Using SAP ERP: An Introduction for Beginners and Business Users

by Olaf Schulz

Overview

Do you need to learn SAP for your day-to-day work? Get the detailed steps and screenshots that walk you through the processes you need to do your job. Get comfortable with logging on to and navigating the system, maintaining your data, creating reports, printing, and so much more. Whether you’re entering data, automating tasks, or building your foundational knowledge of the SAP system, this book has your back.

Clear explanationsGet familiar with SAP without fuss or confusion and learn what the SAP software does with step-by-step instructions on how to perform your daily tasks.

Screenshots from the SAP systemAre you a visual learner? You'll benefit from the hundreds of screenshots throughout the text that show you the right path.

Case studiesGet a better understanding of how SAP software is used to solve real-world business problems through numerous case studies.

Highlights:

• Log on/off
• System navigation
• Automating tasks
• Reporting
• Printing
• Help functions
• Master data
• Data security
• Messaging
• SAP product overviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493214044
Publisher:	Rheinwerk Publishing, Inc.
Publication date:	01/25/2017
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	387
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Olaf Schulz works as an SAP consultant and trainer. He has over 15 years of experience in IT and organization, focusing on the following aspects: planning and implementation of trainings, creation of training material, project management, CRM implementation and system support, as well as system development and network administration. In cooperation with user departments, he has analyzed their requirements and implemented them in the SAP system and launched them in the enterprise.

Table of Contents

... About This Book ... 13

... Structure of the Book ... 13

... Working with This Book ... 15

... SAP’s Training System ... 16

... Preparing for User Certification ... 16

... Acknowledgments ... 16

1 ... The SAP Enterprise ... 19

1 ... Brief History of the SAP Enterprise ... 21

1.1 ... Getting Started: From Realtime Financials to SAP R/3 ... 21

1.2 ... SAP from the Turn of the Millennium to the Present ... 24

2 ... How Does SAP Software Work? ... 27

2.1 ... What Is Standard Software? ... 27

2.2 ... Adapting the SAP System to an Enterprise ... 28

2.3 ... What If the Standard Isn’t Sufficient? ... 30

2.4 ... Orientation toward the Process ... 30

2.5 ... Real Time ... 31

2.6 ... Central Data: Decentralized Processing ... 32

3 ... Overview of the Most Critical SAP Products ... 35

3.1 ... Complete Package: SAP Business Suite ... 35

3.2 ... The Central Component: SAP ERP ... 36

3.3 ... Maintaining Customer Relationships: SAP Customer Relationship Management ... 42

3.4 ... Optimizing Supplier Relationships: SAP Supplier Relationship Management ... 43

3.5 ... The Entire Lifecycle of a Product: SAP Product Lifecycle Management ... 44

3.6 ... For all Supply Chain Elements: SAP Supply Chain Management ... 45

3.7 ... Industry Solutions ... 47

3.8 ... Special Software for Medium-Sized Enterprises ... 48

3.9 ... The Next Software Generation: SAP S/4HANA ... 49

3.10 ... The Technical Basis: SAP NetWeaver ... 50

2 ... Basic Principles of System Operation ... 53

4 ... Organizational Structures and Master Data ... 55

4.1 ... Organizational Structures ... 55

4.2 ... Master Data ... 62

4.3 ... Try It! ... 68

5 ... Logging On to the SAP System ... 71

5.1 ... SAP Logon ... 71

5.2 ... Logging On for the First Time ... 74

5.3 ... Logging On to the System ... 77

5.4 ... The SAP Graphical User Interface ... 77

5.5 ... Logging Off the SAP System ... 83

5.6 ... Try It! ... 84

6 ... Navigating in the SAP System ... 87

6.1 ... Overview of the Navigation Options ... 87

6.2 ... Navigating via the SAP Easy Access Menu ... 89

6.3 ... Navigating via Transaction Codes ... 90

6.4 ... Entering Data in the SAP System ... 94

6.5 ... Input Help ... 99

6.6 ... Working with Sessions ... 100

6.7 ... Try It! ... 102

7 ... Maintaining the System Layout and User Data ... 103

7.1 ... Creating Links on the Desktop ... 103

7.2 ... Maintaining Your Own User Data ... 104

7.3 ... Creating Favorites ... 108

7.4 ... Prepopulating Parameters for Fields ... 113

7.5 ... Holding, Setting, and Deleting Data ... 116

7.6 ... Adapting the User Interface ... 118

7.7 ... Try It! ... 120

8 ... Creating Evaluations and Reports ... 121

8.1 ... Using Standard Reports in the SAP System ... 121

8.2 ... Finding Standard Reports ... 125

8.3 ... Exporting Lists to Microsoft Excel ... 128

8.4 ... Using Variants ... 130

8.5 ... Other Reporting Options in SAP ERP ... 131

8.6 ... Try It! ... 133

9 ... Printing ... 135

9.1 ... Overview of the Print Functions ... 135

9.2 ... Using Spool Requests ... 137

9.3 ... Changing the Default Printer ... 142

9.4 ... Creating Screenshots ... 143

9.5 ... Try It! ... 144

10 ... Automating Tasks ... 145

10.1 ... Background Jobs ... 145

10.2 ... Batch Processing (Batch Input) ... 158

10.3 ... Try It! ... 166

11 ... Working with Messages and Business Workplace ... 167

11.1 ... Overview of the Business Workplace ... 167

11.2 ... Sending Short Messages ... 169

11.3 ... SAP Business Workflow ... 172

11.4 ... Folders ... 173

11.5 ... Office Organization ... 174

11.6 ... Try It! ... 177

12 ... Electronic Data Interchange ... 179

12.1 ... Overview of the Electronic Data Interchange Process ... 179

12.2 ... Electronic Data Interchange in Practice ... 181

12.3 ... Try It! ... 182

13 ... Using Help Functions ... 183

13.1 ... Field Helps and Search Windows ... 183

13.2 ... The Help Menu ... 186

13.3 ... Customizing the Help ... 191

13.4 ... Try It! ... 193

14 ... The Role and Authorization Concept ... 195

14.1 ... Authorizations ... 195

14.2 ... Roles ... 196

14.3 ... Try It! ... 198

3 ... Most Important Processes in the SAP System ... 199

15 ... Materials Management ... 201

15.1 ... Materials Management Tasks ... 201

15.2 ... Organizational Structures ... 205

15.3 ... Master Data ... 206

15.4 ... Purchase Order ... 219

15.5 ... Inventory Management ... 223

15.6 ... Invoice Verification ... 226

15.7 ... Automatic Material Requirements Planning ... 231

15.8 ... Standard Reporting ... 232

16 ... Sales and Distribution ... 235

16.1 ... Sales and Distribution Tasks ... 235

16.2 ... Organizational Structures ... 237

16.3 ... Master Data ... 238

16.4 ... Sales Order Processing ... 245

16.5 ... Availability Check ... 251

16.6 ... Complaint Processing (Returns) ... 252

16.7 ... Standard Reporting ... 254

17 ... SAP ERP Financials ... 257

17.1 ... Financial Accounting Tasks ... 257

17.2 ... Organizational Structures ... 261

17.3 ... Creating the Financial Statement and Profit and Loss Statement ... 263

17.4 ... Processing Vendor Invoices ... 267

17.5 ... Processing Customer Invoices ... 277

17.6 ... Evaluation ... 282

18 ... Controlling ... 287

18.1 ... Controlling Tasks ... 287

18.2 ... Organizational Structures ... 292

18.3 ... Overhead Cost Controlling ... 293

18.4 ... Product Cost Controlling ... 299

18.5 ... Profitability Analysis ... 303

18.6 ... Evaluations ... 307

19 ... Human Resources ... 309

19.1 ... Tasks in Human Resources ... 309

19.2 ... Organizational Management ... 311

19.3 ... Recruitment ... 314

19.4 ... Personnel Administration ... 318

19.5 ... Talent Management ... 321

19.6 ... Time Management ... 322

19.7 ... Payroll ... 324

19.8 ... Standard Reporting ... 326

20 ... Case Study ... 329

20.1 ... The Sample Business ... 331

20.2 ... The Enterprise Structure ... 331

20.3 ... Creating a Material Master Record ... 333

20.4 ... Creating Vendor Master Records ... 335

20.5 ... Creating Purchasing Info Records ... 336

20.6 ... Creating a Purchase Order ... 337

20.7 ... Receiving Goods ... 339

20.8 ... Verifying an Invoice ... 341

20.9 ... Displaying Open Items (Optional) ... 342

20.10 ... Posting Outgoing Payments ... 343

20.11 ... Creating a Customer Master ... 345

20.12 ... Adding Sales Data to the Material Master Record ... 346

20.13 ... Creating Conditions ... 348

20.14 ... Creating a Standard Order ... 349

20.15 ... Delivering and Issuing Goods ... 350

20.16 ... Creating an Invoice ... 351

20.17 ... Posting Incoming Payments ... 352

... Appendices ... 355

A ... Abbreviations ... 357

B ... Glossary ... 359

C ... Buttons, Key Combinations, and Function Keys ... 369

D ... The Author ... 375

... Index ... 377