What Does SAP SD Mean?
SAP is an integrated business software program that processes all aspects of business operation to help a company achieve unified solutions to their various challenges. The SAP software comes in many different modules, each created to run a particular business consideration. SAP SD, one of the most instrumental SAP modules, manages issues involving sales and distribution.
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History
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Five ex-IBM engineers founded the SAP company in Germany in 1972. The acronym SAP comes from the German name Systeme, Andwendungen, Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung, which translates in English to Systems, Applications, Products in Data Processing. In 1992, SAP released its SAP R/3 line of products which consisted of separate modules, including SAP SD along with modules to manage Finance and Control, Human Resources, Materials Management and Production Planning.
Features
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SAP SD helps businesses manage the entire sales and distribution process, from taking the initial order to accepting payments and then delivering the goods or services. The SAP SD allows businesses to control such components as customer master data, sales orders, deliveries, pricing, billing and credit management. SAP SD also features subcomponents like sales support, empties management, foreign trade, indirect sales, shipping and transportation.
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Function
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SAP SD works together with the other SAP R/3 modules to provide seamless integration. For instance, when the SD software receives a sales order, it can check for product availability and then trigger the Product Planning module to create a production order. If the product isn't available, the SD module can contact the Materials Management module to acquire the desired products from a third-party vendor to replenish the inventory. SAP SD software will then create outbound delivery documents and delivery orders, managing the entire distribution process from warehouse fulfillment to delivery and then assisting with financing, inventory and profitability analysis.
Considerations
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Like all SAP programs, SAP SD demands a high level of expertise to operate its many functions. The SAP company provides three levels of official certification. "Associate" covers the fundamental requirements for SAP SD operation. "Professional" requires a more detailed understanding of SAP SD solutions and proven project experience, while "Master" requires expert-level knowledge of all SAP SD processes. Interested parties may seek SAP SD certification through official SAP Education Partners, with certification often leading to greater job opportunities and higher salaries.
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References
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