I am not complicated

SAP is always to blame when an implementation project fails. Is this statement true? "I'm not complicated, I'm a challenge," could be the answer of probably the world's best ERP software.

However, because it was many SAP projects that came to a premature halt in recent years, the challenge should be examined more closely: SAP became the ERP world market leader with standard business software! This was not a matter of course.

Two factors are responsible for SAP's success: the single point of truth in the form of a central database and the customizing of Abap tables (standard software). Both factors are technically very demanding, but were implemented very well by SAP with R/2, R/3, R/3 Enterprise, ERP/ECC 6.0 and Business Suite 7.

Because SAP was a business and organizational issue, many existing customers overlooked the fact that they were dealing with a technically oriented company: The topic was and is business administration, while SAP's passion and expertise are technical.

You can also put it this way: The computer scientist has learned a few business tricks and programmed them into Abap. In order to transfer the "half-finished" solution (standard software) into real life, a great deal of skill, project know-how, change management, business process management, etc. is required.

The list of prerequisites for leading an SAP project to success is almost endless: I am not complicated, I am challenging. This challenge can and will never be shouldered by SAP alone.

SAP is a tech company at heart, partly responsible but not solely responsible. Because, strictly speaking, it only produces half-finished software.

Deception and camouflage: Now, under the leadership of Bill McDermott, SAP has radically changed. The "programming store" with attached business administration has become a sales organization.

Today, SAP conveys the image of an all-encompassing, all-knowing corporation: The user's expectation that together with SAP no project can go to the wall seems only logical.

McDermott gives the wrong picture: Standard business software does not consist of colorful apps on smartphones and tablets, but is a technical, organizational and business challenge - not complicated, but complex!