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What is the difference between SAP Business Suite, SAP Business Suite on HANA and S/4HANA?
The SAP Business Suite is optimized to run on traditional relational disc-based databases and to be database agnostics, which obviously created quite some overhead in the Business Application to cater for all the different database vendors as well to all the different database versions of these vendors.
SAP continues to provide enhancements via Enhancement packages for the years to come.
SAP Business Suite on HANA is optimized for SAP HANA database to the maximum extend of what is possible using a single code line which SAP Business Suite on HANA shares with the SAP Business Suite. Some of the optimizations are:
- Real-time OLAP capabilities inside the ERP system allows you to run all your operational reports directly in the source data using SAP HANA Live
- Fiori Smart Business Cockpits using SAP HANA Live providing real-time insights in real-time Business Processes
- Free Text searches – google-like experience in ERP improving for example customer service by reducing customer response times w regards to sales orders
- Eliminate batch processes and enable real-time operations like in Plant Maintenance
SAP Business Suite 4 HANA - S/4HANA is an ERP innovation based on a new and radically simplified data model design concept which is only possible with an in-memory database like SAP HANA. Please review this Video on YouTube for more details.
Based on the new data model, S/4HANA replaces successively the old code line with a new code line which is unconstrained from the confinements of the traditional databases and which allows SAP, partner and customer developers to maximize the benefits of the modern in memory database technology to the fullest extent.
Modern in-memory technology as in SAP HANA we define as in-memory first processing instead of replicating a subset of data from disc to memory.
The first innovation delivered with S/4HANA is sFiN, available for cloud and on premise editions. Next lining up is a new project services module Video, currently only available in the cloud edition, and sLog, which will massively simplify the Inventory Management data model for all transactions using Inventory balances.
SAP is leading the S/4HANA innovation with the S/4HANA cloud edition, releasing 4 upgrades every year, which are available as a bundle once a year for on premise customers. This year’s sFiN release was an exception, as this release was available on premise and in the cloud at the same time.
sFin is mandatory for all additional, future innovations, as S/4HANA is a fully integrated system. A customer can choose if and which innovations to be switched on and when. Means a customer could decide to run sFin now, and sLog later or not at all.
As S/4HANA is based on a new code line, does this mean we need to migrate our data?
Because S/4HANA is using the new data model optimized for the new code line, yes, the data will be migrated from the old data model to the new data model during the activation of the new code line within the innovation exchange processes. This also includes the deletion of data from the now obsolete auxiliary tables like aggregates and secondary indices, which is the basis for the extensive footprint reduction from the SAP Busines Suite to S/4Hana.
Details how this will be managed for sFin is described in the admin. guide for sFin link in here: Simple Finance aka sFIN. Data life cycle management optimization prior to the start of innovation exchange processes is recommended, as the less data are in the old data model the less data need to be migrated.
Please note that in order to build the beginning balances of a business year, at a minimum the data from the first period of the current business year need to be migrated.
In this context, BW capabilities are crucial in the move to S/4HANA as the mixed scenarios in BW allows business users to run reports partially on the old and the new data model. Near real-time data access can be accomplished with SAP LT SAP LT aka SLT, DXC, or with SDA (SAP HANA Smart Data Access) in real-real time without data replication.
S/4HANA demo
Where can we find the roadmap for S/4HANA?
S/4HANA roadmap
Please check always for the latest version in http://service.sap.com/saproadmaps / cross topics / cross topics
Outlook: http://www.news-sap.com/what-is-sap-s4hana-13-questions-answered/
How can we experience S/4HANA?
on premise edition: http://www.zdnet.com/article/sap-launches-s4hana-on-premise-trial-via-amazon-web-services/
cloud edition: sap.com/s4hana-trial
Experience how SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Edition is designed to help you run simple in a digital and networked economy with this free 7-day trial. Explore predefined scenarios in Project Management and Finance, all utilizing the SAP Fiori user experience.
2. Business Simulation ERPsim4HANA providing S/4HANA experience - Real-time ERP Business Processes with Fiori UX - Real time analytics with Lumira
Book the instructor course at OpenSAP: Facilitating ERPsim: Running Successful Business Simulation Games with ERPsim (Partner Course)
Book the training at the SAP training academy: ERPSIM - SAP ERP SIMULATION | SAP Training and Certification Shop
and/or contact your SAP Account manager
Back due to popular demand:
Do we still need BW?
Actually more than ever, because with S/4HANA we will add the internet of things to the Business processes, and while we are interested in the sensor data in real-time it does not mean that we want to store all sensor data in the ERP system forever.
Operational Reporting should go back to where it belongs, to the source, to the Business Process Management system, and not in a data mart.
Financial closing and consolidation can be done at the source in ERP with sFin and the embedded BW, especially if a customer has a single ERP FI system.
Please see more thoughts on this in Thomas Zurek's blog:
Will HCP HANA Cloud Platform be mandatory to customize S/4HANA?
S/4HANA on premise edition continues to provide all familiar enhancement capabilities, HCP is an additional option.
HANA Cloud Platform, why it is important from a customer point of view
The cloud editions will provide access to configuration tasks via Guided Configuration in S/4HANA . Details with regards to available scope modification and enhancements will be shared once the editions are released.
Does HCI HANA cloud Integration replace PI SAP Process Integration with S/4HANA?
No, HCI is complementary to PI, please see this link for more details:
SAP HANA Cloud Integration (HCI) - A complementary offering to SAP Process Orchestration (PO)