What is an SAP module?

There are countless companies looking for new technological solutions to optimize the management of their operations.

Among these solutions, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, including SAP, are essential tools for meeting a company's specific management needs.

Customizable, scalable, reliable and robust, SAP software stands out for its operational efficiency and wide range of modules. These cover the main areas of business management.

Are you planning to distinguish yourself as an SAP consultant and are looking for excellence?

Would you like to make the most of your SAP expertise, become a sought-after expert and boost your career?

As well as giving you an overview of the various key functionalities in SAP ERP, this exclusive guide to the different SAP modules will enable you to target the type of modules you need to train/specialize in.

What is the purpose of an SAP module?

An SAP module is much more than just a technical component of an ERP system. It is a structured set of functionalities designed to meet specific management needs within a company.

Every industry has its own challenges, and the full range of SAP modules has been designed to meet them.

SAP stands out as a universal solution capable of adapting to the specific operational needs of every industry and every type of company.

Each module represents a key area of activity, such as :

• Finances.
• Logistics.
• Production
• Human resources management.

These modules are integrated into a global architecture that guarantees harmonized business processes and smooth operations.

Unlike traditional business modules, which involve decentralized data management and where each business function has its own database, SAP centralize data management.

This centralization of data gives all employees access to company insights in real time.

As a result, companies are improving their operational efficiency, boosting productivity and, a fortiori, sales - all while improving the customer experience!

Data sharing is a fundamental pillar of the efficiency of SAP modules.

SAP module categories

SAP modules are powerful tools capable of transforming the way a company runs its business.

Logistics module

The logistics module belongs to the functional modules.

It is broken down into sub-modules that form part of an overall architecture designed to promote resilient, sustainable logistics management.

The integration of a logistics module has three main objectives:

• Optimizing logistics processes.

This involves integrating production, storage, transport and order processing processes to ensure reasonable and accurate delivery times.

• Real-time overview of logistics processes.

The latter helps to ensure that risks and disruptions in the supply chain are dealt with more appropriately.

• Improving operational responsiveness.

Among the logistic sub-modules, we count :

• Material Management (MM module), which manages inventory and supply flows.
• Production Planning (PP module) to plan requirements and control production activities.
• Transportation Management (TM module), which enables you to plan, execute and monitor freight transport operations.
• Sales and Distribution (SD module), which groups together activities relating to sales, delivery and invoicing.
• Warehouse Management (WM module -> transformed into "Stock Room Management". The replacement is called EWM for Extended Warehouse Management) manages the physical movement of products, including multi-site management. 
• Plant Maintenance (PM module, replaced by the EAM Enterprise Asset Management module in S4/HANA) which concerns maintenance management. 
• Customer Services (CS module, replaced by the "Services" module in S4/HANA) encompasses service management.
• Quality Management (QM module) for managing quality processes.
• Environment, Health and Safety (EHS module) for corporate HSE (Health, Environment and Safety) management.
• Global Trade Services (GTS module) for everything to do with customs duties.

Technical Modules 

Technical modules are the backbone of the SAP system. They play a fundamental role in the development and integration of the SAP system.

Like the logistics modules, the technical modules are subdivided into as many sub-modules as necessary to meet the growing needs of companies.

Among them, SAP NetWeaver acts as a technological platform enabling interoperability between different systems.

The ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) programming language has been designed to customize and extend existing functions.

The technical modules focus on infrastructure and technical support.

All these technical modules have a common objective: to enable SAP solutions to adapt and evolve with the needs of organizations, while remaining integrated with existing infrastructures.

Other technical components complete the package. The Basis module provides SAP system administration, including performance management, user management and inter-module connection management. SAP security covers access rights and authorizations, guaranteeing data confidentiality and integrity. SAP Workflow automates certain business processes by defining validation steps and rules.

These technical elements are essential to the smooth running, security and adaptability of SAP solutions.

Financial management module

These are mainly the FI (finance - accounting) and CO (management control) modules.

Often underestimated, accounting management is the lifeblood of an organization, and one of the determining factors in decision-making.

SAP accounting management is becoming the norm in the business world. This system offers a reliable and efficient solution for managing company finances, whatever the size of the business.

The Accounting module has been designed as a suite of tools capable of covering all the accounting and financial needs of a modern company. The challenge lies in integrating accounting management with all company operations.

The accounting module brings together a wide range of functions that are essential for efficient accounting and financial management:

• Automated accounting entries.
• Customization of a chart of accounts adapted to the company's specific needs.
• Automatic bank reconciliation.
• Accounts receivable/payable management.
• Real-time financial reporting.
• Integration of accounting management with other financial modules.
• Multi-currency management.

Like all SAP modules, integrating SAP accounting is a strategic process that requires the support of an expert consultant.

HR Module

We're mainly talking about the HCM Human Capital Management module.

The aim of the HR module is to enable companies to process employee data efficiently.

Human capital management is essential, because a company's success depends on maximizing its human potential.

The human resources module family includes :

• Tracking working hours and careers.
• Basic personnel data.
• Skills and payroll management.
• The recruitment process.
• Tracking travel expenses...

The HR modules help to optimize the resources and capabilities of each of the talents making up the company, and to increase staff motivation.

SAP HR solutions stimulate both group productivity and individual initiative. In this way, the organization remains competitive and continues to prosper.

What modules do you need to master to be an SAP consultant?

To the question: What modules do I need to master to become an SAP consultant?

Our answer is that it depends on a number of decisive criteria, which may not be what you expect.

To carry out their mission successfully, SAP consultants need to master a wide range of technical and human skills.

An SAP consultant is involved at all levels, from auditing the customer's needs, to designing tailor-made functionalities, not forgetting support for installation through to user training. They must therefore have a good general knowledge of all SAP modules.

To find out which modules you need to master as an SAP consultant, follow these steps and answer these questions:

1. Would you like to be a functional consultant or a technical consultant?
2. Take an interest in each module and its prerequisites. Which one(s) are you most interested in?
3. Which of these modules has the greatest demand for projects in the region you serve?

For example, you're likely to find sales, purchasing, accounting and finance modules in almost every project.

You don't need to master every module to implement SAP. In fact, a company will only implement the modules it needs for its own operations.

Module advantages and disadvantages

If SAP modules have more advantages than disadvantages, we're going to list them all for you.

The benefits of SAP modules for businesses

The many added values provided by SAP modules can be grouped into three categories:

• Improving performance and optimizing business processes.

SAP modules transform business management by optimizing business processes at all levels. Time-consuming tasks such as inventory management or order tracking are automated, leaving more time for strategic activities.

• Data centralization.

The centralization of all company processes is one of the strong points of SAP integration. Accounting, logistics, human resources... all the company's processes are grouped together.

As a result ? Fast, uniform access to information, faster decision-making, fewer human errors, better follow-up...

• Real-time monitoring of company data.

Implementing SAP provides managers and executives with a clear dashboard and real-time activity monitoring.

Sales, expenses, inventory, team performance... Everything can be measured, leading to faster corrective action.

Weaknesses of SAP module integration

The disadvantages of SAP modules are fewer in number than the advantages, and lie more in their deployment than in their effects.

Implementing the modules requires time, specific training by an SAP consultant, and a substantial budget.

Sometimes, even the integration of SAP modules requires a complete internal reorganization.

Do you need more information about the various training courses offered by our certified center? Please do not hesitate to Contact us. Professional success often begins with a phone call and a contact.