What are SAP Enterprise Architecture Tools?

Enterprise Architecture (EA) tools allow organizations to examine the need for, as well as the impact of, change. They are intended to map the relationships and dependencies across partners, operating models, capabilities, people, processes, data, information, and applications and technologies. They are designed to provide a central repository to capture information that are important to an organization. EA tools are intended to help both investment decisions and, when combined with operational data, can help improve business processes and outcomes.

What are SAP Enterprise Architecture Tools?

Enterprise Architecture (EA) tools allow organizations to examine the need for, as well as the impact of, change. They are intended to map the relationships and dependencies across partners, operating models, capabilities, people, processes, data, information, and applications and technologies. They are designed to provide a central repository to capture information that are important to an organization. EA tools are intended to help both investment decisions and, when combined with operational data, can help improve business processes and outcomes.

There are many products in the Enterprise Architecture (EA) tools market, but the most familiar for SAP Enterprise Architects is likely SAP Enterprise Architecture (EA) Designer. SAP EA Designer is a web-based tool that is intended for collaboration between enterprise architects and the stakeholders in their organization. The collaborative nature of SAP EA Designer differentiates from some older EA tools. It is only by using EA tools that organizations can provide IT transparency and make complex topics easy to discuss for stakeholders.

Organizations that are implementing SAP Enterprise Architecture Tools should focus on the following best practices:

• Start with business definitions
• Integrate with any continuous improvement initiatives
• Build an experienced team that can communicate at all levels
• Limit or eliminate technology jargon
• Understand how SAP’s standard tools can assist with your initiative
• Leverage the experience of partners where appropriate

Standard SAP tools that can provide insight into enterprise architecture initiatives and that can complement your SAP Enterprise Architecture Tools initiatives include:

• SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework
• SAP Solution Manager
• SAP Solution Landscape Directory
• SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Services Repository

Additional Resources:

SAP offers multiple openSAP courses that are relevant to enterprise architects, and one that may be a good starting point is that on Enterprise Architecture in the Era of the Intelligent Enterprise. SAPinsider also recently conducted a SAP Enterprise Architect Global Summit and the sessions for this event can be viewed on-demand.