Effective lever SAP Basis automation

The former wallflower of SAP Basis automation software is taking center stage for SAP CC management. Suites are the trend of the moment. CC managers are practically constantly analyzing the internal processes and requirements of SAP use in order to optimize internal processes or workflows or make them more efficient. This applies to a large extent to SAP system operations, for which SAP Basis teams are generally responsible. 

Special software systems that provide effective automated support for tasks and activities are playing an increasingly important role for SAP Basis teams. It is fair to say that SAP Basis automation software systems serve as a profitable lever for SAP Basis teams. Software suites that take over important SAP Basis tasks in the form of a complete solution using apps are increasingly considered to be state of the art.

There are several reasons for using such suites. From an overarching SAP CC perspective, two points or topics are currently playing an increasingly important role and are among the top priorities.

On the one hand, the savings that can be achieved with such specialized software or, conversely, the profits that can be made. In particular, because IT is encouraged by company management to always act in a cost-optimized manner. 

And secondly, achieving the highest possible level of SAP system security with mandatory traceability of what happens and has happened in the systems, or what is or was done in detail at a certain point in time for auditing/compliance reasons. In most cases, these two issues are discussed constructively between SAP Basis and SAP CC management or IT management and implemented in a solution-oriented manner.

PoCs help

It has become standard practice in the relevant departments to carry out a proof of concept (PoC) before voting for one SAP Basis automation suite or another. In this context, it is also determined which apps of an automation suite will be used. 

Specifically, whether two, several or all apps in a suite are used. For one company, automated SAP SEC notes management (security) plus the automated creation of SAP system copies may be on the automation list; for another company, there may be more, such as an additional automated Hana and Hana kernel update or the automated starting and stopping of SAP systems; or extended reporting against the background of necessary auditing and compliance requirements.

Further PoC investigation points: How time-consuming is the system installation? What is the usability like? How smart is the system usage? How does the suite fit in with previously used tools? Or: Can the suite also be expanded to meet individual requirements?

At the top of the PoC list is without question the topic of savings effects or the demonstration of concrete gains associated with the use of an SAP Basis automation suite. Both overall and when using individual apps. Below are some results from various PoCs that we received after examining the Empirius Planning and Operations Suite (EPOS) solution and after a license sale. Various results are also based on our own tests/surveys.

SAP Basis Admins

They are intended as a guide for companies considering the use of an SAP Basis automation suite. It should be noted that each PoC carried out is based on individual SAP system circumstances. The following illustrations relate to medium-sized and large SAP users with a high two-digit and sometimes three-digit number of SAP systems. The number of SAP Basis administrators was between two and ten.

For example, the savings in person days (PT) per year (compared to manual scripting) when creating automated SAP system copies were between 60 and 90 percent. For SAP kernel updates, the PT reductions (for well over 100 systems) were over 20; similarly for Hana updates. 

Or in the app field of system maintenance/automated starting/stopping of systems, PT savings of between 50 and 80 percent were achieved. In one case, the number of SAP Basis admins was halved (even at weekends or on public holidays when maintenance work was required). 

In terms of security, the PoCs confirmed the following, whereby a distinction must be made between two aspects: firstly, the automated management of SAP SEC Notes and secondly, mechanisms relating to audits or compliance.

Savings of 60 percent and more were demonstrated in the field of activity and the task "automated collection of SEC notes" and "relevance check" (also for individual SAP solution components), as well as significant process improvements.

Auditing and compliance

The same applies to reporting apps (for audits or compliance checks). They not only ensure consistently high process quality, but also enable comparable system insights. Specifically: the comparability of system details at a specific point in time in the past and current data and values. In other words, what happened when and where in the systems.

What's more, companies across all apps of an SAP Basis automation suite appreciate that a consistently high or improved process quality has been implemented. "In some cases significantly", as the companies reported.

Empirius Planning and Operations Suite, EPOS

This article refers to the SAP Basis automation suite EPOS from Empirius. It is currently available in version 24.3. The suite currently comprises 13 apps that can be used individually or in combination. According to the company, the main focus in the development of the new version was on reporting. The three reporting apps focused in particular on being able to compare data and events at a specific point in time in the past with current data in the present with just a few clicks of the mouse. For example, what specifically happened in the Hana database, in the Linux operating system and more. Or when a Hana or Linux patch was made and what changes were associated with it. In order to ultimately be able to provide important evidence for auditing or compliance reasons. Further development highlights of the current version also include: the expansion of table sets, use of the password safe in a database, new destination types (OS, SAP and Hana-only) and improvements to the maintenance apps and the WebUI used.

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