On the test bench

Whether in midsize companies or in large enterprises - IT managers always face the same challenges: The operation of the company's own systems must be optimized, while at the same time ensuring their further development in line with the digital transformation and keeping IT costs under control.

This requires a clear view of IT, especially of cost drivers in SAP ERP, the Business Suite or in S/4: in-house developments (Z transactions, Z reports) and IT processes that are not being used, deficiencies in terms of software quality due to the number of user exits and modifications, inactive or surplus licenses or superfluous work steps and changes.

Simply switching off unused in-house developments, deleting individual SAP reports, and reducing unused processes and unnecessary work steps reduces the complexity of the SAP landscape and noticeably lowers costs.

Experience shows that even a medium-sized company often uses several hundred transactions developed in-house or individual reports. High savings potential is also made possible by optimization within the SAP licensing model, a reduction in documentation effort, and by improving system quality.

Recognize potentials

MSG FIT provides all the information needed to analyze the use of SAP software in the company and make potential for improvement visible.

The cost drivers in the SAP landscape can be precisely identified by comparing them with current benchmarks, for example on user behavior. The complexity of the IT landscape can also be reduced with the help of the meaningful and reliable data. To this end, the tool extracts system usage and performance data, as well as technical information, from the SAP software and combines it in a text file.

After a comprehensive analysis of this data, it is possible, among other things, to determine precisely whether and where there are violations of the rules for user authorizations and segregation of duties (SoD). These processes can then be designed to meet compliance requirements and withstand any audit.

Fast migration to S/4

MSG's S/4 conversion method also enables the redocumentation of the SAP landscape based on SAP reference models or according to the customer's individual process models - an important prerequisite for the rapid consolidation of SAP systems.

Redocumentation also shows whether migration to the S/4 Hana application suite will bring concrete benefits, for example in terms of new functions, and calculates the costs involved in such a transformation.

Short interview with Stefan Dehn

What exactly is MSG FIT, and what does this service do?

Stefan Dehn: This is a method used by the MSG Group to quickly analyze, compare and optimize SAP systems. Within a few days, it can be used to automatically read out the actual use of SAP functions and processes down to the transaction level.

This makes it possible to redocument the existing SAP systems - a clear advantage over manual procedures. To do this, a special Abap program is imported into the relevant SAP systems, which reads out the data, for example on the use of transactions, customizing settings and authorizations, performance indicators and technical information.

What are typical application scenarios?

Dehn: The great advantage is the flexibility. The process is suitable for various purposes. For example, the customer can use it to determine whether a migration to S/4 Hana will bring him concrete benefits, for example with regard to new functions, and what costs he will incur.

First and foremost, however, MSG FIT checks how efficiently the SAP system that the customer is currently using is being used, i.e. which processes, functions, in-house developments, customizing settings or modifications are being actively used and which are not or no longer in use.

MSG FIT also analyzes how SAP licenses are used and whether all authorizations meet compliance requirements and withstand an SAP audit.

The analysis of the SAP system landscape provides the company with a valid database for carrying out consolidation projects or the S/4 migration, whether from SAP ERP on anyDB or a Business Suite powered by Hana, efficiently, in the shortest possible time, and thus in a cost-saving manner.

The cost savings that can be achieved through such SAP optimization, even for the documentation of processes, are enormous. In individual areas, our experience shows that expenses can be reduced by up to a six-figure sum.