It sounds exaggerated, but most of the world runs on systems applications and products (SAPs). Even the biggest companies in the world utilise it, so SAP is pretty much the foundation of the world's economy. However, there are times when SAP systems are still lacking in our current needs. It rarely happens, but it's a massive nuisance when it does. For this reason, many developers recommend using a modern app platform for customisation.
SAP Customization is where SAP development meets a newer platform. These newer platforms typically give more power to the developers and are more accessible. The result is that SAP's many functionalities can be tweaked, modified, and updated.
This article will detail SAP customisation and how using the latest app platforms can help. Read on below to get started.
What Are Modern App Platforms?
Modern app platforms are, at their core, application development platforms. They're focused on providing a stable, versatile platform for developers to create applications.
These platforms typically provide all the necessary tools for custom development. These platforms are the best to use for everything from app planning, design, and development.
Most of these platforms are made to encourage developers to develop their own applications. Many of these platforms will use a coding language, like Python, which is easier to use and understand than coding languages used with SAP.
For companies and developers, this is excellent news. Modern app platforms are far easier to set up than SAP, which means more developers can get involved. They're also far more versatile and accessible, which means more customisations for SAP. And lastly, since the platform is open and easily accessible, it's more flexible, which means it can be used to tailor-make any new applications.
Customising Your SAP System
There are three ways that you can approach SAP customisation. These are:
Extending SAP
Extending SAP involves adding your own functionalities to SAP. This is what you're doing when you try to update your SAP system to support new technology or new communication protocol.
Extending SAP requires system access, so it's only possible if you control the SAP system itself. However, it is pretty common as most SAP customers have to make system-side changes at one point or another.
Extending SAP сan also be risky because you're introducing new functionality to an existing system. As we all know, new features can introduce bugs and other issues, so the risk is worth the reward.
Rebuilding SAP
Rebuilding SAP involves adding new functionalities to an existing system. While it sounds like the extending approach, the difference is that there's no piece of technology involved. This is usually in response to changing market needs and wants. Rebuilding SAP can be a more flexible and more risky choice.
When companies decide to rebuild SAP, they're consciously choosing to upgrade their system. Let's face it; upgrading SAP is no small matter. Rebuilding SAP requires planning, implementation, and testing, taking time, money, and manpower.
Rebuilding SAP is, however, an excellent choice for companies who know exactly what they want. This is the only feasible way to upgrade their SAP system for many companies.
Refactoring SAP
Refactoring SAP is the best of both worlds. It's a hybrid of extending and rebuilding SAP. It involves taking the current functionality of an SAP system and tweaking it.
It's a safe way to upgrade your SAP system and get better results. In some cases, refactoring will implement new functionality, but in others, it may just be a way of refining existing functionality.
Choosing the Right Approach
With SAP, there's rarely just one perfect option. Every company is different, and every company's needs are different, so there's no single solution that will work for everyone.
When deciding which approach (extending, rebuilding, or refactoring) to take, you need to understand your needs and the current state of your SAP system. The point of customisation is to meet your needs, and no two companies' needs are the same.
No matter which customisation method you choose, you'll want to make sure that you get the right people involved in the project. In addition to developers, you'll want to ensure all relevant stakeholders are involved, especially for the rebuilding and refactoring approaches.
For all three of these approaches, you'll need to have the right people and processes in place to get the job done.
Conclusion
While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to SAP, using modern app platforms can be an excellent fit for your needs. You'll get access to a plethora of customisable features and an intuitive development environment that can be used to create anything from a brand new app to a refined update.
Any business that uses a website will need SAP customisation for efficiency in its operations. Ark360 provides top-quality services for website building that’s tailored to the needs of any business, and our experienced developers will ensure that your goals are met. Contact us today to learn more!
