invites constant questions of why the stand…

> The software is user-hostile, intentionally obscure This a million times. I don't know if good interfaces can not be built in SAP, or if it's very difficult to do, or if the developers of apps on SAP platform just don't care. It's a real headache to use and completely confusing. It's 2020 and one would hope software companies realize the value of a good, clear, effective user interface.

> It's 2020 and one would hope software companies realize the value of a good, clear, effective user interface.

SAP is not the only one; ever tried the enterprise software from Oracle? Or the open source ERPs/CRMs? Painful.

But everything has API's these days, so lot of departmental work is done on top. Small budgets so they have small, simple LoB apps made on top which are 'idiot proof'. These apps are very localized though; they cannot translate to other verticals, or even other companies, or even other countries because they are tailored exactly to how that department works.

Re: What's SAP?

#143

Post by lexs »

dr_dshiv wrote: post #95
kriro wrote: post #51

I used to work in a research project where I went to some UX conferences in Germany (not really my field). The big irony/running gag is that SAP seems pretty good in UX-research, Hasso Plattner Institute is fairly recognized for their UX work and yet SAP-UX is a nightmare. They just can't/won't roll out new things.

Yeah, what is that about? Do you have more insights on this?

The HPI is a faculty of the public University of Potsdam, it is not a research unit of SAP or anything similar. They have projects with Oracle just as they do with SAP and a ton of other companies.

Re: What's SAP?

#144

Post by smiler »

lucasverra wrote: post #98

Can please a decision maker regarding SAP buying/implementing tell us how on earth SAP is that mainstream (in corporate) ? I've had to use it at EU big corp, and it to this day the worst experience I had. I've seen at techcrunch Berlin 2019 that there is something called SAP.io, somewhat opening its plateform ?

The cost/implementation of SAP is so big that the decision to use it can only be signed off at C-Level.

Any company who is looking at SAP is likely doing business in the US - Sarbanes-Oxley means CFO and CEO have to personally sign off on the financial accounts and are criminally liable (am sure it's the same in other countries).

SAP at it's core is all about financial control. SAP sell SAP to CEOs and CFOs by telling them it will provide strict financial controls to their company and avoid them personally going to jail / paying huge fines. It's an easy sell

Re: What's SAP?

#145

Post by goatinaboat »

deelly wrote: post #108
shrimpx wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems super strange to adopt the market leader’s processes. You’d think the spirit should be that you can outdo/outcompete then instead of adopting what they’re doing...

Yes, Its really super strange to adopt Google, Microsoft, Apple processes.. Yes?

Correct. Random companies cargo-culting what Google does has made half the industry massively dysfunctional e.g. in hiring processes

Re: What's SAP?

#146

Post by asmosoinio »

new_here wrote: post #90

SAP today are just plainly incompetent and ripe for disruption. I've had quite a bit of interaction with SAP over the last few years, here are some examples: - Almost all meetings I've been in start with prospective clients mentioning to SAP consultants that SAP has a 'certain reputation'. The SAP consultants acknowledge this. - Some of the solution pitch ideas they come up with signal they have almost zero knowledge…

> ... when compared to alternatives.

What do you see as the alternatives?

Re: What's SAP?

#147

Post by quietbritishjim »

deelly wrote: post #108
shrimpx wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems super strange to adopt the market leader’s processes. You’d think the spirit should be that you can outdo/outcompete then instead of adopting what they’re doing...

Yes, Its really super strange to adopt Google, Microsoft, Apple processes.. Yes?

This is like assuming that Microsoft or Google is successful because of the version control software they use, rather than because of the actual software they wrote. It may be a useful hint about good practices, but it's quite possible that it's not the best solution for you and it is certainly not THE way to be successful.

Re: What's SAP?

#148

Post by smiler »

madaxe_again wrote: post #113
fefe23 wrote: post #70

People complaining about how user-unfriendly SAP is or how companies adapt to SAP instead of the other way around are missing the point of SAP. The point of SAP is that the module for your type of business is being implemented at the market leader in your area, because they are the only ones who can afford it. SAP will come to the market leader and put their processes into software. Then everybody else adapts to SAP…

You say this, but I can think of two large market leading electronics corporations who are using a big pile of excel spreadsheets to bridge gaps in SAP, as the regulatory environment is moving faster than their development cycle.

I integrate into SAP for manufacturing and the users can certainly do every transaction they need to do to account for cost and shipping product and keep finance / supply chain happy.

But yes, to actually plan and run their manufacturing area, that's where the software I write comes in... as well as a ton of spreadsheets :)

Re: What's SAP?

#149

Post by notkaiho »

mbesto wrote: post #117
kumarvvr wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The software is user-hostile, intentionally obscure This a million times. I don't know if good interfaces can not be built in SAP, or if it's very difficult to do, or if the developers of apps on SAP platform just don't care. It's a real headache to use and completely confusing. It's 2020 and one would hope software companies realize the value of a good, clear, effective user interface.

I take a very neutral position to this. Enterprise software at the scale SAP is operating (mainly its core ERP) at a Fortune 500 enterprise level. This characteristic (needs at that level) are user-hostile, not the software. Imagine this situation: - You're a F500 pipe manufacturer and a sales person needs to enter an order for 100 pipes to be manufactured and sent to a customer in the US Now imagine you need to: - O…

While I sympathise with the frustrations expressed by other commenters, especially the ones you are replying to, this kind of illustration of the complexity the system deals with is super valuable and eye-opening to me in the same way the original article was. Thank you for sharing.

Re: What's SAP?

#150

Post by gadders »

I recently worked on SAP as a PM, having never worked on it before. In some ways it reminds me of Lotus Notes, in that all data and "code" is stored in the underlying database.
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