What is SAP Software?
SAP is an acronym for Systems, Applications, and Products. More popularly known as ERP, SAP software is a software package that organizations use to manage business processes. It integrates all business operations, including finance, accounting, sales, production, logistics, distribution, and human resources. Executing all business processes in an SAP system allows information to flow from one SAP module to another without redundant data entry. This renders process, financial and legal controls and facilitates the effective use of resources. Keeping it precise, SAP software helps organizations handle their business processes efficiently while reducing operational costs. So, enterprises looking forward to dominating the modern business space must endow in top-notch SAP education.
What do You Mean by SAP Testing?
When we say SAP testing, it refers to the approach used for testing SAP ERP software. For every change done while developing, customizing, or maintaining SAP software, you should create test cases to check its new functionality. The generic SAP testing approach can also be applied to ERP solutions from other vendors, such as PeopleSoft and Oracle EBS.
Most SAP ERP projects fail because of inefficient testing. There are multiple versions of SAP ERP systems, all designed for customers and industries. To conduct proper testing, an SAP tester should understand the features and functionalities of all modules in the SAP software.
Different SAP Testing Modules
A module in SAP software is a group of related features or functionalities designed for a specific business process, group of processes, or departmental workflow. The modules are mutually dependent, so one module’s functionality can affect others’ functionality.
Typically, there are two SAP modules – functional modules and technical modules. They are integrated to ensure business processes run smoothly. For instance, the Sales and Distribution module consists of the sales order process, customer management, and payment process functionalities. Similarly, a company’s payroll process, personnel management, and employee attendance can be grouped as a single functional workflow under the Human Resource Management and Payroll module.
Depending on the vendor or application of the SAP software, modules that serve the same function or the same grouping of functionalities may have varying module names. The section below provides a deeper insight into different SAP ERP modules.
Financial Modules
The SAP financial modules manage financial accounting data and processes within an organization. They are the backbone of all financial transactions between a company and its vendors and customers. The SAP financial modules include:
i. Finance Accounting and Controlling (FICO)
The SAP FICO module is a core component in ERP systems that allows businesses to manage all their financial data. It consists of two modules – the SAP Finance and SAP controlling modules. The SAP Finance module deals with financial accounting and reporting, while the SAP Controlling module focuses more on planning, monitoring, and decision-making. The two are tightly coupled such that once transactions are entered in the financial module, they are passed to their controlling counterpart for further processing, audit control, and analytical reporting.
ii. Treasure (TR)
The SAP TR module controls and ensures competent management of treasury processes. It provides tools for cash
management, liquidity management, forecasting, audit controls, and operational risk reduction. The module features the integration of smart strategies that help mitigate financial risks. Overall, the SAP Treasury module is important for cash managers looking to gain comprehensive oversight of all transactions in their organization.
iii. Enterprise Control (EC)
The Enterprise Control module provides highly reliable and accurate data used by top-level management in a commercial organization. Managers and enterprise controllers use this module to assess whether business processes are performed in line with the company goals. The SAP EC module is further divided into other sub-modules, including:
- Consolidation
- Organization Planning and Budgeting
- Profit Center Accounting
- Executive Information System
Logistics Modules
The SAP Logistics modules form the core of an organization’s information system. Apart from addressing the logistics issue, they convert data into meaningful information and process it to improve decision-making. Some components of the larger logistics module include:
i. Material Management (MM)
Material Management is a key challenge in most business environments. The SAP material management module helps manage material requirements, use, and production in an organization. To this end, it is easier to avoid waste of resources, thus saving money. The key features and sub-components of this module include:
- Purchasing
- Inventory management
- Logistics invoice verification
- Master data
- Material valuation
- Foreign trade and customs
- Service management
- Product catalog and management.
ii. Sales and Distribution (SD)
The sales and distribution module is one of the core components of SAP products, alongside the financial, controlling, production planning, and material management modules. The SD module covers the following:
- Pre-sales activities, such as creating quotations and inquiries.
- Order processing activities, such as sales order creation.
- Billing and invoice creation
- Shipping
- Creating outbound delivery documents.
iii. Quality Management (QM)
The Quality Management module supports all aspects associated with quality control, quality planning, and quality inspection in an enterprise. It specifies the criteria for quality testing procedures, manages notifications linked to quality, and controls the creation of quality certificates. The QM module also stores quality data for all items in an enterprise. In a nutshell, the functions of the QM module include the following:
- Quality Planning
- Quality Control
- Quality Inspection
- Quality Notifications
- Quality Certificates
- Test Equipment Management
iv. Production Planning
Production planning is where businesses can incur significant losses if something goes wrong. The SAP production
planning (PP) module helps organizations accomplish their production planning and management procedures easily.
planning (PP) module helps organizations accomplish their production planning and management procedures easily.x. Global TradeThe SAP Global trade module automates global trade and business processes in an organization. It presents tools that help you respond to dynamic international trade laws. Some useful things that you can achieve with the SAP GT module include the following:
Cost control during import and export procedures
Reduced risks of fines and trade penalties
Streamlined trade processes and international operations
Improved customer satisfaction
Elimination of manual tasks
Seamless integration across all global supply chains
Minimal delays in both outbound and inbound custom clearance.
Human Resource Management Module The SAP HR module helps enterprises streamline their organizational structure. It allows companies to manage their workforce, from recruiting new staff to payroll management. The main components of the SAP HR module are
: i. Accounting PayrollThe accounting payroll module streamlines numerous payroll processes, including basic salary, remuneration, vacation leaves, sick leaves, and payment to third parties. It also generates payroll reports and submits the data to the financial accounting module.
ii. Time ManagementThis module helps record and evaluate employee work schedules, including working hours, annual leave, attendance records, and more.
iii. Training and Event Management This module helps the human resource team plan and conduct training sessions to equip employees with the necessary skills. The training and event management module supports plans for improving workforce skills, including employee certification. It also maintains records of events within and outside the organization.