1. How can it be obtained?
2. Some frequently asked questions:
a) What technology is used to develop the user interface for S/4HANA Customer Management?
b) Are there any differences between the Sales and Service scenarios in S/4HANA Customer Management compared to SAP CRM?
c) Continuing from question 2: Are there any technical implementation differences in S/4HANA for a given scenario?
d) Have there been any changes made to the One Order Model in S/4HANA Customer Management when compared to SAP CRM?
e) As an SAP CRM consultant, should I be concerned about job security in the future?
Technical comparison between S4CRM and C4C can be made to understand the differences and similarities in their functionalities. By examining the technical aspects of both systems, we can gain insights into how they operate and what sets them apart from each other.
It is a moment of joy and celebration as we announce the successful delivery of our latest offering, thanks to the hard work put in by my colleagues at SAP Global. This remarkable achievement involves integrating certain Sales & Service functionalities from SAP CRM On-Premises (referred to as SAP CRM) into S/4HANA. As a proud member of this exceptional development team, I am thrilled about this accomplishment.
In traditional SAP system integration deployment architecture, SAP ERP is connected with SAP CRM by CRM Middleware. There might be some trouble during the data exchange between these two systems in case of incorrect or incomplete customizing.
However, there are still some partners who face difficulties when troubleshooting the Middleware process. Fortunately, there is positive news for them: these issues related to data exchange between SAP ERP and SAP CRM can be resolved in S/4HANA for Customer Management. This is because the Sales & Service scenario now operates directly on S/4HANA itself, eliminating the need for any data exchange.
Contents
- 0.1 Getting Started with CRM in SAP S/4HANA PDF
- 0.2 Developing UI for Customer Management in S/4HANA: Which technique is utilized?
- 0.3 Comparison of Sales & Service Scenarios in S/4HANA for Customer and SAP CRM
- 0.4 Introducing SAP S/4HANA PDF for CRM Implementation
- 0.5 Comparing One Order Model Changes in S/4HANA for Customer Management with SAP CRM
- 0.6 Will SAP CRM consultants face job loss in the future?
- 0.7 Introducing CRM in SAP S/4HANA: PDF Overview
- 1 Number of standards in SAP guidelines for solution operations?
- 2 The benefits of SAP CRM
- 3 The meaning of SAP CRM
- 4 Does SAP HANA function as a CRM system?
Getting Started with CRM in SAP S/4HANA PDF
For further information on the Sales & Service scenarios supported in S/4HANA for Customer Management 1.0, please consult the SAP help documentation.
Take a quick look at its user interface (UI) initially. Begin the exploration by clicking on the relevant tile in Fiori Launchpad.
If the parameter CRM_UI_PROFILE is maintained with value “*” in user profile, a list of all available business roles will be displayed as below once tile is pressed:
Next, I will explore the interaction center scenario by logging in using the S4C_SRV_ICAG role.
In this instance, the representative recognized Jerry using the Account ID that was given by Jerry.
Next, the user looked for the Product with ID 11 and proceeded to generate a fresh service order using this particular product.
I have been receiving numerous inquiries from Chinese partners who are seeking more information about the specifics of S/4HANA for Customer Management. In an attempt to address their concerns, I will provide answers to some of the commonly asked questions.
Developing UI for Customer Management in S/4HANA: Which technique is utilized?
Partners with expertise in WebClient UI will find it beneficial as their skills will remain relevant and lead to success in their future endeavors with S/4HANA.
Alternatively, individuals seeking a fresh approach to UI development may find satisfaction in utilizing the combination of CDS View and Smart Template.
I have also attempted to create a user interface in S/4HANA using the latest technology introduced in S/4HANA. I have documented my findings and experiences in 13 blogs on SAP Community.
Comparison of Sales & Service Scenarios in S/4HANA for Customer and SAP CRM
Jerry explains that the scenarios available in S/4HANA for Customer Management are a smaller selection compared to those found in SAP CRM. However, he mentions that future versions will include additional features and support.
Introducing SAP S/4HANA PDF for CRM Implementation
Jerry explains that while a user may perceive the act of clicking a search button as simple, such as in the case of product search, there are actually technical differences in how it is implemented.
The main difference can be found in the green section below, which includes the Genil Interaction Layer, the persistence models, and the API that works with these models.
It is easiest to understand the necessary change of underlying database table in S/4HANA for Customer Management: in CRM there is some concept which has its counterpart in S/4HANA, for example “Product” in CRM and “Material” in ERP.
In CRM, a product can be generated using the tcode COMMPR01 and saved in tables with names starting with COMM_. However, in S/4HANA, we utilize the tcode MM01 to create a material and store its information in the corresponding table such as MARA.
In the process of integrating SAP CRM Sales & Service scenario into S/4HANA, a decision needs to be made regarding the choice of data model. The recommended approach is to align with the data model already established in S/4HANA.
The implementation of S/4HANA in SAP CRM requires modifying the original API to align with the S/4HANA model.
Take an example to illustrate the API change. Previously it is mentioned that in CRM a product is stored in table COMM_PRODUCT. In S/4HANA for Customer Management now the product is stored in MARA instead.
The product search in S/4HANA for Customer Management is developed by SAP Chengdu development team. We don’t simply figure out all occurrence of “COMM_PRODUCT” in API source code and replace them with “MARA”.
Instead, we employ the suggested modeling method in S/4HANA: a fresh CDS view called CRMS4V_PRODUCT is implemented to facilitate product searches, which ultimately relies on MARA as its foundation.
In this way, we managed to adhere to the ” Code Push Down ” best practice, ensuring to put logic execution into database layer as much as possible.
Comparing One Order Model Changes in S/4HANA for Customer Management with SAP CRM
Jerry explains that in CRM, the information related to an order is stored in various database tables. The commonly known ones are CRMD_ORDERADM_H for header data and CRMD_ORDERADM_I for item data. The table names indicate that these tables primarily handle administrative tasks rather than storing most of the business-related data, which is stored in separate dedicated tables.
The rectangles below with different colors represents different nodes in One Order model in SAP CRM. Each node has a dedicated persistence table. There exists relationship among those nodes, for example, one ORDERADM_I can have multiple PARTNER nodes with different role(ship-to party, sold-to party etc). Such relationship is maintained by CRMD_LINK.
The One Order Model in CRM includes over 200 database tables for storage and has been highly effective. It serves as the core of SAP CRM and is widely used by customers worldwide.
In the Analytics scenario, it is important to work in conjunction with another table called CRMD_ORDER_INDEX. This table serves as a means of optimizing storage and execution time by replicating certain data from dedicated tables. Although this approach may result in additional storage being used, it ultimately speeds up the analytics application.
In SAP S/4HANA for Customer Management, the One Order model is significantly streamlined. The details related to the header level data of an order, including its ID, description, order type, creator, creation timestamp, involved parties, organization, and pricing information are now stored in a newly introduced table called CRMS4D_SERV_H.
For individual data at the item level, there is a single table called CRMS4D_SERV_I.
A CDS view created on top of a flattened table can minimize the need for joining multiple database tables, allowing it to effectively handle analytics scenarios by leveraging the strong data processing capabilities of SAP HANA. This means that there is no longer a need for CRMD_ORDER_INDEX.
This simplified model enables us to realize the miracle that to have the same data model serve both transactional and analytics application. The CDS view built on top of simplified model can ensure S/4HANA for Customer Management to benefit from the continuous innovation done in S/4HANA.
The clever design of SAP CRM One Order API allows its signature to remain consistent even when there are changes in the underlying persistence layer. This means that if you are already familiar with using One Order API in SAP CRM, you do not need to learn anything new because the usage of One Order API in S4HANA for Customer Management 1.0 is identical to that in SAP CRM.
Will SAP CRM consultants face job loss in the future?
Jerry: If you have taken the time to read this, I assume that you may already have a solution in mind.
In S/4HANA for Customer Management, the custom development still utilizes WebClient UI as the user interface technology and One Order API in the backend. If you are already familiar with both of these technologies, you can continue using them in your future work.
In my personal experience, when it comes to learning a new technique or product, there are two main approaches: on-the-job study and self-study. On-the-job study involves learning while actively working, which provides ample opportunities for practice and makes the learning process more efficient compared to simply going through materials without practical application. This way, we can avoid forgetting what we have learned after some time has passed.
I believe that SAP CRM consultants in S/4HANA for Customer Management have a wonderful chance to enhance their expertise in Sales & Service scenarios and also gain valuable experience with S/4HANA, which can greatly benefit their career.
Introducing CRM in SAP S/4HANA: PDF Overview
I trust that these blog posts will provide you with a basic understanding of S/4HANA for Customer Management 1.0. I will continue to share my insights on this topic as I further explore it in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Your feedback and inquiries are greatly valued!
Number of standards in SAP guidelines for solution operations?
SAP has published five golden rules for implementing SAP S/4HANA that provide project teams, architects, technical and functional consultants, and key users with guidelines to implement the solution in a way to make it easier to upgrade and continuously enhance.
The benefits of SAP CRM
Lead Management in SAP CRM simplifies the process of converting potential customers into actual buyers and enhances pipeline management. With its comprehensive set of tools, SAP CRM enables businesses to seamlessly integrate lead generation, pipeline tracking, and nurturing for existing customers.
The meaning of SAP CRM
Customer relationship management (CRM) is a system that helps businesses manage their interactions with customers. It involves automating and integrating customer data and activities such as sales, marketing, service, and e-commerce. With a CRM system in place, companies can effectively track customer interactions, improve communication, and enhance overall customer satisfaction.
The primary goal of implementing CRM is to build stronger relationships with customers by understanding their needs and preferences. By centralizing all customer-related information in one place, businesses can gain valuable insights into their buying patterns and behaviors. This enables them to tailor their products or services according to individual customer requirements.
Moreover, CRM systems provide tools for managing sales processes more efficiently. Sales teams can easily access relevant information about potential leads or existing customers, allowing them to personalize their approach during the sales cycle. Additionally, marketing efforts become more targeted as companies can segment their audience based on specific criteria like demographics or purchasing history.
Does SAP HANA function as a CRM system?
In 2007, SAP began working on a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Over the years, this CRM has gone through several name changes, starting with SAP Business ByDesign CRM and eventually becoming known as Sales on Demand, SAP Cloud for Customer, and finally SAP Cloud for Sales. This cloud-based CRM allows businesses to manage their customer relationships more effectively.
Since 2018, SAP has brought together all of its cloud-based marketing, sales, service, and commerce applications into one suite called SAP C/4HANA. This suite offers a comprehensive solution for businesses to handle various aspects of customer engagement and improve overall customer satisfaction.
Overall, implementing CRM in SAP S/4HANA helps organizations enhance their customer-centric approach by providing better insights into customer behavior and preferences. It enables them to deliver personalized experiences while improving operational efficiency across multiple business functions.