“Keep the Core Clean”: This is the name for a relatively new SAP concept that is gaining momentum as part of the SAP Cloud strategy. The goal is to keep SAP core applications as clean and standardized as possible to improve their maintainability and updateability. Selected use cases demonstrate the role the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) can play in this.
The Clean Core approach is strongly promoted by SAP – and significantly fueled by the increasing cloud trend. This is because using SAP cloud applications makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to make customer-specific adjustments and extensions directly to the core system. Furthermore, in-house developments on the SAP core
are generally outdated, but above all, expensive, and make applications more unstable and maintenance-intensive. Therefore, the Clean Core concept aims to minimize modifications to SAP applications. This allows companies to access updates and new functions more quickly without having to make extensive adjustments.
What Benefits Does SAP Clean Core Offer Companies?
Reduced Complexity: Minimizing customer-specific adjustments makes the IT landscape clearer and easier to manage.
Faster Updates: Companies can benefit more quickly from new functions and security updates, as fewer adjustments are required.
Cost Efficiency: Fewer adjustments mean lower maintenance costs and more efficient use of resources.
Future-Proofing: With a clean core system, companies are better prepared for future developments and innovations.
How to: Use cases illustrate the diverse implementation possibilities for SAP Clean Core
Has XEPTUM Already Implemented Specific Use Cases for SAP Clean Core?
One example of implementing the Clean Core approach concerns the SAP Cloud Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution in connection with IT Service Management (ITSM). In contrast to its on-premise predecessor, SAP Solution Manager, SAP Cloud ALM currently does not provide ITSM functionalities – and will not do so in the future. This is because a multitude of non-SAP providers are already available to cover ITSM requirements, including – depending on the deployment scenario – ServiceNow or Jira. Given these powerful alternatives, SAP refrains from providing its own ITSM functionalities. Instead, it seems attractive and sensible to integrate the tools of non-SAP providers with SAP Cloud ALM.
For implementing the necessary interface, Side-by-Side Extensions on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) are recommended, for example, to oversee tickets from third-party systems via SAP Cloud ALM. SAP Cloud ALM, in particular, serves as a command center for IT, where all information from various systems converges and is available for a comprehensive overview. Further information on the advantages of SAP Cloud ALM for this IT architecture approach can be found in another news article by XEPTUM.
What other Use Cases for the SAP Clean Core Concept Can be Mentioned?
A second example of XEPTUM’s implementation of the Clean Core is the document issuance obligation in Greece. It obliges companies operating in Greece, in B2B (Business-to-Business) and partly in B2G (Business-to-Government) contexts, to submit incurred documents to the Greek tax authority. With on-premise systems, this would have posed a certain challenge, but ultimately, a corresponding interface could be programmed to transmit the documents. However, this interface would also have impacted the maintainability of the on-premise ERP system. Updates would have required additional tests and potentially adjustments to the interface.
In this case, however, the customer works with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud. This means that adjustments and programming directly within the system are no longer permitted – the core must remain clean. To meet the customer’s requirements, XEPTUM implemented an interface between the SAP Integration Suite available on the SAP BTP and the S/4HANA Cloud ERP system, connecting the Integration Suite via an “intermediary” to the Greek tax authority. Thus, the ERP system remained untouched by extensions and implementations. While the ERP provides the data, the SAP Integration Suite handles the interface through which the specific data exchange takes place. A detailed report on this use case can be found under this link.
How Can XEPTUM Support your Company in Implementing SAP Clean Core?
As both use cases demonstrate, SAP BTP is a key tool for implementing SAP’s Clean Core concept. With XEPTUM, you have a consulting firm with decades of SAP project experience and expertise, always up-to-date with the latest technical and system architectural developments. This enables us to develop suitable Clean Core approaches for your specific requirements, implementing the necessary adjustments outside the SAP ERP core.
Would you like more information? Then contact us today! We will show you ways to keep the SAP core clean – thereby ensuring flexibility, agility, and quick access to innovations for your company.
