![sap religion reddit [shutterstock: 148510727, Sergey Nivens]](https://e3zine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sap-religion-reddit-shutterstock_148510727-e1624265777679.jpg)
I started writing this piece after stumbling upon a Reddit post titled “I don’t like SAP”. SAP s an exceptional IT company because its strength comes from business processes, not from technology. Or, to say it with Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard: SAP begins precisely where thinking leaves off. (Original quote: “Faith begins precisely where thinking leaves off.”)
In my view, SAP is a religion. High licensing costs, complex architectures, few choices regarding infrastructure – you have to suspend reason to be content with that. You don’t choose SAP, you fall into it. You take a leap of faith and see where you’ll land. If you don’t like where you end up, you might be inclined to say that you don’t like SAP, period.
SAP itself has created this religion. For years, it didn’t have a coherent narrative or a comprehensive approach to storytelling. It existed in kind of an echo chamber, as SAP doesn’t reside in Silicon Valley, but in a small village in Germany. If you leave SAP’s headquarters in Walldorf and cross the street, you’re still in SAP territory.
This isolated echo chamber might soon be forced open by two new arrivals from Microsoft: Julia White, now Chief Marketing and Solutions Officer, and Oliver Roll, new Chief Communications Officer. Maybe they can escape the religious dogma that is SAP in favor of a more comprehensive storytelling approach.
With respect, it’s been my experience that no one “likes” their ERP system regardless of the brand on the splash screen. There is nothing glamorous about them and they are a huge drain on resources and generally don’t contribute any significant competitive advantage. Improves efficiency in handling financial processes, Payroll, etc, yes – but not differentiation.
ERP is viewed as a necessary evil in the systems portfolio.
I would disagree. Having lead and implemented r3 oracle 11i r13 fusion S4 Hana. The mantra about business processes are nonsensical and sap fell into the trap.of siloing knowledge and technology. Business processes which are in S4 for financials are hopelessly obsolete and beyond repair. There are no productivity tools within modules no standardised interfaces what are there are not worth their weight in air.
Try reading oracle manuals and productivity tools let alone the technology stack you are appalled that in this era by you are only able to run se16 to get at data. Really… That was long days of mainframe. Heard of SQL??