As the adoption of SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP (Public and Private Editions) continues to accelerate, one of the key issues that frequently comes up is how to deal with the need for customization. This Insights post provides a deeper look at the extensibility tools available for managing custom processes and debunks the myths that cloud doesn't support company-specific requirements.
The Bramasol team sees this issue arise in nearly every SAP Cloud ERP implementation project we handle for clients, with their primary question being how best to balance any needed modifications against the goal of maintaining stability of the core for ease of maintenance and installing future updates.
In some cases, company leaders are hesitant to even undertake the move to cloud, despite its many benefits, because they are worried that their unique requirements can't be supported. It's unfortunate when decision makers tend to view standardized cloud environments as a straightjacket that limits their options; when, at least in the case of SAP Cloud, it is much more like a tailored suit that gives you the benefits of a solid underlying structure along with various ways to tailor a perfect fit.
Why Clean Core Is Important
For more than fifty years, SAP has supported customization by providing a variety of well-defined code development and integration parameters. This enabled companies and partners to create custom code to access databases, define user interface (IX) screens, structure menus, objects, etc. through ABAP or other built-in mechanisms. This not only gave companies broad capabilities to customize their SAP installations; but also, because most implementations were on-premise, the companies had control over when and how they implemented new software upgrades. On the downside, companies and their partners bore the brunt of responsibility and associated costs for testing and possibly modifying their custom code to continue working with each newly installed software update.
One of the major benefits of moving to SAP S/4HANA Cloud is the ability to seamlessly take advantage of regular updates that happen in the cloud, thereby continually getting new features, performance improvements, fixes, and other enhancements automatically. The establishment and maintenance of the Clean Core concept is what makes this seamless update process possible.
The SAP Clean Core defines and manages the main aspects of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, including
- Processes: The series of actions or steps taken within SAP S/4HANA Cloud that cover the end-to-end (E2E) experience of delivering an outcome or accomplishing a result.
- Integration: Connection of SAP S/4HANA Cloud to other solutions for the purpose of sending and receiving data to support process execution.
- Extensibility: Functionality added to SAP S/4HANA Cloud that extends it to address organizational needs that are not met by the standard processes.
- Data: The data contained within and used by SAP S/4HANA Cloud processes, commonly categorized as configuration, master, and transactional data.
- Operations: Necessary maintenance activities performed within SAP S/4HANA Cloud such as release management, background job management, authorization management, monitoring, and alerting.
Clean core extensibility is crucial for achieving a balance between software adaptability for customer modifications and system stability within the cloud environment. This approach not only accelerates software deployment but also simplifies the integration of software updates, as the core begins in a pristine state and is maintained through non-disruptive, regularly scheduled upgrades.
SAP Extensibility Options
SAP provides multiple alternatives for extensibility, designed for use by either front-line business users or experienced developers. These include no-code scenarios for key users to create their own customizations, as well as developer options using low-code, drag-and-drop capabilities or creating extensions in ABAP that provide side-by-side "services" which can be integrated without disrupting the Clean Core environment. Public Edition enforces strict fit-to-standard with no core modifications, while Private Edition allows more flexibility but still benefits from a clean core approach.
Key Business User Extensions:
In the key user extensibility scenario, business users can make UI changes, add custom fields, and adjust workflows directly in SAP Fiori. This enables them to quickly adapt and implement front-line changes without having to wait on IT assistance. These no-code customizations remain intact and operational during each SAP Cloud software update, ensuring continuous and sustainable innovation without any impact on the clean core.
Low-Code Extensions:
Low-code approaches enable developers and business technologists to create new applications and automate workflows using SAP Build on SAP BTP. This allows companies to quickly create and deploy apps to enhance productivity and keep up with market changes, while reducing development costs by enabling seamless innovation. Tight integration of BTP within SAP S/4HANA ensures consistent and secure data flow as well as preserving the clean core during future updates.
Pro-Code, Side-by-Side Extensibility
This enables companies to create enterprise-grade customizations and build advanced applications using SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP), Cloud Application Programming (CAP), and RESTful ABAP Programming (RAP) models. Depending on the extent of the customization, developers can use an API-first approach to leverage existing APIs or, if needed, can use SAP Microservices Architecture to create new modular services that integrate smoothly with S/4HANA Cloud. For Side-by-Side Extensibility, Public Edition relies on SAP BTP, while Private Edition offers some in-system extensibility but still benefits from keeping the core clean. Essentially, this approach creates new applications that run side-by-side with S/4HANA so that the clean core still can be independently updated and the interfaces to the sidebar applications will remain intact.
Summary
The bottom line reality is there will always be a need for some tailoring of business software to meet the specific needs of mid to large size enterprises. However, the myth has persisted that cloud software lacks flexibility for customization. The cloud revolution as led by SAP has radically changed the underlying calculus for companies to achieve an efficient balance between standardized core systems and custom extensions. The overall SAP S/4HANA Cloud approach to establishing a clean core, along with a range of extensibility options overcomes this challenge and provides these key benefits:
- Focus on Strategic Growth: While SAP keeps your core processes stable, business users can tailor daily operations to unique needs.
- Reduced IT Dependency: Business users innovate directly, freeing IT teams to focus on strategic projects.
- Enhanced Productivity: Customized interfaces and workflows that align with user needs, increasing productivity and engagement
- Enhanced Collaboration: Business and IT collaborate seamlessly, ensuring governance and security.
- Advanced Customization: Tailor complex business processes without impacting the core system.
- Maintain Clean Core: Customizations are managed outside the core system, ensuring upgrade safety.
For more information:
- Webinar Video: Learn All About Extensibility Options Built Into SAP Cloud ERP
- Video: Unlocking Success in SAP Cloud Implementation
- Webinar Video: Kick Your Old ERP Out of the Slow Lane with a 90-day SAP Cloud Implementation