SAP Capabilities to Look for in a SAM Tool
When it comes to managing SAP, it is important to have a tool. Without a SAM tool, it is very difficult to have scalable, reliable, and repeatable SAM program processes. (Read more about why SAM should be treated as a program rather than a project here).
A SAM tool for SAP should support the day-to-day SAM functions and have certain optimization enablement capabilities.
Day-to-Day Support
An SAP SAM tool should have:
– A central repository for entitlement and financial data.
– This means having all entitlements and all financial data in one place – not just what the tool can measure.
– Consistent central upload of usage/deployment data.
– All data should come to one place. The SAP data you gather comes from various locations and you don’t want to have to search your IT environment to track down deployment data.
– Additionally, the upload should be consistent – we recommend data be uploaded on a monthly basis or on a quarterly basis at a minimum.
– Readable and actionable usage reports created and reviewed on a regular basis.
– The SAM tool should give you compliance data:
– “Am I compliant?”
– The reports should also provide data about asset utilization:
– “Am I under or over deployed?”, “By how much?”
– Forecast & history of product usage
Optimization Enablement
These are the functionalities that you need for SAP to make the tool valuable:
– Named User optimization functionality
– Matching access or usage to the proper license types
– Visibility and understanding of Engine deployment data
– Actionable recommendations to improve overall utilization of assets
– The tool should be able to tell you how to improve. For example, instructions on when and what to change. For example, change users’ license type, remove users, investigate engines, reduce usage, etc.
– Indirect access indicators and support
– Digital access measurement and reporting
Services to Support SAP Licensing
SAM tools are only one part of a successful SAP asset management program. Without the proper services, a SAM tool will fall short. Here are some of the SAP services that a SAM tool should be able to support but cannot achieve alone.
These services help organizations answer the questions “What do we own?”, “What are we using?”, and “How can we do it better?”.
SAP Effective Entitlement Position (EEP)
The EEP answers the question – “What do we own?”. This report is incredibly detailed and extensive, it includes:
– Comprehensive review and documentation of SAP licenses and contracts
– Detailed and chronological view of SAP purchase history
– Summary of overall entitlements
– Financial analysis of purchase history (when data is present)
Having the right SAM tool means that you can load all entitlement data into one place. The EEP helps SAP customers take the first step by informing the SAM professional on what to load into the SAM tool. Once they know what they own, they can take the next step.
SAP Effective License Position (ELP)
A SAM tool is essential to gathering the usage data needed to create an ELP. The ELP includes:
– The convergence of entitlement and usage data into one report
– Complete an accurate ‘point-in-time’ license position
– Identify over-usage and surplus licenses
– Highlight areas of improvement and establish optimization opportunities and expectations
A lot of data and work goes into creating an Effective License Position (ELP).
SAP Risk and Opportunity Assessment Report (ROAR)
The ROAR is an executive-level report that draws from data found in the EEP and ELP. The purpose of the ROAR is to:
– Summarize all risks and opportunities for optimization and improvement
– Provide a framework for action items to improve overall SAP software asset utilization
Indirect/Digital Access Analysis Report
Included in this report is:
– A comprehensive analysis of indirect access risks for Named User licensing
– Reliable measurement of Digital Access for negotiating adoption or for reporting accurate document counts
– Comparative analysis of risks and recommendations for currently available licensing options
Both indirect and digital access are very challenging areas of SAP licensing for many of our clients. We have created many resources explaining these challenges and how to handle them – you can find them here. Additionally, one of our SAP experts would be happy to meet with you and answer any questions you may have.
SAP Managed Services
Our SAP Managed Service includes the services and reports listed above on a regular basis. In addition, SAP Managed Service engagements can include ancillary services to support SAP customers for years. Here’s what is included:
– Regularly delivered EEP, ELP, and ROAR (routinely updated and refreshed)
– Indirect/Digital Access Analysis Reports
– SAP audit and negotiation support
– Contract renewal support
– And more
A managed service ensures that your SAP licensing is up-to-date and compliant year over year, eliminating the stress and anxiety that many clients experience due to the complexities of SAP licensing.
Anglepoint Offers an SAP “Quick Start”
If your organization could use help with SAP, but you’re unsure exactly what’s needed or would prefer to start small, our SAP “Quick Start” could help.
This is a 30-day engagement meant to help “quick start” your SAP SAM program. The “quick start” will be tailored to fit your needs, examples of what can be included are:
– An SAP tool assessment and recommendations report
– Complete EEP “What do we own?” (up to 30 SAP appendices/amendments)
– 2 Days of SAP license management training
– Sample ELP report based on 3 SAP production system measurements (via tool or USMM)
– Sample indirect/digital access report based on a 2-day indirect access workshop
If you’re interested in the SAP “Quick Start”, please reach out to us and we’ll be happy to discuss.
