Use cases
Quick answer
SAP’s power is that these processes are integrated: a goods receipt in procure-to-pay simultaneously updates inventory, financial accounting and controlling.
Key takeaways
- Additional use cases include supply-chain planning (IBP), procurement networks (Ariba), analytics (SAC/BW), and industry-specific…
- Procure-to-pay: requisition → purchase order → goods receipt → invoice → payment (MM + FI).
- Order-to-cash: sales order → delivery → billing → payment (SD + FI).
- Watch out: Learning screens in isolation instead of end-to-end processes.
Core end-to-end processes
- Procure-to-pay: requisition → purchase order → goods receipt → invoice → payment (MM + FI).
- Order-to-cash: sales order → delivery → billing → payment (SD + FI).
- Plan-to-produce: demand → MRP → production order → confirmation → stock (PP + MM).
- Record-to-report: postings → period close → financial statements (FI + CO).
- Hire-to-retire: the employee lifecycle (HCM/SuccessFactors).
Why the process view matters
SAP’s power is that these processes are integrated: a goods receipt in procure-to-pay simultaneously updates inventory, financial accounting and controlling. Learning SAP by process, rather than by isolated screens, is how consultants actually think.
Beyond the core
Additional use cases include supply-chain planning (IBP), procurement networks (Ariba), analytics (SAC/BW), and industry-specific scenarios. All build on the integrated core.
Common pitfalls
- Learning screens in isolation instead of end-to-end processes.
- Ignoring the FI integration that underlies every logistics process.
- Missing hand-offs between modules, where most real issues occur.
Want to learn this properly?
Our live, instructor-led SAP Training covers this hands-on, with real projects and a certification path.
Check your understanding
Which statement is true of Use cases?
- A. SE80 is the SAP transaction code for Object Navigator (ABAP).
- B. Learning SAP by process, rather than by isolated screens, is how consultants actually think.
- C. ME22N is the SAP transaction code for Change Purchase Order (MM).
Show answer
B. Learning SAP by process, rather than by isolated screens, is how consultants actually think.
Covered in the “Why the process view matters” section of this lesson.
Which of these also applies to Use cases?
- A. Following steps without understanding the concept.
- B. All build on the integrated core.
- C. Putting business logic in the UI, it belongs on the app server.
Show answer
B. All build on the integrated core.
Covered in the “Beyond the core” section of this lesson.
Which part of the Learn SAP curriculum covers Use cases?
- A. SAP installation
- B. SAP HANA
- C. Getting started
Show answer
C. Getting started
This lesson sits in the Getting started section of the Learn SAP course.