Business Software in SAP Services Business

The results of the study clearly show the need for integrated software that maps all relevant business processes in one system.

In the web-based survey, IA4SP members were asked about the use of software in the typical business processes of SAP service providers, among other things. The areas of marketing, sales, order processing, project processing, invoicing, human resources and reporting were examined.

A total of 47 companies took part. They provide services in hosting, support, add-ons/software development, consulting and project management.

A wide variety of software solutions are used. Microsoft Dynamics and Salesforce have high shares in marketing. SAP ERP is catching up in sales. SAP ERP even has the highest share of all providers in order processing and invoicing.

However, a needs-based solution for project management is clearly missing entirely: 26 percent of participants rely on individual software and 40 percent on other solutions, although there is no clear focus here.

Wages and salaries are topics that many service providers outsource (26 percent) and/or handle with DATEV (23 percent). SAP products have a share of eleven percent here.

Reporting depends on the system in which the transactional data is created. As many companies generate their financial figures in SAP ERP, reporting also takes place there.

In summary, it can be said that there is no ideal solution. Companies use a variety of different software solutions. No company can get by with just one solution. There is a high proportion of individual software to download for free.

Non-members can order the study for a small fee by sending an e-mail to info@ia4sp.org refer. Meetings of the Applications Working Group take place three times a year. The next meeting of the TK Applications will take place on November 17 and 18, 2015 in combination with the SAP Partnership working group and the annual general meeting. Among other things, the presentation of the "S/4 cloud project services edition"

(a new SAP solution for the project business) is planned by SAP. If you are not yet a member, you have the opportunity to take part in two events as a taster.