SAP S/4HANA Simple Logistics: What’s New?

SAP S/4HANA Simple Logistics is an SAP product launched in the year 2015 November called 1511. Well from the Business standpoint, both Finance and Logistics go hand in hand and definitely, customers/consultants are eagerly waiting to understand the procedures involved in simplifying the Logistics. By comparing with Simple Finance initial expectation was to have key data model simplification and few key functional improvements in Logistics area. To blend the issues Logistics in core ERP is quite a wide range of functional area that covers PP, MM, SD modules and many sub-modules. In reality, there is a huge expectation from “Simple Logistics”.

SAP S/4HANA Simple Logistics runs on HANA database and it assists in installing or upgrading your system to achieve this to convert current database from Non-Unicode system to Unicode system, there are few benefits for Business by implementing SAP S/4HANA on your system, like:

1. Reduction in the TCO (Total Cost of Operations for Business)
2. Quicker reporting and speed transactions
3. Reducing aggregates
4. Improves system performance
5. Makes look and feel easy for business
6. Maximum customizing
7. User can use any electronic device like Android mobile, and watch to run the Business process

There are three transition processes available in SAP S/4HANA, they are:

1. New Implementation – It is called as green filed approach where we implement SAP S/4HANA product for first time or we can re-implement SAP S/4HANA cloud addition for the customers those who are on on-premise in ECC.
2. Brown filed approach or system conversion – In this process, we are upgrading current ECC system to SAP S/4HANA, in this process we are considering only one system example ECC ERP 6.0 version.
3. Landscape Transformation – In this process, we are migrating or converting our landscape systems to SAP S/4HANA in step by step process.

Unlike ASAP methodology, we use Activate methodology on agile framework in SAP S/4HANA for implementation or system conversion. In this methodology we have total six phases they are Discover, Prepare, Explore, Realize, Deploy, and Run.

In the Discover Phase, SAP is providing free trial version to their Customers for 30 days where they can explore on many industry-specific solutions where customer can execute  Practically and analysis the benefits Hence gets Hand on experience, thereby customer have option whether I can opt out simple logistics or not.

The second phase is prepare phase, in this phase Business start the journey towards SAP S/4HANA Simple logistics, there are some Basic requirements to start, they are Software requirements, mapping methodologies to be used, Type of Frameworks, tools, hardware requirements and so on.

In the Explore phase Business starts collecting more information related to processes which need to implemented, Fit-Gap analysis, cutover strategies, gathering requirements etc.

Realize phase is considered as one of the important phases in this methodology, in this phase functional consultants, technical consultants involve, from technical point

We use some tools and cockpit to analyze whether our code can be executed in SAP S/4HANA, we use tools such as Code inspector to check the code related items and seizer is another tool which we use to consolidate some tables, and based on the items provided in simplification list we will check the code.

Deploy phase is where we start migrate the code from ECC or from development, quality system and towards production system, at this level we start our testing activities related to Business process, scenarios etc, finally we start our cutover strategies related to Master data like Customer master data, vendor master data, Material master and Bank Master data.

Run Phase is where we actually move the objects to Production and Business start using of the application.

There are two types of deployment methods options available they are,

• On-premise
• Cloud

On-premise means hosting server at own or Business place, where server are maintained by Business, In Cloud Edition vendor is  hosting our servers, again the Cloud edition is divided into two categories they are,1. Public cloud

1. Public cloud

2. Private Cloud

Public Cloud means hosting multiple Business servers by vendor, Private cloud is where vendor is hosting only our server and the support will be take care by the vendor. SAP has provide another deployment option which is called “Hybrid” edition where you can partially deploy ECC product to Cloud and other partial components has On-premise, for example, SAP CRM can be launched has hybrid and SAP ECC ERP to be On-premise, SAP releases upgrade stack level packs yearly On-premise and quarterly for cloud versions.

What’s new?

There are many objects described in simplification list provided by SAP like New Business Partner Approach, Advanced Credit Management in FSCM, New Output Determination Process (Business Rule FrameWork).

Built in New Fiori Concepts, Workflow Process, Digitalization, Single Source of Truth, Data Redundancy, Optimised MRP, Advanced Sub-contracting, Material Master Length Extensions, Centralized Tables, Settlement Management, Advanced Product Allocation, Concepts of OLTP and OLAP.

Fiori Concepts:

Fiori is new concept included in the S/4HANA. In the Fiori, we have personal apps, customized themes, screen personas that can be designed to fit Business solutions, Fiori looks like Italian flower, we have workflow process designed in the Fiori, Fiori is a role-based activity, Fiori can be used to pull live Analytical Reports, live Statistics.

We use many tools during System Conversions they are:

• DNO (Data Migration Optimizer)
• SUM (Software Update Manager)
• Custom Code Inspector
• Seizer
• LTM (Landscape Transformation Migration)
• Data Load Excel Sheets

Update your skills with the latest trends in logistics such as: MRP Live, embedded SAP EWM and so on! Link the logistics line of Business workflows like accelerated plan to product, improved request to service, procure to pay, effective order to cash.

Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview? We’ll give you the best SAP S/4 HANA Simple Logistics Interview Questions.

Watch SAP S4 HANA Logistics Demo: