Comparing SAP Solution Manager and SAP Cloud ALM Functionality

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to comparing SAP Solution Manager and SAP Cloud ALM Functionality

Compare Functionality

SAP Cloud ALM provides enhanced capabilities, higher value, and a future-proof foundation that keeps your business ahead of the curve. Therefore, transitioning from SAP Solution Manager to SAP Cloud ALM is a proactive strategy to leverage the numerous benefits of this cutting-edge platform. With this transition, customers can adopt a streamlined core strategy for their ALM processes, thereby reducing complexity and freeing up resources for innovation and growth.

Functionality Comparison

Compared to Solution Manager, Cloud ALM emphasizes a lightweight setup and standardized best practices for cloud implementations and operations. Solution Manager suits mature on-premises/hybrid landscapes that need extensive control and service processes, whereas Cloud ALM is SAP's strategic choice for managing cloud-centric implementations and operations.

The next slide shows the functionality of SAP Solution Manager versus SAP Cloud ALM and Friends:

This slide shows on the the SAP Solution Manager 7.2 features in blue circles: Project Management, Process Management, Test Management, Change Control Management, Customer ITSM, Integration & Exception Monitoring, System Management, Service Availability Management, User & Performance Monitoring, Application Monitoring, Event & Alert Management, Guided Procedure Framework, Business Process Operations, Root-Cause Analysis, Analytics, and Embedded Support. Center shows SAP Cloud ALM in a blue honeycomb around a cloud logo: Process Management, Project Management, Test Management, Change Control Management, Business Process Monitoring, Integration & Exception Monitoring, User & Performance Monitoring, Job & Automation Monitoring, Health Monitoring, Business Service Management, Embedded Alert Management, Operation Automation; core hexagons read SAP Services, Built-In Support, and Analytics & Intelligence. Right side labeled “Friends of SAP Cloud ALM” lists gray bubbles: Tricentis or 3rd-party, 3rd-party ITSM, SAP BTP or 3rd-party, SAP S/4HANA, SAP Signavio, Maintenance Planner & System Assistant, and SAP Analytics Cloud or 3rd-party.

SAP Solution Manager is an on-premise, full-featured ALM platform built for traditional and hybrid SAP landscapes, offering deep capabilities such as Change Request Management (ChaRM) and transport control, IT Service Management, solution documentation, custom code management, a comprehensive test suite, technical monitoring, and root-cause analysis. SAP Cloud ALM is a cloud-native, SaaS ALM solution optimized for SAP cloud products (e.g., SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SuccessFactors, Ariba, BTP), focusing on fast time-to-value with prescriptive SAP Activate content, requirements, and task management, test management, and cloud operations such as integration, job, health, and business process monitoring with alerting.

A good overview about all functions and where they are moving to are available here: Transition to SAP Cloud ALM - Section Functional comparison - what goes where.

Note

SAP Solution Manager is in mainstream maintenance until the end of 2027. SAP recommends completing the transition to SAP Cloud ALM before this date.

Hint

You can add SAP Focused Run to address advanced operations needs and to manage a significant on-premise footprint.

Learning

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