Explaining SAP ERP Fundamentals

In simple terms, a "Client" in SAP is the specific system a user logs in to. It is equivalent to an SAP Concur user logging in to a Production or Test environment. Many customers will have multiple SAP environments, such as Production, Training, Development, or QA. When users log in, each Client is represented by a 3-digit number.

Larger organizations may also have more than one operating unit. Each operating unit can have multiple Clients within it. Each Client can have an integrated SAP Concur entity.

You can review the image below to see an example. Widgets 'R Us is the company, it has two Business Units, each having more than one Client. Select the image to zoom in.

Master data is the foundational data on which the database is built. It is generally considered static as it tends not to change regularly. Accurate master data is critical to the timely processing of transactions. Common examples that impact SAP Concur include employee master data and cost object data, though there may be others depending on the customer and their specific situation. The integration of this data is critical to the integration of SAP to SAP Concur systems.

When using Integration with Concur Solutions (ICS), a bulk load of master data is performed during the implementation process. Customers can define how much data is included in that bulk load. For example, if a customer has three company codes, but only one will be using SAP Concur, customers can choose to send only the master data for that one company code. The remaining data can be sent to SAP Concur at a later time if the customer chooses.

Once the bulk load is complete, the customer defines the schedule for how often the Master Data is updated in SAP Concur based on changes in the SAP system. SAP Concur recommends scheduling this job to run daily.

With Integration with Concur Solutions (ICS), customers can control the amount and frequency of transactional data moved from SAP Concur to SAP. For example, if they have three groups all using SAP Concur, but only want the data from one to move to SAP through ICS, they can set this restriction. They can also control how often the data moves, from multiple times per day to on-demand.

The amount of data that is integrated is controlled in the SAP Concur configuration, and the frequency is controlled in the ICS configuration.

This is one of the most widely used modules for SAP customers. It is designed to track and record financial data throughout the organization and encompasses nearly every financial process a company has. This module can be divided into smaller modules for General Ledger (GL), Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), Asset Accounting, and Bank Management.

This module is used to plan and track costs throughout a company and serves as a powerful tool to clearly show where money is going. It enables businesses to compare actual results with planned results. This is the module where the master data, such as cost objects used in SAP Concur, originates, making it crucial for the integration of SAP and SAP Concur.

This module is used for project planning, monitoring, and costing. Since many of our customers use SAP Concur to track project-related expenses, it is vital to integrate data between the two systems.

This module manages human resources processes and tracks an employee's lifecycle—from recruitment to termination. In addition to maintaining basic employee information, it includes tools for tracking benefits, time, and training. You will use this module as the foundation for user profiles within SAP Concur.