Use cases
SAP’s use cases span the end-to-end processes that run a business. Seeing these concrete scenarios makes the abstract idea of "integrated ERP" tangible and shows how the modules work together.
SAP’s power is that these processes are integrated: a goods receipt in procure-to-pay simultaneously updates inventory, financial accounting and controlling.
- 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.