5 Major Benefits Enterprises Gain from SAP Cloud Solutions

As tech and business models continue to evolve, enterprises need better and better solutions to manage their resources. Here are the benefits of choosing SAP.

5 Major Benefits Enterprises Gain from SAP Cloud Solutions

As technology and business models continue to evolve, it seems that most if not all markets are experiencing new opportunities and challenges at increasing paces.

Regardless of how companies decide to pass up or embrace new possibilities, investing in efficiency, agility, and dependable systems is always a step in the right direction. In the case of enterprises, that often means investing in a Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP) platform that meets their specific needs, whether related to managing internal resources or optimizing their customers' experience.

Here are 5 ways you can use SAP platforms to manage and optimize your business to great effect:

1. Centralized data for better strategic planning

Today's businesses employ myriads of specialized software to function, from Customer Relationship Management apps to accounting programs or data visualization software. All these tools are of immense help to various departments but gathering holistic data to create a company-wide overview can be a challenge.

With thousands of data points scattered across tens of different apps, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software becomes a necessity to gather all the information for processing and analysis. A Cloud-based SAP platform acts as a central hub to centralize and safely store all the data, regardless of its nature or the great distance between sources.

For example, a manufacturing company with its corporate headquarters in Germany and production plants scattered across Europe and Asia can still maintain a level of data overview to make informed business decisions and remain agile. The past years have cemented the importance of such a benefit considering the global supply chain issues we have been facing.

2. Less effort, lower costs, faster workflow

By implementing an SAP solution to centralize and standardize business operations, companies have the opportunity to create smooth workflows that ensure that every employee always has the resources they need. With the SAP system in place, people can work more efficiently, thus lowering the effort and duration of their tasks. The result is a business that can get more done in less time, thus saving money on operational costs.

Depending on business objectives, this increase in efficiency can also mean a direct increase in revenue. For example, a manufacturing company can leverage SAP software to ensure a steady supply of components to ensure their production lines are running at optimal capacity. The platform can also include a CRM module to ensure a pleasant customer experience and increase sales.

The key advantage of SAP is its versatility in improving existing procedures. Instead of going through chaotic or risky changes, companies can instead focus on improving tried and tested workflows.

This brings us to the next benefit.

3. A solution that evolves with your needs

Digital solutions are changing the business landscape at an unprecedented pace. While this can lead to major improvements in a short timeframe, companies are also weary of becoming stuck with an obsolete IT infrastructure after just a few short years.

We recommend cloud-based SAP platforms because of their future-ready design - a standard interface that can integrate various separate apps or modules without complicating day-to-day processes. Cloud solutions are also preferable to local storage because it is easy to increase storage space or test and then integrate new architectures.

Such a benefit is especially important in industries such as consumer goods and retail. A large online store, for example, relies on its eCommerce platform, inventory management system, customer support solution, and various marketing tools to work together to drive sales and provide a pleasant user experience. If all these components follow different development paths, the retail business may be forced to invest considerable effort into keeping the system functional.

In contrast, a product like SAP Commerce Cloud can cover most if not all the online store's focus areas without the risk of incompatibility.

4. Consistent Customer Service

We mentioned customer support in the previous point. As it is a crucial subject for any company, the topic of customer support and experience also deserves to be discussed.

Today's customers expect a heightened level of support and a pleasant experience from any brand they interact with. That means low or nonexistent wait time, effective help, and easy communication on the channel they prefer. This can prove challenging for companies, both in providing support on multiple platforms and coordinating multi-channel data to better understand and meet their customers' needs.

Applications like SAP Commerce Cloud simplify customer support by centralizing communication avenues into an omnichannel platform that's easy to manage and guides employees through the best practices that fit their business model. Furthermore, data collection becomes much more manageable, allowing the company to look back on past interactions and metrics and optimize its methods.

5. Enhanced Security

Last but certainly not least on our list are security and compliance. Leveraging a centralized SAP platform makes it easier for businesses to store, monitor, and control their data. System administrators can set roles and authorization levels, so every member of the team has timely access to the data they need without the risk of it falling into the wrong hands. Furthermore, by managing all information with one software, security specialists don't have to split their attention on protecting multiple apps.

Managing cloud-based storage solutions also takes the pressure off internal IT teams, as regular backups and modern server facilities ensure data integrity and safety both from digital and physical risks.

Lastly, by integrating the relevant SAP modules, a company can enhance its risk and compliance teams. The software can automate repetitive or low-complexity tasks, helping identify and address risks sooner and streamline audit management by collecting documents and evidence and generating reports.

After considering these benefits, the key functionality that companies need to remember is flexibility. SAP solutions are meant to be customized, to fit into pre-existing processes and meet unique business needs.

If you are interested in simplifying work for your team and stakeholders, we recommend you find out more about what can be achieved with cloud platforms, and remember that we are happy to help you do it.