SAP

[bless 'em all]

SAP FICO
SAP MDM / DS
SAP CRM

There's the chance I'll be working on SAP CRM soon.

I hate SAP.

In fact, anyone out there fancy subbing for me for the next three months? SAP CRM?

[Andy Hallett]

SAP

SAP is a decent product for enterprise size businesses. We implemented it in 2006 and went through a big upgrade last year. It's not the most agile of software but it is reliable, predictable and robust.

Where most companies go wrong with SAP is that they try to customise it to their current processes. My honest advice is that to companies out there, stick as close to SAP standard as you can and redesign your processes around the software. Although that probably sounds a heinous crime, most corporate processes are vanilla. - save your project budget to work on your specialist requirements.

[eek]

In fact, anyone out there fancy subbing for me for the next three months? SAP CRM?

Do I need any experience? I've spent the last 6 months blagging* it as a Java developer which wouldn't be quite so worrying if I wasn't 4 times better than the permies who are supposed to know what they are doing.

* Note: I wasn't brought in to do any Java stuff I was just better than the two contractors they brought in to do the job so they binned them and gave me a new contract.

[northernladuk]

Do I need any experience? I've spent the last 6 months blagging* it as a Java developer which wouldn't be quite so worrying if I wasn't 4 times better than the permies who are supposed to know what they are doing.

* Note: I wasn't brought in to do any Java stuff I was just better than the two contractors they brought in to do the job so they binned them and gave me a new contract.

That is the problem with SAP jobs (I have found). You have to have experience in SAP regardless of what other skills you have. They are happy to take someone on with little Service Management experience just because they have worked with SAP. Not sure what other roles are like but the roles are usually advertised as SAP Service Manager and no other technology gets titled like that from what I have seen.

[doodab]

That is the problem with SAP jobs (I have found). You have to have experience in SAP regardless of what other skills you have. They are happy to take someone on with little Service Management experience just because they have worked with SAP. Not sure what other roles are like but the roles are usually advertised as SAP Service Manager and no other technology gets titled like that from what I have seen.

I think SAP Service Manager might be a component rather than a job title.

[Pogle]

I've been working on a SAP system for the last 3 years and my overriding opinion is that SAP is made extra complex and clunky on purpose.
But It keeps me in work

[Ignis Fatuus]

SAP is a decent product for enterprise size businesses. We implemented it in 2006 and went through a big upgrade last year. It's not the most agile of software but it is reliable, predictable and robust.

Where most companies go wrong with SAP is that they try to customise it to their current processes. My honest advice is that to companies out there, stick as close to SAP standard as you can and redesign your processes around the software. Although that probably sounds a heinous crime, most corporate processes are vanilla. - save your project budget to work on your specialist requirements.

Ssshh!

[oracleslave]

Ssshh!

In finance yes. When it comes to other areas like CRM, Logistcs, Manufacturing etc then they can vary significantly imho

[NotAllThere]

... My honest advice is that to companies out there, stick as close to SAP standard as you can and redesign your processes around the software.

I've been working in SAP for the past 16 years for many different customers. That's always been the advice.

I'm a SAP generalist; I spend about half my time dealing with the technical layer that lies between Basis and the applications, and the other half designing (and writing) stuff to fill the functionality gaps in ERP, BW, CRM, SRM and HR. I do SAP because it's earned me several million pounds since 1997, and there's no sign of that level decreasing.

[TheFaQQer]

In finance yes. When it comes to other areas like CRM, Logistcs, Manufacturing etc then they can vary significantly imho

Agreed.

The year SAP implemented SAP internally, they lost $600million.

The year Oracle implemented Oracle internally, they made $1billion.

Just mentioning in passing