Discovering SAP Cloud ALM

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) is the process of managing the lifecycle of a software application, from inception to retirement. It encompasses planning, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

ALM activities include:

• Requirements management
• Design and development
• Testing and quality assurance
• Configuration management
• Release management
• Deployment and operations
• Collaboration and communication

ALM practices use tools and technologies—version-control and bug-tracking systems, project-management software, and automated build and deployment tools—to streamline and automate development and maintenance, improve productivity, and reduce errors.

SAP Cloud ALM is a valuable tool included in your SAP Support subscription. It serves as the central hub for implementing and operating intelligent cloud and hybrid business solutions. 

Implementation and operations run in parallel. To prevent unwanted impacts, SAP Cloud ALM supports activities related to:

• Implementation: design, build, test, deploy.
• Operations: detect, analyze, correct, automate.

SAP Cloud ALM also makes service activities—preparation, delivery, sharing, and follow-up—efficient and transparent.

The following image summarizes the activities SAP Cloud ALM supports for implementation, operations, and service.

As a user, partner, or SAP consultant, you can apply support resources more effectively if you understand SAP Cloud ALM and how it ties into SAP Enterprise Support. Let's get started!

SAP Cloud ALM for Implementation, Operations, and Service relies on four core pillars:

• Methodology includes requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Clear goals, roles, and responsibilities ensure efficient execution.
• Operation Automation focuses on automating repetitive and manual tasks to reduce human error, improve efficiency, and accelerate development.
• Teamwork emphasizes collaboration and communication among stakeholders. It ensures that everyone is aligned with project objectives, enables knowledge sharing, and helps resolve conflicts.
• Integration refers to the connection and coordination of ALM tools. Information flows smoothly, improving visibility, traceability, and control.

Here are some facts and figures to keep in mind as we explore ways the platform supports implementation, operations, and research.

SAP Cloud ALM is:

• Included in SAP Enterprise Support and Subscription. SAP manages your maintenance and operations with a transparent licensing and cost structure. The initial offering contains 8 GB of memory and 8 GB of outbound data transfer per month, making it accessible and cost-effective for businesses of various sizes.
• Tailored for cloud and hybrid customers. SAP Cloud ALM supports a wide array of SAP solutions, from cloud-based offerings to on-premise Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP) solutions like SAP S/4HANA, SAP Business Suite, and SAP Business Warehouse. It also accommodates PI/PO integration monitoring and non-SAP solutions.
• Cloud-native. You can have complete control with a customer-owned software-as-a-service (SaaS) in 15 minutes. Daily integrated delivery and biweekly feature releases keep the platform up-to-date and provide access to the latest innovations.