--- title: What is SAP ERP? [Mindmap] description: MindMap of SAP ERP -For those of you who do not know exactly what is in the box, here is my attempt to sort it out for you.  When this opens up, you image: https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20complex%20mindmap%20illustrating%20the%20components%20and%20relationships%20within%20SAP%20ERP%2c%20including%20various%20modules%2c%20services%2c%20partnerships%2c%20and%20user%20groups.jpeg --- ![SAP ERP Mindmap](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20complex%20mindmap%20illustrating%20the%20components%20and%20relationships%20within%20SAP%20ERP%2c%20including%20various%20modules%2c%20services%2c%20partnerships%2c%20and%20user%20groups.jpeg) # What is SAP ERP? [Mindmap] Table of Contents ## SAP Enterprise Resource Planning - Explained SAP is both the name of a company, in this case SAP AG and the name of their flagship product, [SAP R/3](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-your-sap-project-manager).  There was also an R/2 and today, in 2020, it is called [SAP ECC](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/total-cost-of-ownership-tco) (Enterprise Core Component) [SAP HANA](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-sap-certification-ought-to-work) (which has many flavors).  ## What Does [SAP ERP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-understand-sap-supply-chain-management-and-bw) Do? At its core, it is a fully integrated suite of products that provide support for [Finance](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/6-financial-management-excellence-tips), Logistics and Human Resources.  ## SAP Goes Well Beyond Core ERP In addition to the 16 core modules of the [SAP Enterprise Resource Planning System](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/understanding-the-difference-between-value-model-and-value-case), such as [SAP FICO](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-fico-consulting), [SAP HRMS](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-sap-s-hrms), SAP MM, SD, PM, PS, LE, PLM and EWM, there are a variety of additional 'New Dimension' modules, such as CRM, APO, [BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-use-a-project-charter-to-start-a-project), EH&S, MDM and others, such as [SAP RE-FX or SAP Flexible Real Estate](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/8-value-based-questions-for-real-estate-management-software-solutions).  SAP also provides a variety of [Industry Specific solutions](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-are-sap-industry-solutions), which come with additional software functionality specifically tailored to meet the needs of specific industries, such as Airlines, Hospitals, [Manufacturers](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/roce-return-on-capital-employed-simply-explained), Defense Departments, [Professional Services](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/professional-services-learn-about-engaging-with-us), and numerous others.     ## SAP Has Grown Through Acquisitions Over the years, [SAP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-asap-project-review) has acquired numerous company's, such as BusinessObjects and rolled those companies products into the [SAP software solution(s)](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-sap-data-migration-mistakes-to-avoid) line-up.  They continue to acquire companies at what seems to be a rate of one every two weeks.  This is a fairly dramatic change from the early days of SAP, when they mostly developed everything themselves, mostly using ABAP. ## SAP Has a Vast [Partner Eco-System](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-partnership-advisory-services) SAP maintains a relatively small [consulting](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/get-sap-consulting-support-now) footprint and instead relies on the vast partner network to drive incremental sales and to provide [SAP consulting services](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-secret-tips-to-choosing-sap-consulting-companies), which is what [SAP BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/understanding-sap-bw-in-5-minutes) Consulting, Inc. provides.  [SAP Partners](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-you-can-nail-sap-partnership-management) come in a variety of flavors, including pure [services partners](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-support-companies), hardware partners, (IBM, Dell, AWS) and specialized solution add-on providers.  With their SAP HANA platform, they have opened up their platform large number of 'start-up' businesses, who are encouraged to develop their solution using the SAP HANA Cloud platform environment. ## SAP Has an Enormous Customer Installed Base - From Whence Many Ideas Emerge   Probably [their single most valuable asset](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-understand-sap-modules-in-5-minutes) is their SAP User Groups. SAP User Groups exist in a variety of shapes, and are present around the world.  These user groups are also often times focused on specific industry areas, for instance, there is an Airport User Group.  By sponsoring these user groups, actively soliciting feedback about what needs to be developed next, then actually delivering the requested functionality, they are able to continuously improve their product offering.  [SAP Industry Principals](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-consulting-fi-co-mm-sd-pp-plm-bw-vora-hr-crm-scm-apo-ehs-grc-modules) (I was one) play a key role in these groups.     They are the eyes and ears of SAP, and have to decide which whitespace functionality needs to be developed.  They then, carry the burden of making their case to the internal development teams at SAP to build out functionality that will further drive industry success. ## SAP Mindmap To Simplify Understanding SAP ERP I frequently use create mindmaps to gain an understanding of complex subjects.  For my SAP R/3 mindmap, I was asked by one of the Sales Trainers at one of our partners to explain to their [Salesforce](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hubspot-salesforce-consulting-request) what they could actually [sell](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/knowing-what-you-sell-the-key-to-dominating-your-market) from SAP.  Thus was born my [SAP ERP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/cots-vs-custom-development-decision-tree-analysis) Mindmap.   [MindMap of SAP ERP](http://sapbwconsulting.web10.hubspot.com/Default.aspx?app=LeadgenDownload&shortpath=docs%2fWhat_is_SAP_ERP_(2).pdf) - For those of you who do not know exactly what is in the SAP box, here is my attempt to sort it out for you.  When this opens up, you must first allow it to play, then click anywhere in the [white space](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/salesforce-consultant).  Please allow it a few seconds to open up and you will see a nice playable mindmap of the product.   [![Explore SAP R3 Solution](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118735/f18b9643-3abf-4f23-83cb-705d67939bb6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118735/f18b9643-3abf-4f23-83cb-705d67939bb6)   Topics from this blog: [SAP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/sap) [ERP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/erp) [MindMap](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/mindmap) ### Download SAP BW Mindmap Learn what SAP Business Warehouse is and what it does in under five minutes [![Get this Mindmap](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118735/8db2ad37-8211-47a3-86ae-09b6b2bb297b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118735/8db2ad37-8211-47a3-86ae-09b6b2bb297b) [mailto:someone@yoursite.com](mailto:someone@yoursite.com) ### Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP About the Author: Lonnie Ayers is a Hubspot Certified Inbound Marketing consultant, with additional certifications in Hubspot Content Optimization, Hubspot Contextual Marketing, and is a Hubspot Certified Partner. Specialized in demand generation and sales execution, especially in the SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Partner space, he has unique insight into the tough challenges Service Providers face with generating leads and closing sales using the latest digital tools. With 15 years of SAP Program Management experience, and dozens of complex sales engagements under his belt, he helps partners develop and communicate their unique sales proposition. Frequently sought as a public speaker in various events, he is available for both inhouse engagements and ** remote coaching. ** ![Balanced Scorecard Consultant](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Balanced%20Scorecard%20Certified%20Graduate.jpg) He also recently released a book **"How to Dominate Any Market - Turbocharging Your Digital Marketing and Sales Results",** which is available on [ Amazon.](https://www.amazon.com/Dominate-Turbocharging-Digital-Marketing-Results/dp/1728357950/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1589182458&refinements=p_27%3ALonnie+D.+Ayers&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Lonnie+D.+Ayers)**** [View All Articles by Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/author/lonnie-d-ayers-pmp) ## The SAP Blog Subscribe to our blog and receive SAP BW Updates, demand generation, inbound marketing, sales enablement, technology and revenue generation insights and ideas delivered right to your email. [mailto:someone@yoursite.com](mailto:someone@yoursite.com) ![SAP](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/960101754/?value=0&guid=ON&script=0) ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=199270410761059&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp#blogposting", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "about" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Enterprise resource planning", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_resource_planning" }, { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "SAP", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAP" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Business process", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_process" } ], "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/about-lonnie-ayers#person" }, "dateModified" : "2024-10-03", "datePublished" : "2024-10-03", "description" : "Discover what SAP ERP is, how it integrates business processes, and its impact on Enterprise Resource Planning.", "headline" : "What is SAP ERP?", "inLanguage" : "en", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp#webpage" }, "mentions" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Finance", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finance" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Supply chain management", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Human resource management", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_resource_management" } ], "name" : "What is SAP ERP?", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "ViewAction", "name" : "Explore SAP's R/3 Solution", "target" : { "@type" : "EntryPoint", "actionPlatform" : [ "http://schema.org/DesktopWebPlatform", "http://schema.org/MobileWebPlatform" ], "inLanguage" : "en", "urlTemplate" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/learn-what-sap-erp-is-using-our-mindmap" } }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization" }, "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "SAP BW Consulting, Inc.", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization" }, "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#logo" }, "name" : "SAP BW Consulting, Inc.", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/543163/admin/", "https://www.youtube.com/user/SAPBWConsulting/", "https://twitter.com/Lonniea39", "https://www.facebook.com/SAPBWConsulting" ], "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#logo", "@type" : "ImageObject", "caption" : "SAP BW Consulting, Inc. logo", "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sapbw-consulting.png?width=2847&name=sapbw-consulting.png" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/about-lonnie-ayers#person", "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonnieayers" ], "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/about-lonnie-ayers", "worksFor" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#organization" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp#webpage", "@type" : "WebPage", "breadcrumb" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp#breadcrumbs" }, "description" : "Discover what SAP ERP is, how it integrates business processes, and its impact on Enterprise Resource Planning.", "headline" : "What is SAP ERP?", "inLanguage" : "en", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com#website" }, "mainEntity" : { "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp#blogposting" }, "name" : "What is SAP ERP?", "url" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp#breadcrumbs", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog", "name" : "Blog", "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/what-is-sap-erp", "name" : "What is SAP ERP?", "position" : 3 } ] } ```