What are SAP and CRM systems?

[Usernameismyname01]

Starting to look at changing jobs and coming across certain system requirements and though I think I have/am working on them, I don't necessarily know the names of them.
So can you please explain what CRM and SAP systems are in lament terms not what it says on Google 😃

[OutofDepth1000]

CRM- Customer Relationship Management (system) : normally an integrated help desk, case management and customer record integrated across one system so you see the ‘full’ customer profile ie: not scattered across multiple systems and not joined up
SAP- Systems, applications and products: contains hundreds of fully integrated modules covering nearly every aspect of business management. Using SAP creates a centralised system for businesses that enables every department to access and share data to create a better work environment for every employee

[Boopear]

CRM systems are systems like Salesforce - they contain customer details and (usually) all details of any dealings with the customer, like sales, marketing campaigns, support cases etc. Crm = customer relationship management.

SAP is a brand name for a range of systems that can be used to support HR, learning, corporate planning etc, but is most often used for day to day finance like billing and general accounting.

[Usernameismyname01]

So I worked for Next in a call centre where we worked on a system that housed all the customer accounts, company stock, payments etc. is this CRM?

I just can't understand what SAP is but I'm sure I have used it in other roles but just can't bring it to mind to think 'ah! Yes. That was SAP'

And if I haven't used it and getting mixed up, do you think it would be something that is easy to use?

[AHobbyaweek]

CRM is where we house all customer details and all the queries and interactions with them. If you watch a demo of SalesForce you can see loads of things it can do.
We use SAP for our finance system so orders, purchase orders, invoicing etc. it can do loads though and could hit any part of the business

Normally you get training in what you use so maybe show you have worked with a variety of systems and learnt them and that would be fine.

[Usernameismyname01]

Thank you. I'll go take a look.
Would you say that if I had used SAP in the past with a company that it should look the same with a new company (like if I use sage now and move company, sage is the same) or can the adapt it to how that company wants it to be viewed

[AHobbyaweek]

Ours looks COMPLETELY different to other companies but some look the same. Each company will use similar.

[wherethemonkeyssing]

Hi @Usernameismyname01 I would say that fundamentally SAP can be very similar between companies but larger companies may have some significant customisation to adapt to their business model.

There are lots of YouTube videos and LinkedIn Learning training on SAP so have a quick Google and see if it looks familiar 😊

[seemsikeaniceday]

Think of a CRM as a series of interlocking building blocks. There will be a core central module that contains the baseline structure and key data e.g. customer data, employee data. To the core you add other blocks e.g. finance, HR, procurement, customer data, project management etc. you must have the core block but can chose which blocks you add in.

SAP is the name of a company who develop and sell a CRM system. Oracle is another company that also develops and sells its own CRM.

Each organisation that has a CRM will have configured (not customised) the core and building blocks to meet their business needs. Each SAP (CRM) system will therefore be slightly different. You will find each company has its own name for their CRM, many don’t use SAP/Oracle etc. which is confusing.

If you have previously used a CRM (SAP/Oracle etc.) you will have transferable skills and should be fine to state this on your CV/apply for jobs. Everyone will need some CRM training when starting a new job so don’t worry.

[Usernameismyname01]

Thank you all so much. I have a better understanding of it now.

[Hairybaker]

Also (and not being nasty just pointing out) I think you mean “layman’s terms” rather than “lament” 😃

[CreatingHavoc]

This is a really useful thread, thank you. I've been wondering today if I've worked with CRM's before and I think I have. I've worked with EMIS, SIMS, Swift and others. Hopefully someone can confirm that those are definitely CRM's..!

[seemsikeaniceday]

@CreatingHavoc Having done a quick Google, EMIS appears to be healthcare but may be CRM, SIMS and Swift appear to be CRMs so you should be fine.

[CreatingHavoc]

@seemsikeaniceday yes EMIS is what the NHS use for their patient records and all patient encounters and their health info is on there. I think it can also be used to collate data and produce graphs but it's been a while since I used it now. SIMS is used in schools for teacher and pupil data and swift was what bupa used to use when I worked there years ago.

[seemsikeaniceday]

@cardimaccarti This is an old thread.

[emmy2000]

Think of CRM systems like your personal organizer for customer relationships – they help businesses manage interactions with current and potential customers. On the other hand, SAP systems are like the big picture organizers, handling various aspects of a company's operations like finances, supply chain, and HR.

As for the job search, having familiarity with CRM and SAP systems can definitely give you an edge. If you're delving into CRM systems, you might want to check out sugar crm. It's user-friendly and packed with features to streamline customer relationship management.

[joycedyers]

CRM is a system that helps businesses manage their interactions with customers. It's used to keep track of customer data, communication history, and sales opportunities. This software often includes features like lead management, contact management, sales automation, and customer support tools.
In a nutshell, CRM is all about managing customer relationships, while SAP is more about managing overall business processes and resources. Both are essential tools for many companies to stay organized and efficient in today's competitive business landscape.
If you want to better understand what a CRM is, I suggest you try out some free, open-source options like EspoCRM for example. This way you can get a hands-on experience with this software.