Added value for us and our customers

Empirius: How important is the use of an SAP Basis automation suite for SoftwareOne as an SAP service provider?

Sören Genzler, SoftwareOneIn addition to many other services, we provide SAP customers with practically all SAP Basis services required for the best possible SAP operation in the form of managed services. This means that not only we as a service provider, but also our SAP customers benefit from the use of an SAP Basis automation suite in several ways. In this respect, the importance of an SAP Basis automation suite is very high, as its use has a multidimensional effect. We operate according to the motto: "What can be automated should be automated."

Thomas Brülhart, SoftwareOneSAP Basis automation suite is always associated with consistent and high-quality processes in the individual apps and overall. This is very important for us as an SAP service provider and for our customers, for example in terms of fault tolerance, what works how, traceability or knowledge of data and processes.

Empirius: How do SoftwareOne and customers actually benefit from using the SAP Basis automation suite EPOS? Can you give some figures?

GenzlerWe are planning to examine the resource savings that we achieve with the EPOS automation software in detail. Based on our experience to date, we have achieved resource savings of up to 70 percent for standard tasks and the creation of SAP system copies. This enables us to achieve a high level of efficiency in the provision of our services. What's more, we can pass on efficiency gains and expanded functionality to customers as improvements to our services. And without necessarily making the services more expensive. In other words, customers get more services for the same money. The bottom line is that the gains are significant.

BrülhartThere are many advantages. One of our system administrators looks after several SAP customers, while another looks after other customers. However, both are able to look after these or those customers because they are familiar with software for automating SAP system operation. Whether it's creating SAP system copies, recommending which SEC Notes to import or querying ad hoc which SAP versions are in use. Perhaps as an addendum: it now takes us less than an hour to create a system copy for a small SAP HR/HCM system, for example, whereas without automation it would take three days or more. Overall, we are happy with EPOS because, as an SAP service provider, we can provide our services at manageable costs and with optimized personnel deployment.

Empirius: What were the reasons for voting for the SAP Basis automation suite EPOS?

BrülhartWe had previously had good experiences with the BlueCopy solution for creating SAP system copies and with the company Empirius. As a result, we had close contact with the technology and support team. This also led to a joint development, which we named BlueCopy for Azure. This involved an interface to Azure in order to be able to access backups for SAP system copies. We were informed about the new solution early on, even before EPOS was actually available, and were able to test a pilot and carry out a proof of concept. We have been using EPOS productively since the beginning of 2023. As with BlueCopy, we were impressed by the functionality, reliability and usability of the various EPOS apps.

Empirius: Which apps does SoftwareOne use for automated SAP Basis tasks?

GenzlerFirstly, we still use BlueCopy to create SAP system copies, of which we make around 30 per year. We also use the EPOS app for SAP kernel patching and the app for automated starting/stopping of SAP systems. The SEC Notes app for handling and managing SAP Security Notes was recently added. We also use the reporting app relatively intensively as an element of our extended monitoring. With the EPOS Reporting app, we can quickly and accurately access information such as SAP system and application version statuses. For performance overviews, such as processor utilization or similar, we use special monitoring tools, including self-written ones.

Empirius: Have the expectations been fulfilled?

Genzler: Definitely. And here and there, new features or apps have also exceeded them. Take the SEC Notes app, for example. We are currently testing the new app for SAP software certificate management. Incidentally, we are using the SAP Basis automation
Suite EPOS internationally or globally in conjunction with various SAP system versions; with SAP ERP ECC and SAP S/4 HANA, with SAP HANA, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server or with the Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The fact that any support queries at Empirius are answered quickly and competently at all times should be emphasized.