Datasheet
A new APProAch to SyStem cuStomIzAtIon 7
programs. To facilitate these requirements, a new way of customizing systems was
needed. is new way of customizing systems is known as table-driven customiza-
tion, or conguration. By conguring the system via tables rather than changing
source code, you now have a very clear logical approach to managing your system.
Table-driven customization allows for rapid changes in business requirements with
a common set of source code or programs. e common programs are coded to
focus on settings in specic tables to make the programs react in various ways to t
dierent business needs. is is what makes ERP systems, and SAP in particular, so
exible—there are more than 10,000 tables in the SAP database structure! Because
table settings instead of old-fashioned hard-coded program logic are what drive
program functionality, new and changed business requirements can be rapidly
implemented and tested in the system. Table-driven conguration (customization)
is at the heart of what the functional SAP consultant delivers.
So that you can benet from the power of SAP, a careful analysis of your company’s
current business processes is in order. SAP has industry-specic best business pro-
cesses to take full advantage of the most ecient business and technological processes.
When using SAP ECC, you can use two menu paths: the user menu and the
Implementation Guide (IMG). When you log on to SAP, the rst screen and menu
path you are presented with is the user menu. e user menu is where end users will
be spending all of their time. is is where you would use SAP’s functionality, such
as creating a vendor invoice or journal entry.
e IMG menu is specically for conguring the system so that an organization can
tailor it to address the needs unique to its business.
TIP
You can nd the conguration menu by using the following menu path or transac-
tion code: Tools
➢
Customizing
➢
IMG
➢
SPRO – Execute Project. The command win-
dow in the upper-left side of the SAP screen will allow you to simply enter the transaction
code—SPRO—to get you directly to the conguration menu.
Many companies use the implementation of SAP as an opportunity to reengineer
their entire business and develop the most ecient processes available. SAP has
invested a great deal of time and money into delivering the best business practices
for almost all sectors of the economy. It has industry solutions for the following:
Banking
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Defense and security
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