---
title: How To Understand SAP Modules Without Spending a Fortune (Mindmap)
description: Understand SAP Modules by using our interactive MindMap.  Based on SAP's very own architecture guides, it will show the complete solution suite.
---

[SAP BW|BOBJ|Project Management Blog ](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog)

# [How To Understand SAP Modules Without Spending a Fortune (Mindmap)](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-understand-sap-modules-without-spending-a-fortune)

 Written by [Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/author/lonnie-d-ayers-pmp) | Wed, May, 23, 2012 @ 02:45 PM

## Do you ever wonder just what is in the SAP box? 

 

With so many [SAP modules](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-understand-sap-modules-in-5-minutes) forming part of the core [**ERP solution**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-understand-sap-supply-chain-management-and-bw), it can be very difficult to truly [understand](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-training-courses) what [**SAP Modules**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/understanding-sap-bw-in-5-minutes) are available and which ones do what.  

## What Most Customers Ask Me About SAP

I have been surprised many times by both SAP prospects and [SAP customers](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/does-pci-dss-compliance-affect-you) asking me just [what SAP does](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-sem-cpm-risk-register-design-template).  To answer that, I built a **[mindmap](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/learn-more-about-sap-modules/)** that allows you to drill-down [**SAP Module by SAP Module**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-understand-sap-modules-in-5-minutes), to explore the [entire solution](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-the-tco-of-that-shinny-new-system-youre-about-to-buy).  If you are an old [SAP hand](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-your-sap-project-manager), this is probably not news to you.  

In order to answer the question, I first had to find the [**SAP Architecture**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/cots-vs-custom-development-decision-tree-analysis) documents available from the SAP [Chief Technology Office](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/4-ways-to-bring-digital-innovation-to-your-company).  As they are somewhat long, and you need to have considerable [background knowledge](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/5-kpi-design-best-practice-guidelines) to really dig down into them, I found the **[SAP MindMap](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/learn-what-erp-is-using-our-mindmap/)** the easiest way to simplify and interpret the content buried within them. 

 

 

 

[Fundamentally](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/12-sap-crm-content-management-system-requirements), the [SAP ERP system](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/12-risk-management-considerations-to-measure-wricef-a) is based on three Mega-[SAP Modules](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-improve-sap-profitability-management-the-ultimate-guide), [**Finance**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-improve-sap-profitability-management-p2-the-ultimate-guide), **Logistics** and **HCM**. 

## However, the system also includes numerous other [modules](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-center-of-expertise-sap-coe-approach):

 

- [SAP **Business Warehouse**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/business-intelligence-consulting/what-is-sap-business-warehouse) (BW or BI)
- [SAP Profitability and Cost Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/how-to-increase-profitability-sap-profitability-management-guide) (PCM)
- SAP **APO** (SCM), Advanced Planner and Optimizer
- SAP **CRM**, [Customer Relationship Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/inbound-marketing-services/hubspot-crm-implementation-services)
- SAP **MDM**, [Master Data Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-sap-data-migration-mistakes-to-avoid)
- SAP **SRM**, Supplier Relationship Management
- [SAP **SEM**, Strategic Enterprise Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-build-a-sap-sem-bps-retail-industry-value-case)
- SAP **TM**, Transportation Management
- SAP **EH&S** (Environmental Health & Safety)
- SAP [HRM](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-sap-s-hrms)
- SAP **BusinessObjects** (really many other products are in this bucket)
- SAP [**Industry Solutions**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-fico-consulting) (many, many, specialized [Industry specific solutions](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-partnership-advisory-services) here, such as **iMRO**, Traders and Scheduler's WorkBench - TSW, Hybris Marketing, Multi-Resource (MRS) Scheduling, SAP Flexible Real Estate or [SAP RE-FX](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/8-value-based-questions-for-real-estate-management-software-solutions), to name just few)
- [SAP **Partner Solution**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-to-nail-sap-partnership-management) Add-Ins
- [SAP ](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/consulting-rate-calculator-whats-your-rate)**[Solution Manager](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/consulting-rate-calculator-whats-your-rate)
  
  **
- SAP **Netweaver Platform** (within this, there are numerous modules as well)
- **SAP ABAP**, part of Netweaver and [the core language](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/learn-what-makes-sap-dfps-solution-different) of everything else, can also be used to build stand-alone [applications, such as](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/4-market-spend-approaches) transportation such as was done in Iraq

## What You Get With My SAP MindMap

 

In my **[SAP MindMap](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/learn-what-erp-is-using-our-mindmap/)**, I provide drill-down exploration capability to each of these [SAP modules](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/how-to-increase-profitability-sap-profitability-management-guide).  As SAP is all about [Business Process Management](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/12-sap-crm-content-management-system-requirements), you can find a few of the potential [linkages between modules](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/10-shortcuts-to-mastering-multi-channel-marketing), though I have not put all of those [linkages](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/value-stream-mapping) in for clarity's sake.  This is how a [SAP Solution Architect](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/it-services/sap-solution-architect-support) comes up with your custom [SAP Solution Landscape](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-asap-project-review).

 

## Internal SAP Integration Points

 

I should also point out that [integration](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hubspot-integrations-sales-sap-chat) is the key advantage of these packages. 

For instance, there are more than **200 built-in integration points** between SAP CRM [and all the](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/3-multi-platform-marketing-resolutions-to-kick-off-the-new-year) other modules, such as the [ERP system](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-sap-certification-ought-to-work).  Get your copy of the Best Selling SAP Mindmap by click the image below.

 

 

Thanks

 

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- BusinessObjects [Explorer](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/businessobjects-explorer-best-practices) Best Practices

  

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