The 2014 SAP Ecosystem in a Nutshell

2014 SAP ECOSYSTEM IN A NUTSHELL

INTRODUCTION

As part of its platform strategy, SAP has built and continues to grow an open ecosystem to drive adoption of
enterprise service-oriented architecture; foster co-innovation between SAP, customers and partners; and deliver
value for all participants. Leveraging deep industry knowledge, a diverse community of partners and SAP
NetWeaver as a platform for product and service innovation, SAP and its ecosystem are driving new dimensions
of collaboration – turning breakthrough ideas into innovative solutions for customers.

Members of the highly interactive ecosystem—customers, partners and system integrators, developers, industry
experts, and SAP—collaborate through a variety of communities and programs, including the SAP Discussion
Forms of the SAP Community Network (SCN), Enterprise Services Community, Industry Value Networks (IVN),
and partner solutions.

This document is a brief and comprehensive overview of the wide range of services offered either by SAP or by
a partner, plus valuable information concerning SAP solutions. The document is divided in five sections: get in
contact with SAP, important sources of information, detailed information on SAP solutions, running SAP
solutions, and community forums and user groups.

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CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................... 5

1. Get in contact with SAP ............................................................................................................................5
2. Your Account Executive ...........................................................................................................................5
3. SAP Support Hotlines ...............................................................................................................................5
IMPORTANT SOURCES OF INFORMATION .................................................................................................. 5
4. SAP.com .....................................................................................................................................................5
5. SAP Service Marketplace ..........................................................................................................................5
6. SAP Support Portal ...................................................................................................................................5
7. SAP Expert Forums ...................................................................................................................................5
8. SAP Help Portal .........................................................................................................................................6
9. SAP Training & Education ........................................................................................................................6
10. SAP Consulting Services ..........................................................................................................................6
11. SAP Partners ..............................................................................................................................................6
12. SAP Newsletters ........................................................................................................................................6
13. Integration and Certification of Software Solutions ..............................................................................6
DETAILED INFORMATION FOR SAP SOLUTIONS ....................................................................................... 6
14. SAP Solutions ............................................................................................................................................6
15. SAP Scenarios and Processes .................................................................................................................6
16. SAP Solution Explorer ..............................................................................................................................7
17. SAP Best Practices....................................................................................................................................7
18. SAP Product Availability Matrix ...............................................................................................................7
19. Platform and Technology Information Center ........................................................................................7
20. Globalization and Localization .................................................................................................................7
21. Unicode .......................................................................................................................................................7
22. Hardware Sizing .........................................................................................................................................7
23. SAP Security ..............................................................................................................................................8
RUNNING SAP SOLUTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 8
24. SAP Service and Support Infrastructure .................................................................................................8
25. SAP Solution Manager ..............................................................................................................................8
26. SAP Support Offerings .............................................................................................................................8
27. SAP Software Maintenance ......................................................................................................................8
28. SAP Support Service Offerings ................................................................................................................8
29. SAP Expertise on Demand .......................................................................................................................9
30. SAP Application Management ..................................................................................................................9
31. SAP EarlyWatch Alert................................................................................................................................9
32. SAP Remote Service Connection ............................................................................................................9
33. Remote Supportability ............................................................................................................................10
34. SAP Notes, Knowledge Base Articles and xSEARCH .........................................................................10
35. SAP Product Support ..............................................................................................................................10
36. SAP License Keys ...................................................................................................................................10
37. SAP Registration of Software Modification ..........................................................................................11
38. SAP Contracts Department ....................................................................................................................11
39. Ordering and Downloading SAP Software ............................................................................................11
40. SAP Support Packages, Stacks, and Schedules ..................................................................................11
41. SAP Installation and Upgrade Guides ...................................................................................................11
42. SAP Ramp-Up Programs ........................................................................................................................12
43. SAP Influence Programs .........................................................................................................................12
44. SAP Release Strategy .............................................................................................................................12

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45. SAP Release Notes ..................................................................................................................................12

46. SAP Upgrades ..........................................................................................................................................12
47. SAP Custom Development .....................................................................................................................12
48. SAP Information Lifecycle Management and Data Archiving .............................................................13
49. Performance and Tuning ........................................................................................................................13
COMMUNITY FORUMS AND USER GROUPS ............................................................................................. 13
50. SAP Community Network .......................................................................................................................13
51. SAP User Groups.....................................................................................................................................13

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GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Get in contact with SAP
In case you just want to get in contact with SAP, simply use the “Contact Us” form on the SAP website.

2. Your Account Executive

Your Account Executive (AE) is your specific contact at SAP, able to channel any inquiry you might have. In
case you are not sure who your AE is, just call the corresponding subsidiary, and ask for your account manager.
In case you have a Customer Engagement Manager (CEM), you might also contact him/her.

3. SAP Support Hotlines

SAP Active Global Support provides 24x7 Support Hotlines for any inquiry related to a customer message or a
remote service provided by SAP Support. Please find the contact information on the SAP Support Centers info
page or in SAP Note 560499.

IMPORTANT SOURCES OF INFORMATION

4. SAP.com
The SAP website is the main entrance to the world of SAP. Here you will find general information about SAP
products and services, including links to SAP Partners, SAP Communities, SAP Solutions & Industries, and
individual SAP Country Sites.

5. SAP Service Marketplace

The SAP Service Marketplace (SMP) contains a variety of portals that enable true collaboration among SAP, its
customers and partners. These portals offer target group specific content. Many Quick links facilitate direct
access to the most relevant topics.

6. SAP Support Portal

The SAP Support Portal provides quick-and-easy online access to the tools, information, and assistance you
need to keep your SAP software running smoothly. Find details in the brochure “Introducing SAP Support
Portal”.

The area Learn more on the SAP Support Portal Homepage offers a quick overview about the most important
support applications and tools in the SAP Support Portal. For new users a Guided Tour and Learning Maps are
available to make the first steps in the SAP Support Portal as easy as possible. Also numerous personalization
and notification features are available to support you in your daily work.

7. SAP Expert Forums

The SAP Community Network (SCN) is an active online community where various technologies converge to
form a resource and collaboration channel for SAP users, developers, consultants, integrators, and business
analysts. SCN hosts a technical library, expert blogs, exclusive downloads and code samples, an extensive e-
Learning catalog, and active, moderated Discussion Forums.

SCN Places provide resources to help business process experts drive real-time business process innovation.
These include a rich combination of industry business process and services content and information on
composition software tools from a proven business process platform, surrounded by a vibrant community of
experts sharing knowledge and ideas.

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8. SAP Help Portal

The SAP Help Portal provides web-based documentation for all SAP Solutions. This enables you to search the
online library for the right information where and when you need it. In addition, you find release notes that list
changes from one version to the other.

The SAP Help Portal Space gives you the possibility to post your questions, solutions, ideas and share your
knowledge about all documentation related topics. From the SAP Help Portal, you can also have access to the
SAP Best Practices (see also item 17).

9. SAP Training & Education

Give your workforce the knowledge and skills they need to meet your strategic goals – with a full suite of
software training and education designed to help you maximize the power of your SAP solutions. We can help
you create a comprehensive training plan, manage your talent, empower end users with both live and online
courses – and drive greater proficiency across your organization.

10. SAP Consulting Services

With SAP Consulting as your valued business partner, you benefit from our SAP skills, experience and the close
working relationship with SAP development, as well as our extensive partner network. Review the Consulting
Services offerings we have for our various products. Please also consider SAP Certified Partners (see item 11),
when thinking about consulting services.

11. SAP Partners

SAP well-established network of Certified Partners provides worldwide support for every facet of an SAP
implementation. This comprehensive coverage enables our customers to work with companies whose reach
spans the globe, as well as companies that provide local or regional support and services. Find out how to get in
contact with SAP certified partners in the SAP Partner Information Center.

12. SAP Newsletters

SAP provides subscriptions for newsletters on several topics, where you will receive the latest news on the
specific SAP Solution.

13. Integration and Certification of Software Solutions

SAP has established SAP Integration and Certification Centers (SAP ICC) around the globe to support services
around third-party software integration into SAP. SAP offers integration and certification services, such as an
interface certification program, consulting, and access to test systems. For specific questions, use the following
e-mail address: ICC-info@SAP.com.

DETAILED INFORMATION FOR SAP SOLUTIONS

14. SAP Solutions
With its Solutions, SAP provides a comprehensive range of enterprise software applications and business
solutions to empower every aspect of your business. For personalized attention, contact the Solution
Management Organization of your SAP Sales Office.

15. SAP Scenarios and Processes

The Scenario & Process Component List narrows the gap between the business view and the technical view of
SAP products. It shows you which application components are needed to realize a business scenario or process
and which business scenarios are possible with a given set of application components.

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16. SAP Solution Explorer

Because each customer’s business landscape is unique, SAP Solution Explorer seeks simply to offer companies
a preliminary look at how SAP software might help them operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow
sustainably.

17. SAP Best Practices

SAP Best Practices packages provide a solid foundation for SAP Business All-in-One and SAP Rapid
Deployment solutions. Based on the entire SAP software portfolio, SAP Best Practices are developed to help
companies of all sizes benefit from proven business best practices for a wide range of processes and topics
which can be leveraged to rapidly ensure a quick return on investment. Check out the SAP Best Practices on the
SAP Help Portal, or the SAP Best Practices area on the SAP Service Marketplace.

18. SAP Product Availability Matrix

The Product Availability Matrix (PAM) is where you can find details about SAP software product versions,
including availability and end of maintenance dates, upgrade paths, and technical release information (database
platforms, Java platforms, operating systems, and so on).

19. Platform and Technology Information Center

In the Platform and Technology Center you will find the answers you are looking for about platform and
technology-related topics, including information on database and operating system release combinations for
SAP components.

20. Globalization and Localization

SAP solutions are purpose-built for deployment anywhere in the world, as our unparalleled customer base in
nearly 140 countries proves. Our solutions follow global best business practices, with specific functions and
features to account for varying national tax laws, accounting laws, and manufacturing regulations in over 40
countries: our country versions. Check out the SAP Globalization info page, or in case you cannot find the
answer for your specific inquiry, please post your question in the SCN Forum on Internationalization. The SAP
User Groups also provide very useful information for localization inquiries. For more information, see the SAP
User Groups item of this document.

21. Unicode
If your company employs truly global business processes, such as managing global master data, or if you open
your system to the Web, by allowing your customers to enter contact data directly via the Internet, chances are
that you will need to support multiple languages and character sets. Compliance is only possible through
Unicode - an international standard that supports virtually all of the languages and scripts used in the world.
SAP commits itself fully to providing you with a Unicode-based e-business platform. Check out the SAP Unicode
info page, or in case you cannot find the answer for your specific inquiry, please post your question in the SCN
Forum on Internationalization.

22. Hardware Sizing

To do a sizing in order to determine your infrastructure requirements, start with the SAP Quick Sizer Tool. The
Quick Sizer is a Web-based tool designed to make the sizing of SAP Business Suite easier and faster. It has
been developed by SAP in close cooperation with all platform partners and is free of cost. Sizing is a process
that continuously brings together customers, hardware vendors and SAP, so that, for example, direct links to
SAP hardware vendors and the technology partners facilitate the tendering procedure. If convenient, SAP or a
Partner Consultant can help you with decision finding (see items 10 and 11 of this document). More information
is available on the SAP Sizing info page. Documentation about benchmarks with SAP software is published on
the SAP Benchmark page.

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23. SAP Security

At SAP, whose customers include the world's largest corporations, security has always been an important
element for the complete product life cycle, including all product development, planning, and quality-assurance.
The SAP Security page contains specific information for our customers, including the SAP Security Guidelines
and Security Notes. Find more information, or discuss topics with other Security experts on the SCN Space for
Security.

RUNNING SAP SOLUTIONS

24. SAP Service and Support Infrastructure
SAP provides comprehensive services and professional consulting for companies that use SAP Solutions
already today or plan to do so in the future. This covers all requirements and industries. In short, a unique
service portfolio, which utilizes all value-adding potentials and ensures competitive advantages. SAP's service
and support infrastructure is key prerequisite for an efficient delivery of services. It consists of SAP Support
Portal in the SAP Service Marketplace, operated by SAP, and SAP Solution Manager, embedded in the
customers' system landscape. This infrastructure enables optimal collaboration between customers, their service
partners, and SAP. The service and support infrastructure is available for all customers and partners of SAP
upon no extra charge. Details can be found on the SAP Service and Support Infrastructure info page.

25. SAP Solution Manager

SAP Solution Manager is a software tool, content and gateway to create, operate, manage and monitor business
management solutions along the Application Lifecycle Management processes. Find detailed information on the
SAP Solution Manager info page, SAP Note 607853, or on the SCN Space for Solution Manager.

26. SAP Support Offerings

SAP Active Global Support is committed to ensuring that your core business processes are always available and
running at peak efficiency. For details about the benefits and capabilities of SAP Active Global Support, check
out the SAP Support Services info page.

Get the support you need to efficiently implement and operate your SAP solutions – and take advantage of new
technologies. We offer a range of support services, from foundation level to strategic engagement and co-
innovation. Choose the support level that makes most sense for your business. Find out more about SAP
Support.

27. SAP Software Maintenance

To understand SAP support offerings and the maintenance strategy, it is important to distinguish two
dimensions: scope and timeline. In terms of the scope, SAP offers the four levels of support offerings mentioned
above. In terms of the timeline, SAP defines three maintenance phases: mainstream maintenance, extended
maintenance, and customer-specific maintenance. On the SAP Software Maintenance info page, you can find all
the necessary details about timelines, and also any news in this area. You can also refer also to the brochure
SAP Release Strategy for detailed information.

28. SAP Support Service Offerings

A series of Support Service Offerings helps you to optimize performance and reliability of your SAP solution.

SAP EarlyWatch: The SAP EarlyWatch Check analyzes the components of your SAP solution, your operating
system and database to determine how to optimize performance and keep your total cost of ownership to a
minimum
SAP GoingLive Check: The SAP GoingLive Check safeguards your SAP solution to a smooth start of
production. This proactive service mitigates the risks that arise from non-optimal system and business process
configuration. It ensures a technically robust operation from the beginning and therefore protects your business.

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SAP Going Live Functional Upgrade Check: A changing business environment requires constant adaption of
your business solutions and may lead to release upgrades of your SAP systems. To facilitate SAP release
upgrades, SAP offers the SAP GoingLive Functional Upgrade Check that optimally prepares your system to
operate efficiently in the upgraded environment.
SAP OS/DB Migration Check: If at any stage of the SAP software life cycle you should need to change your
operating system and/or database, the SAP OS/DB Migration Check optimally prepares you for a successful
migration and supports smooth continued operations on the new platform.
SAP Remote Performance Optimization: The SAP Remote Performance Optimization Service tackles
bottlenecks having a large impact on your system performance. It focuses on SQL statement optimization,
customer program optimization, application optimization or on the analysis of the SAP R/3 basis.
SAP Security Optimization: The SAP Security Optimization service is designed to verify and improve the
security of the SAP systems of customers by identifying potential security issues and giving recommendations
on how to improve the security of the system.
SAP Upgrade Weekend Support: The SAP Upgrade Weekend Support is delivered remotely by two SAP
support consultants. In line with your upgrade project, SAP schedules SAP Upgrade Weekend Support to
minimize risk during your upgrade’s go-live date. This date generally lies on a weekend, an extended weekend
or over holidays. Two SAP support consultants are on-duty for your upgrade project team. If an issue arises, the
SAP support consultants ensure that the message processing cycle begins and that SAP’s global resources are
readily accessible.

29. SAP Expertise on Demand

For our customers using the SAP MaxAttention support offering, we also offer the Expertise on Demand (EoD)
consulting services. SAP Expertise on Demand is a service which provides SAP experts to fill your need for
short to medium-term engagements. These engagements target technically complex or unusual issues that are
typically beyond the experience of your own staff. The purpose of the SAP Expertise on Demand service is to
provide whatever technical and functional expertise you need to enhance your operations.

30. SAP Application Management

SAP Application Management (AMS) is a long-term relationship delivering post-implementation application
support, optimization and improvement for a customer's SAP centric IT solution. With our Application
Management Services Experts we help our customers to assure the permanent availability and optimum
performance of core business processes within the company. For further information please read SAP Note
1691412, check the IT Transformation Services info page, or contact the Application Management Services via
e-mail at: SAP_AMS.Service@sap.com.

31. SAP EarlyWatch Alert

SAP EarlyWatch Alert is an important part of making sure your core business processes work. It is a tool that
monitors the essential administrative areas of SAP components and keeps you up to date on their performance
and stability. SAP EarlyWatch Alert runs automatically to keep you informed, so you can react to issues
proactively, before they become critical. SAP EarlyWatch Alert is included in your maintenance agreement with
SAP. You activate it yourself for each of your SAP components. It is processed in the SAP Solution Manager
and it is from here that you activate it and read the weekly reports. To activate the SAP EarlyWatch Alert, simply
follow the instructions given in the SAP Online Help on SAP Solution Manager.

32. SAP Remote Service Connection

An essential part of the Support Infrastructure is the remote connection between SAP and our customers. SAP
offers customers access to Remote Support and to a large number of Support Services delivered remotely in the
customer system. Error analysis and services delivered remotely have one major advantage: they are available
straight away. Go to the Connecting to SAP info page to find out how to set up and operate a service connection.

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33. Remote Supportability

Remote supportability can immediately address potential miscommunication between SAP and customers during
a support interaction. As issues become more complex, the ability for an SAP engineer to see what is happening
becomes more important. By using the right tool in the right situation, customers can reduce operating costs and
support incident resolution times.

SAP uses the following tools to assist with remote support:

SAProuter is a software application that provides secure unattended root cause analysis via a remote
connection between the customer’s network and SAP.
Netviewer is an attended root cause analysis tool that provides file and screen sharing as well as recordable
and remote controlled sessions.

SAP uses the following tools to assist with remote diagnostics:

Remote support component is a remote diagnostic tool that can be used to help proactively identify
BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (BI) platform administrators to potential issues within their BI landscape.

SAP Solution Manager is the central, integrated end-to-end orchestration platform to accelerate innovation,
manage the application lifecycle and run SAP centric solutions.

34. SAP Notes, Knowledge Base Articles and xSEARCH

In the SAP Notes Search site, you have access to the complete solution data base of SAP Support. You can find
information about known errors in software licensed by SAP, and how they can be solved. In addition,
knowledge base articles, consulting notes and FAQ notes help with common issues that are not related to
software errors.

SAP xSEARCH is a tool which searches the following repositories through one search: SAP Notes & Knowledge
Base Articles, SAP Support Portal content areas and documents, Documentation, SAP Community Network
Forums, Blogs and Wikis and Consulting Content.

35. SAP Product Support

The mission of the SAP Product Support organization is to help you with any error of standard software licensed
from SAP. When malfunctions are reported, and clear evidence is given that they are caused by an error in
software licensed from SAP, SAP provides support to the customer during normal business hours, by providing
information on how to remedy, avoid and bypass errors. Only for reproducible errors a reasonable progress in
analysis and resolution can be guaranteed. In case reproducible error of software impacts your business, please
open a message with the SAP Message Wizard on the SAP Service Marketplace. To speed up the processing of
an existing message, you can contact the SAP Support Hotline. See the ‘How to speed up a message’ document
or the SAP Note 984434.

36. SAP License Keys

In order to prevent unauthorized use of SAP software, all SAP systems can only be operated in conjunction with
a license key, which is assigned by SAP. Most SAP products can be used for a limited time without a permanent
license key. Please refer to SAP for a permanent license key as soon as possible after installing the SAP
System. License keys for SAP Business Suite and SAP BusinessObjects products are delivered via email, from
one hour to three days after you submit the request. License keys for Sybase products are generated in the
portal and can be downloaded immediately. To request a License key, visit the License Key page on the Service
Marketplace.

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Most of the online requests entered at the SAP License Keys site for SAP Business Suite are processed
automatically, so that you will receive the license key in a short time.

37. SAP Registration of Software Modification

The SAP Software Change Registration (SSCR) is a procedure which registers all manual changes to SAP
sources and SAP Dictionary objects. With this procedure, the availability and reliability of productive R/3
installations is further improved.

38. SAP Contracts Department

It is always recommended to keep your systems’ data updated with SAP. To check and maintain SAP data about
your existing systems, access the System Data site. For more complex issues related to your contract, your
installations, end-user licenses, etc., you may contact the SAP Contracts Department. Contact your SAP Sales
Office, and ask for the contract department.

39. Ordering and Downloading SAP Software

SAP offers to customers and partners the opportunity to order SAP software packages online, according to the
software licenses they have purchased. Software requests that are not offered for selection should be directed to
the responsible SAP Contract Department (see item 38). To order your SAP software online, go to the SAP
Software Catalog. From the SAP Software Distribution Center, you can obtain SAP software electronically by
download and on tangible media (CD/DVD). You have access to the entire software portfolio of SAP based on
your licenses. The authorizations for downloading software are generated automatically depending on your
licenses.

40. SAP Support Packages, Stacks, and Schedules

SAP delivers various types of program corrections with Support Packages as part of the software maintenance.
SAP regularly publishes Support Packages for various types of program corrections and updates both for ABAP
and for Java. Support Packages automatically correct a whole range of errors by installing corrections into the
SAP System.

The SP Stacks are sets of Support Packages and patches for the respective product version that must be used
in the given combination. SAP strongly recommends regular application of these SP Stacks, at least once a year
as otherwise - due to technical reasons and correction dependencies - not all corrections can be implemented.
The technology for applying Support Packages and patches will not change. SP Stacks should be seen as an
entity in themselves – customers must heed the minimum requirements and dependencies between individual
components, and apply the Support Packages and patches specified in the SP Stack together.

To find and download Support Packages or SP stacks go to the SAP Software Download Center.

Please note that all corrective software packages, including SP stacks for SAP Netweaver 2004s and
subsequent versions, as well as all applications which are based on this software (including SAP Business Suite
2005), are available exclusively through the Maintenance Optimizer in SAP Solution Manager.

You can find the SP stacks release dates in the Schedules of Support Package Stacks document and of
individual support packages on the SAP OCS Schedules info page. For database software from 3rd parties,
licensed from SAP, you can find patches at the Third-party Software Center site.

41. SAP Installation and Upgrade Guides

The SAP Installation and Upgrade Guides site provides comprehensive technical documentation (e.g. Master
Guides, installation and upgrade guides) for various products.

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42. SAP Ramp-Up Programs

SAP Ramp-Up is SAP's early adoption program for customers that want to go live with SAP's software
innovations as soon as possible. This way customers realize the benefits of SAP's new solutions before their
competitors. SAP Ramp-Up is a joint effort of field, support, and development to offer a program for secure and
cost-effective implementation. SAP Ramp-Up enables your company to be a first mover in your industry and
your IT department to be a strategic role model in your company. Find detailed information on the SAP Ramp-Up
Program info page.

43. SAP Influence Programs

SAP will continue to create and evolve our products and solutions to help our customers run their businesses
better. Direct input and feedback from our customers and user groups is essential for us to validate market
trends and product spaces, specify and test new versions of our software, and improve the solutions in
productive use. To structure the input and feedback SAP runs 3 major programs: Customer Connection,
Customer Engagement Initiative and Executive Advisory Councils. For more information, check out the SAP
Influence Programs info page.

44. SAP Release Strategy

SAP release strategy determines the availability of new SAP releases, the length and conditions of their
maintenance, and the dependencies among individual releases. It provides planning reliability for your
implementation and upgrade projects as well as for optimal use of SAP applications and the SAP Netweaver
platform. You can find more on the SAP Release Strategy info page.

45. SAP Release Notes

A release note is a brief explanation of new features or changes to the system since the last software release. A
release note typically describes a new function or an existing function that has been enhanced or changed. It
may, however, also describe a function that has been deleted or describe user interface changes, terminology
changes, or changes to the structure of the Implementation Guide (IMG). Within the SAP BusinessObjects
portfolio, release notes may refer to late-breaking news and known issues. When planning an upgrade to a
newer release of SAP software, it is very important to take into account the relevant release notes. Go to the
SAP Release Notes info page for further details.

46. SAP Upgrades

Change and improvement are integral parts of today's business environment. SAP is committed to support you
in continuously improving your existing SAP solution:
 To meet the latest market requirements and flexibly adapt your business
 To use the latest technologies available in the IT market
 To achieve company-specific targets to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) for the existing IT
infrastructure
SAP offers tailored services, tools and content to analyze the value proposition and challenges of an upgrade
project and to facilitate and safeguard the project execution. Planning is also a very important step before an
upgrade. You can find this and more details at the SAP Upgrades info page and by subscribing to the SAP
Upgrade Newsletter.

47. SAP Custom Development

Organizations are increasingly looking for new ways to continually transform their offerings and improve their
performance in ways that help them more quickly and easily develop and introduce new and unique approaches
to conducting business. SAP provides custom application development services, including mobile app
development and tailored analytics that offer the flexibility and stability to satisfy your unique business needs.
And we help you get to market fast by leveraging previously developed solutions that are tailored to your unique

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business needs. With both our custom and previously developed solutions, we can help you get maximum value
out of your SAP investments by helping you leverage your existing investment in software, hardware, and
people. And you can take advantage of our support offerings to protect your custom solution over time, mitigate
risk during upgrades, and leverage your existing SAP support infrastructure. For more information, visit:
SAP Custom Development Services and SAP Custom Development.

48. SAP Information Lifecycle Management and Data Archiving

Information has a lifecycle: It is created, it lives within databases and systems, it changes, and it is archived and
eventually deleted. How we create, store, retrieve, and delete it is termed information lifecycle management
(ILM). At SAP we define ILM as a combination of processes and technologies whose goal it is to provide the
right information at the right time, and at the right place, with the lowest possible costs, over the required life time
of the data. This entails knowing and categorizing your data, defining policies that govern what you do with the
information, setting up your system in such a way that you can apply these policies to your data, and then
implementing your information management strategy with the help of technology. For more information, please
check the SAP ILM and Data Archiving info page.

49. Performance and Tuning

In case of performance issues with business impact, check the SAP Performance Improvement info page for
documentation that can help you to overcome problems. To discuss performance issues with Developers,
Consultants, and other users check out the SCN Performance and Scalability Forum and the Monitoring
Knowledge Center. Besides, of course, SAP or Partner Consulting can be addressed. Also make sure that the
SAP EarlyWatch Alert is activated and recommendations are applied (See item 31 of this document).

COMMUNITY FORUMS AND USER GROUPS

50. SAP Community Network
By moving to the Jive platform, SAP’s made big changes to the way SAP Community Network (SCN) works,
simplifying communications and collaboration for our users. The topics below will help you better understand
changes to the tools, features and processes that users most often use on SCN.

Blogs: Blogs are the cornerstone of the SCN. You’ll find it much easier to blog in our new environment. As an
SCN member, after you log on, you can create a blog in any SCN Topic Space. Your blogs will be published
immediately (no need for Moderator approval), and your blogs will be readily available to other users with similar
interests.

Topic Spaces: The new SCN is organized into more than 450 Topic Spaces, which support small, self-contained
communities that are focused on a product, solution or technology. Each space contains a complete set of
social-networking tools, including a discussion forum, blogging area, and an area where you can publish and
collaborate on documents.

Forums: Forums are now known as Discussion areas. As a logged-on member, you can contribute to any of
them. You accrue points and reputation in the spaces in which you are most active.

The SCN can help you to find quick answers for your questions, given by customers, consultants or SAP
employees. Check out the SAP Community Network, finding the forums at the SCN Site Index.

51. SAP User Groups

User groups provide a valuable channel through which SAP gathers feedback concerning the problems and
requirements of its users in all technical and functional areas of interest. User groups allow SAP and SAP users

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to exchange information of mutual interest and value. Additionally, SAP users have the opportunity to share their
experiences, knowledge and ideas. For more details, please go to the SAP User Groups info page.

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