An Introduction to SAP Business One

As one of SAP’s key product offerings, it’s important to understand what SAP Business One is and how it is used. In this article, we will look at some of its key functions and benefits whilst also explaining why certain companies may be looking to deploy SAP Business One over the other available options.

Jump to a section:

• What is SAP Business One?
• Who is it for?
• Key Features
• Benefits
• Certification

What Is SAP Business One?

SAP Business One, sometimes referred to as SAP B1, is an Enterprise Resource Planning platform that started life as a product developed by Israeli company TopManage Financial Systems. SAP acquired the corporation in 2002 and rebranded the software before building upon its capabilities through the addition of more features brought about by more acquisitions.

This included reporting and budgeting functionality courtesy of XL Reporter, which arrived following the takeover of Norwegian-based iLytix Systems AS, and CRM and e-commerce components from Praxis Software Solutions, who were acquired in 2006.

Business One runs on both Microsoft SQL Server, which offers a traditional cockpit from which to view modules, and SAP HANA, where you will see the more modern Fiori cockpit. Users can choose to have it deployed on-premises or opt for cloud deployment and there is also a mobile app for employees who need to access real-time data on the go. As of February 2024, it was estimated that B1 has over 78,000 customers across the world in more than 170 different countries.

Who Is SAP Business One For?

In essence, SAP Business One does for small and medium-sized businesses what SAP S/4 HANA does for large companies. This piece of software collates multiple functions into one easy-to-manage view, allowing employees and stakeholders to see insights right across the business. By bringing together accounting, purchasing, inventory, sales, customer relationships, reporting and analytics, the innovative program makes it possible to manage the entire company’s data from just one place.

Different employees with different job titles and functions can all access their own cockpit, which can be customised to display only the widgets they wish to see, making SAP Business One a vital addition in all areas of the workforce.

What Are SAP B1’s Key Features?

No matter which area of a business you look in, SAP Business One has fantastic features to streamline processes and inform business decisions across the board. Some of these include:

• Improving project management by offering the ability to share real-time information and make collaboration a breeze
• Automating order processing to speed up fulfilment
• Offering bank reconciliations and automating accounting to boost financial management
• Reducing errors and showing sales opportunities by displaying inventory in real time
• Rationalising purchasing requirements by displaying purchase orders, invoices and vendor management together
• Making reporting simple by collating data from multiple sources throughout the business
• Showing the complete timeline of a sale, making it easy to answer customer questions and manage after-sales support

What Are The Benefits For An SAP Business One User?

One of the main benefits for anyone using SAP B1 is how customisable it is. As well as choosing which style of cockpit you would like to use (Fiori or traditional), you can also choose a template that is designed to serve the business function in which you operate. From there, you can tinker further by adding specific widgets you would like to see and removing those you don’t need.

For sales, in particular, the system will highlight key opportunities to upsell certain products. Alongside recommendations of additional items that someone may be interested in buying, there’s also an Amazon-style ‘customers also bought’ section that pulls out suggestions that would complement each person’s current product set.

Other important benefits are the fact that each employee has instant and direct access to the data they need, wherever they are, and the power to make decisions that have been comprehensively informed by all the information available.

Certification

Anyone looking to add skills in SAP Business One deployment to their bow should look to take the 9.3 certification exam which ties into the most recent release. This will ensure you have the basic knowledge of logistics, financials and support to be able to implement SAP Business One under the guidance of an experienced consultant.

S/4HANA Transformation with Whitehall

As the SAP S/4HANA market continues its rapid growth, now is the time to ensure your business has the right talent to succeed. Whether you’re beginning a new implementation or upgrading to the latest version, securing experienced consultants will be essential for a smooth and efficient process.

Whitehall Resources specialises in SAP recruitment, helping businesses find the expertise they need to stay competitive. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your organisation navigate SAP S/4HANA.