SAP ECC 6.0: a detailed overview of the ERP solution
SAP ECC is the world’s leading on-premise ERP system, which companies from a wide range of industries have been using successfully for years. As the end of maintenance for SAP ECC is imminent, it is advisable to migrate to the successor system SAP S/4HANA.
What is SAP ECC 6.0?
SAP ECC 6.0 means “SAP ERP Central Component 6.0” and is a powerful business software for resource planning. It enables various business processes to be integrated and managed. In addition, it assists to increase efficiency and productivity within the company. By bringing together relevant data and information in a centralized system, operational processes can be optimized. This facilitates decision-making and improves collaboration within the company.
How does SAP ECC 6.0 work?
SAP ECC 6.0 is based on a client-server architecture and consists of various modules that cover specific business processes. These modules include in particular:
Financial accounting
Material management
Sales and distribution
Production
Purchasing
Human Resources
Each of these modules provides a set of functions and processes that enable companies to complete their daily tasks in an efficient way. Seamless integration of operational processes is ensured by real-time data exchange between the individual modules which enables the immediate availability of information and benefits efficient decision-making processes. In addition, SAP ECC 6.0 offers extensive reporting functions.
What are the advantages of SAP ECC 6.0?
SAP ECC 6.0 offers a variety of benefits. The most important of these include:
Increased efficiency
Thanks to the integration of all business areas, you have the opportunity to automate and optimize all processes.
Increased productivity
SAP ECC 6.0 offers many functions that can increase the productivity of your workforce. The automation of tasks, the availability of real-time information and the optimization of business processes enables your employees to work more effectively, resulting in improved productivity for the entire operation.
Improved data accuracy
By centralizing data management, companies can ensure that their information are accurate and up to date. This improves data quality and enables well-founded decisions to be made.
What are the challenges of SAP ECC 6.0?
Besides the numerous benefits offered by SAP ECC 6.0, the software also has its challenges. Companies should be aware of these if they want to implement and use SAP ECC 6.0.
One of the main challenges is successfully integrating the software into a company’s existing IT landscape. This requires careful planning and coordination to ensure that all relevant systems can communicate seamlessly with each other.
Another challenge are the costs and time required for the implementation and maintenance of SAP ECC 6.0. When introducing an ERP solution, you should be aware of investments in the following areas:
- Hardware
- Software
- Employee training
- Regular updates and maintenance work
In addition, experienced SAP consultants and developers are often required to ensure the functionality of the ERP software and adapt it to the respective requirements.
What are the differences to SAP S/4HANA?
SAP S/4HANA is the latest ERP software from SAP. Compared to SAP ECC 6.0, it offers a wide range of improvements and new functions.
One key difference between the two versions is the database: While SAP ECC 6.0 runs on various databases, SAP S/4HANA uses only the HANA database. As this utilizes the full potential of in-memory database technology, SAP S/4HANA processes data much faster than SAP ECC 6.0 and offers significantly better performance.
SAP S/4HANA also features the updated FIORI user interface and improved integration with other, newer SAP solutions. Another difference lies in the analysis options of SAP S/4HANA. Enhanced analysis functions help companies to understand their data better and help them to make well-founded decisions.
How long will SAP ECC 6.0 be supported?
SAP has announced that mainstream maintenance for SAP Business Suite 7 core applications, including SAP ECC, will continue until the end of 2027.
Extended maintenance for all SAP Business Suite applications can be booked until 2030 for a surcharge on the existing maintenance basis.
At the same time, SAP has promised to maintain SAP S/4HANA until 2040. This provides customers with long-term planning security.
What does the end of maintenance mean for users of SAP ECC 6.0?
The end of maintenance for SAP ECC 6.0 means that companies using the software need to evaluate their plans and strategies. Missing security updates or bug fixes can cause security vulnerabilities or compatibility issues with the software. It is advisable to migrate to a more recent ERP system such as SAP S/4HANA in order to benefit from the latest features and improvements in the future.
Is it worth switching to SAP S/4HANA?
The large number of improvements, such as the new in-memory database technology, emphasizes the necessity to switch to SAP S/4HANA. The new user interface and better integration with other SAP solutions also speak in favor of migrating to the newer version of the ERP software. SAP ECC also no longer fulfills today’s technical requirements, such as cloud computing. SAP S/4HANA is the newer, future-proof solution.
The migration to SAP S/4HANA requires careful planning and preparation. Companies should carry out a comprehensive analysis of their existing systems and processes. They should ensure that they have the necessary resources and skills to carry out the migration successfully.
How should you prepare for the changeover?
To successfully manage the transition from SAP ECC 6.0 to SAP S/4HANA, a few important steps are required:
Precheck
We first look at your system requirements and subject your existing system to a precheck in which we carry out relevant analyses. We use our experience from numerous SAP S/4HANA projects to prepare the results of the check in a way that is relevant for your decision-making.
Sandbox
If you would like to test the possibilities of SAP S/4HANA in advance and convince yourself of its performance, we will create a sandbox according to your wishes and requirements, which will contain your own data. If required, we can also offer hosting and operate your system entirely on the SAP cloud platform Microsoft Azure, without this having any impact on your system. Finally, you will receive a recommendation for further action and a detailed offer for a migration to SAP S/4HANA.
Roadmap to SAP S/4HANA
We show you the path to SAP S/4HANA in your individual roadmap. It divides the project into milestones, plans the individual steps and provides information on duration and costs.
Conclusion and future perspective of SAP ECC 6.0
Overall, SAP ECC 6.0 is a solid ERP solution for companies that want to optimize their operational processes. However, future business plans should be considered to remain competitive. The migration to SAP S/4HANA can be an opportunity to further increase efficiency and productivity and fulfill the needs of modern businesses.
If you would like to find out more about SAP ECC 6.0 and the migration to SAP S/4HANA, contact us for an individual consultation. We will be glad to help you find the right ERP solution for your company and optimize your operational processes.
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