S/4 Roadmap versus Implementation of SAP PM and SAP CS

[philipp_miller]

Dear SAP collegues,

we are using SAP ERP on HANA and BI. S/4 will be implemented in a few years.

At the moment, we need to decide some logistic processes:

For our After Sales Business we are planning to implement SAP CS.

For our internal maintenance of machines, we are planning the implementation of SAP PM.

Now my question: Does that make sense from a strategic point of view?

On the different S/4 Roadmaps (e.g. SAP Predictive Maintenance and Service), new products are presented.

What I do not understand, are we talking about a complete new solution or can we enhance SAP PM and SAP CS with new functionality?

Maybe somebody can explain this context or connect me with somebody who can consult us.

Best Regards,

Philipp

[Former Member]

Philip,

You can enhance SAP PM and SAP CS with the new functionality, though the new names will be Maintenance Management and Service Management. The picture is from the May 2017 Asset Management Roadmap.

S/4HANA will replace SAP ERP and BI. The S/4HANA products are based on the Digital Core, which covers the functionality in SAP ERP. (See the Blue section of the picture.) There are some details which are changed, that you can review in the Simplification documents for each S/4HANA version.

Many of the new solutions covering CS and PM are around, not inside, the Digital Core: in SAP Leonardo (e.g. SAP Predictive Maintenance and Service), SAP Asset Intelligence Network, and SAP Hybris (for Sales Service). These solutions provide top-end capabilities that expand on the core functions (Work Order Management, Scheduling, integration with Purchasing, Stores, Costing), which are in S/4H.

The latest is SAP Asset Strategy and Performance Management. From the News Release last week: Using SAP Leonardo Internet of Things (IoT) technology, SAP Asset Strategy and Performance Management connects assets and ties asset management into core business functions, such as maintenance management, manufacturing, finance and human resources. It enables criticality assessments and segmentation of assets to help organizations choose a decision framework, such as failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), for the optimal maintenance strategy for an asset or assets.

While I am still gathering detail on the capabilities of the new releases, what I see provides functionality beyond what is in ERP, and does not replace the need for the Digital Core.

TRE