5 reasons to keep SAP up to date in your company

.Institutional
5 reasons to keep SAP updated
September 21, 2023
7 minutes of reading

An expert reveals why keeping SAP software up to date is essential for the competitiveness and efficiency of organizations.

One search from Mignow, leader in SAP updates in 14 countries, revealed that only 22.5% are aware of S/4HANA improvements, while 51.7% have a basic understanding and 3.2% are unaware.

Many companies rely on SAP as their business management software to optimize internal operations, simplify routine tasks and manage data. However, the importance of frequent SAP updates to improve efficiency and remain competitive often goes unnoticed. In this context, we present five crucial reasons to keep your company's SAP up to date.

1. End of Enterprise Support and Increased Costs

With the proximity of support termination For the previous version of SAP (ECC), companies that do not migrate to S/4HANA will lose the possibility of accessing technical support, regular updates and other crucial benefits. Paulo Secco, CEO of Mignow, highlights: “The absence of updates results in the deprivation of technical support, updates, bug fixes and patches, as well as the loss of the ability to identify possible problems, guidance, assistance, technical documentation and educational materials. In addition, support offers analyzes that cover areas where SAP can optimize production time and improve the organization’s inventory management.”

2. Continuous Updates

SAP undergoes regular updates that strengthen security, fix problems, introduce new functionalities and keep the software aligned with legal and tax changes. Notably, S/4HANA stands out by consistently delivering an impressive track record of new functionality with each new release, providing users with a continuous stream of improvements and valuable features. On the other hand, the previous version, ECC, has a gap of more than 3 thousand features compared to the last version of S/4HANA.

To keep SAP always up to date and continue to drive innovation, it is highly recommended that organizations rely on a partner company specialized in this task. Choosing a partner company responsible for SAP ensures the automatic updating of all improvements after the first implementation, guaranteeing an environment that is always updated and optimized.

3. Enhanced Security

The most up-to-date version of SAP offers an additional layer of security, ensuring protection against intrusions and cyber threats. During the migration process, the issue of data security becomes a crucial point of attention. With technological advances, this concern can be addressed efficiently: data is evaluated and organized using dedicated software. Surprisingly, the only information needed by the operator is the size of the database, simplifying the process.

Additionally, many companies express considerable concern about their custom objects, known as “Z's”, which are created to meet specific needs and are not covered by standard SAP functionality. Through data analysis, it is possible to provide a complete view of custom objects and their unique codes for the organization. Paulo Secco shares: “This is the moment when we determine which codes do or do not require adjustments, including defining the 'downtime' required for migration.”

4. Improved Usability

OS/4HANA brings automation that simplifies internal processes, streamlining operations and saving time and resources. The interface SAP Fiori offers a modern, user-centric experience, enabling real-time monitoring of information and processes, including on mobile devices.

In short, the software improves usability and simplifies tasks, highlighting the crucial adaptation that allows instantaneous process monitoring. In addition to focusing on simplicity and facilitating complex tasks, it offers more intuitive navigation and a clear view of the interfaces. The expert highlights that S/4HANA is also accessible on mobile devices, such as cell phones and tablets, to monitor information and processes in real time.

5. Technological Transformation

SAP keeps up to date with technological developments, providing access to innovative resources that keep companies ahead of the market. Paulo Secco highlights that keeping software up to date guarantees access to innovations for several years, preparing companies to adopt emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud storage.

In the coming years, technology will play an even greater role in business processes, including Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and cloud storage. Paulo Secco emphasizes that following these transformations not only keeps organizations ahead in the market, but also brings advantages, such as better use of employees' time and resources. According to the expert, this allows companies to be prepared to embrace changes and benefit from the opportunities offered by technological evolution.

Research Reveals Lack of Knowledge

A survey carried out by Mignow, a company present in 14 countries and specialized in keeping SAP updated, brought to light a surprising reality. Only 22.5% of people have extensive knowledge about the simplifications made in S/4HANA, while 51.7% have only a basic notion, and 3.2% have no knowledge about it at all. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that 74.2% are unaware of the practical advantages that make the new system more competitive in the market. This data highlights the need to raise awareness about the importance of keeping SAP up to date.

In a constantly evolving business scenario, keeping SAP software up to date is essential for the competitiveness and efficiency of organizations. The research highlights the existing knowledge gap regarding the advantages of S/4HANA, highlighting the urgent need to understand and embrace SAP updates. With the information shared by Paulo Secco, founder and CEO of Mignow, it is clear that the continuous adoption of updates to the SAP offers a range of benefits, from optimizing security and usability to preparing for imminent technological transformation. “Companies that recognize the importance of this evolution are better positioned to face the challenges of the modern market and prosper in the digital era”, concludes the executive.