Custom Development Project for your SAP Implementation - 8 Key Points to remember.

So, you've decided to take the leap and embark on a custom development project for your SAP implementation. Exciting stuff! But before you dive in, there are a few important things you'll want to keep in mind to make sure everything goes smoothly and the end result meets all of your expectations.

Requirements:

First and foremost, it's crucial to have a crystal-clear understanding of the business requirements for the project. Think about the specific business processes that the custom development will support and make sure that the end result aligns with your needs and goals.

It is easy to overlook simple requirements while working on custom development projects for SAP because of the focus on complex functionality and the vastness of the SAP system. This can lead to errors, rework, and project delays. To avoid this mistake, it is important to have a clear understanding of the business requirements, prioritize them, and allocate adequate time for testing and validation. Regular communication and collaboration with the end-users can also help identify overlooked requirements. Furthermore, it is advisable to maintain detailed documentation and have a system for tracking requirements, so that nothing falls through the cracks. Keeping an open and flexible mindset, being proactive, and embracing change can also help prevent overlooking simple requirements during custom development projects for SAP.

Integration - Keep using SAP data and Object Model:

Next, consider how the custom development will fit into the larger picture of your SAP system. Will it integrate seamlessly, or will it cause any disruptions to your existing processes? It's important to take the time to iron out these details beforehand to avoid any headaches down the road.

SAP's data model and object model are integral parts of the SAP system and are designed to ensure consistent data structures and to support standard reporting. When creating a custom application for SAP, it is important to keep using the SAP data model and object model to ensure smooth integration with SAP. This will allow you to utilize the standard SAP reporting tools, which are designed to work seamlessly with the SAP data model and object model.

By using the SAP data model and object model, you can leverage the benefits of SAP's proven, robust, and secure data management systems, ensuring that your custom application will be compatible with the standard SAP reporting tools. This will also allow you to take advantage of the standard reporting features, such as data access, data visualization, and data analysis, without having to create custom reports.

Moreover, using the SAP data model and object model will help to reduce the risk of data integrity issues, as the data model is designed to ensure data consistency and accuracy. Furthermore, this will also help to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the custom application, as the standard SAP reporting tools are typically included in the license and do not require additional investments.

In conclusion, keeping the SAP data model and object model while creating a custom application is important for smooth integration with SAP and to utilize standard SAP reporting. This will help you to take advantage of the standard SAP reporting features, reduce the risk of data integrity issues, and minimize the TCO of the custom application.

Skills:

When it comes to the development team, make sure that they have the technical expertise needed to bring your vision to life. This includes a deep understanding of the relevant SAP technologies, as well as any other technical skills required for the project.

Having a talent pool of SAP ABAP and newer SAP technologies like SAPUI5, BTP, and Fiori in your team is critical for the success of your project. Having a talent pool of SAP ABAP and the newer SAP technologies like SAPUI5, BTP, and Fiori in your team is essential for getting a successful product out of your project. It will provide you with the necessary expertise, technical support, speed, efficiency, and innovation to deliver a custom application that meets the business requirements and exceeds customer expectations.

Performance and scalability:

Performance and scalability are also important to consider. You want to make sure that the custom development can handle an increase in load as your business grows, so take the time to plan for this from the get-go.

Security:

Data security is a top priority for any project, and your custom development project is no exception. Make sure that your development team takes the necessary steps to secure your sensitive data and protect it from unauthorized access. This is specifically important with newer integration scenarios involving middleware and BTP in the modern era.

Managing security in a new SAP custom product is a critical aspect of the development project. By implementing access control, firewall configuration, regular security audits, user authentication, and a secure development lifecycle, you can help ensure that the product is secure and meets the business requirements and customer expectations.

Project Management:

Project management is key to the success of any project, and this one is no exception. Have a well-defined plan in place, and make use of proven project management methodologies to keep everything moving forward and on track.

Testing:

Testing and quality assurance are critical components of any custom development project. Make sure that your development team has a thorough testing process in place, and that they take the time to thoroughly QA the end result before it goes live.

User acceptance:

Finally, don't forget about user acceptance testing. Get the end users involved and make sure that the custom development meets their needs and expectations. This is your chance to get their feedback and make any necessary tweaks before it's too late.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, taking a holistic approach to your custom development project, and considering these factors from start to finish, will help ensure a successful outcome that meets all of your needs and goals.