SAP Central Business Configuration

22.05.2024

SAP Central Business Configuration: Configuration of SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud

Since September 2022, the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud has been provided to new customers as a 3-system landscape. A direct migration from the 2-system landscape to the 3-system landscape is not possible. SAP Central Business Configuration (CBC) is used for the central administration of one or more cloud solutions in the 3-system landscape configuration of the public cloud. CBC is currently only available for the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, although more use cases are planned for the future.

What Are the Main Features of SAP Central Business Configuration?

SAP Central Business Configuration (CBC) is a cloud-based platform that was developed to simplify and centralize the configuration of SAP applications. Its main features are as follows:

Central configuration: CBC allows companies to configure and manage their SAP applications from one central place, resulting in more consistent and efficient configuration. CBC is currently only available for the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, although more use cases are planned.
Simplified configuration: The platform offers an intuitive interface that enables users to configure applications without the need for in-depth technical knowledge.
Best practice management: The platform offers best practice templates and recommendations and is closely linked to the SAP Activate methodology.

The four key components of CBC are Project Experience, Scoping & Organizational Structure, Central Configuration, and Business Configuration Workspaces. An integral part of CBC is the Project Experience app, which is used to configure SAP cloud solutions. The overarching purpose of SAP Central Business Configuration is to reduce the complexity of configuring SAP applications and help companies to manage and customize their SAP landscape more effectively.

What Does a Typical 3-System Landscape with CBC Include?

A typical 3-system landscape with SAP Central Business Configuration (CBC) comes with a number of core elements to support efficient configuration and administration. These elements are a starter system and development system, each with a development and customizing tenant, and a test system and production system, each with a customizing tenant. Development and testing activities are therefore clearly separated, which gives developers more opportunities to expand their projects.

SAP System Landscape with Central Business Configuration (Source: SAP SE)

As it operates as an independent system, SAP Central Business Configuration can be used as a central tool for coordinating and running evaluations and implementation projects spanning multiple SAP systems. Note that, in this configuration, there is no direct connection between CBC and the test or production systems. Instead, the Adaptation Transport Organizer (ATO) is used to manage the transport path and ensure that configuration changes are transferred to all systems.

What Is the Implementation Process of the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud 3-System Landscape with CBC?

The implementation process of the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud 3-system landscape with SAP CBC is clearly structured and offers companies an efficient approach to get the most out of their cloud solution. An SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Starter system is first configured with demo data for fit-to-standard workshops. The purpose of these workshops is to identify and map out specific requirements beyond the standardized public cloud environment. During this phase, SAP Central Business Configuration is connected to the starter tenant as part of an evaluation project, allowing companies to adapt and optimize the configuration to their needs.

Implementation of the 3-system landscape proceeds in an implementation project with close links to the development system. All configurations are then made to implement the desired functionalities of the cloud solution. Note that software upgrades from SAP are only provided via SAP Central Business Configuration, which is exclusively connected to the development system. Companies therefore have full control over the timing of updates and upgrades, while SAP takes over the implementation and deployment of the software upgrades. This implementation process offers companies a clear structure and flexibility for the efficient implementation, customization, and updating of their SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud solution.

How Is the User Interface Designed and Is it Intuitive?

The SAP Central Business Configuration user interface has been carefully designed to provide a seamless and user-friendly experience. As a web-based cloud product, it is built on SAP’s intuitive design philosophy, which guarantees ease of use. The clearly arranged user interface makes it easy for users to start configuring without any in-depth technical knowledge. Clear menu structures and well-designed navigation simplify and speed up the configuration process. The SAP Central Business Configuration user interface offers users an intuitive and user-friendly environment for the efficient customization and management of their SAP solutions.

SAP Central Business Configuration User Interface

What Are the Benefits of SAP Central Business Configuration for Companies?

SAP Central Business Configuration is a central hub for all SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud projects. Used for configuring the entire cloud environment, it ensures efficient and consistent implementation.
The central Project Experience app provides a clear overview of the current status of each project. Thanks to the well laid out structure and integration of SAP Activate methodology, companies can track the progress of their projects transparently at all times.
The alignment with SAP Activate methodology also means that configuration within SAP CBC is extremely efficient. The header bar always shows which phase the project is in, and the activity display makes it easy to track status updates on activities to be carried out.
The layout of the organizational structures is particularly well designed. The graphical view allows companies to see dependencies between different units at a glance. The scoping step helps to avoid redundancies and precisely defines the organizational units, resulting in a leaner and more efficient structure.
To sum up, SAP Central Business Configuration offers companies a powerful platform for efficiently managing SAP projects, performing customized configurations, and designing optimal organizational structures.

Prepare your company for efficient and optimized SAP project management. Discover the benefits of SAP Central Business Configuration and start today with a centralized and transparent configuration of your SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud. We look forward to hearing from you!

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