SAP Supply Chain Management software (SCM) is an integral part of the bestselling SAP Business Suite. Founded in 1972 by former IBM (International Business Machine)employees in Germany, SAP (originally known as Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing) is one of the world's leading business software developers.

SAP's applications aim at major corporations and mid-sized companies, as well as small businesses. The chief features of SAP SCM include the following:

1. Supply chain network operational planning and design.
2. Sales order processing and billing.
3. Product transportation planning.
4. Product warehousing, storage, and inventory management using SAP supply chain software.
5. Manufacturing operations planning.
6. Supply chain network performance analysis.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn more about the features of SAP Supply Chain Software

Read white papers, customer success stories, and independent reviews of SAP Supply Chain Software.

I recommend: Read company success stories regarding SAP SCM systems at the SAP website. These companies include Harman/Becker Automotive Systems, DirectTV, and Brown-Forman Corporation. For SAP Supply Chain Management software features, read white papers and brochures (PDF) at the SAP website. Also see product demos. At the ZDNet website, published by CNET Networks, Inc., read the white paper, "Planning with mySAP Supply Chain Management" (to download this ZDNet white paper review, you must first register with ZDNet).

Consider how SAP Supply Chain Management Software might fit into your overall supply chain network

Before buying SAP SCM applications, understand the overall complexity of the operational planning and design stages needed for your company's supply chain.

I recommend: Read an overview of the supply chain planning and collaboration features of SAP SCM. Read more in-depth details about the planning stages of demand, supply, and distribution with SAP SCM software.

Consider how SAP Supply Chain Management Software might fit into each stage of your supply chain

If your company supply chain network consists of a complex series of steps, supply chain management software, SAP SCM included, may be necessary.

I recommend: Find out how SAP supply chain technology handles the product procurement stage of the supply chain, the product manufacturing stage, the warehousing stage, the order fulfillment stage, and the product transportation stage.

Consider how SAP Supply Chain Management Software might help analyze and monitor your supply chain

Because many company supply chain networks consist of a series of complex steps, SAP SCM software may help maintain supply chain visibility, particularly when monitoring order fulfillment and transportation performance.

I recommend: Read an overview of the supply chain monitoring and analysis features of SAP SCM, and find out details about the wide range of supply chain monitoring and analysis features available.

Find SAP Supply Chain Management software vendors

Buy SAP Supply Chain Management software from a SAP distributor or a reseller.

I recommend: Locate or contact a SAP office near your business. Rimini Street Inc. is a vendor and consultant for supply management software products, including SAP SCM.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There's a wide range of supply chain management software, SAP SCM included. Some other products only focus on a particular stage of the chain, such as warehousing.