SAP Change und Release Management
Faster and more flexible implementation of SAP changes and releases
SAP software is not considered to be very flexible when it comes to change and release management. Quick updates and change processes are difficult to implement per se.
We will show you how all parties involved can still benefit from faster and more flexible SAP changes and releases, even in complex SAP landscapes.
Challenges in SAP Change and Release Management
Change and release management within SAP systems can present a number of challenges, including:
- Coordination: Change management requires close cooperation and communication between IT and SAP Basis.
- Complexity: SAP systems can have complex processes and dependencies that need to be taken into account when making changes in order to avoid negative effects on business activities.
- Documentation: It is important to create and maintain detailed documentation for all changes and releases to keep track of the system configuration.
- Risk management: Changes and releases can increase the risk of errors and disruptions. It is important to identify and minimize risks to avoid downtime and costs.
- Manual processes: Many manual steps and media discontinuities slow down the change processes considerably and prove to be very error-prone.
- SolMan end of maintenance: With the end of maintenance for Solution Manager 2027, ChaRM support will also end. The familiar SAP standard for change management will then no longer be available. Learn more
Tips for effective SAP change management
With the right tools and proven methods, challenges can be mastered in a targeted manner. Automation is a key factor here.
- By automating processes such as transport requests, tests and documentation, companies can increase efficiency, reduce errors and shorten throughput times. Automated workflows ensure the standardized and transparent implementation of changes.
- Integrated quality inspection is another important aspect. Automated checks and analyses allow potential problems to be identified and rectified at an early stage before they lead to serious faults.
- Automated retrofitting facilitates the synchronization of development systems and the deployment of transports to keep the SAP landscape up to date.
- The integration of SAP change management solutions with other systems such as ITSM tools enables a consistent and transparent process chain.
By using these technologies, companies can optimize their SAP change and release management, minimize risks and increase the agility of their systems.
SmartChange: SAP Change Management made easy
SmartChange offers a flexible and highly automated solution for SAP change management. Whether on-premise, hybrid or in the cloud – SmartChange makes your SAP landscape future-proof.
The reality: Silos and manual work
Many companies use an ITSM tool such as ServiceNow or Jira for their SAP Change and Release Management in addition to SAP Solution Manager. However, this creates media discontinuities and process gaps. It’s important to avoid these in order to achieve the desired speed and flexibility in SAP change management with consistent, transparent and maximally automated processes.
A key problem is manual work, which still accounts for a large proportion of change processes in many companies. Manual activities such as recording, transferring and tracking changes not only cost valuable time, but also have a high potential for error.
For example, if a change is made in an SAP system, this information often has to be manually transferred to an ITSM ticket. This manual process is time-consuming and error-prone. What companies need is a continuous flow of information between their SAP systems and their ITSM tools. This is the only way to ensure that changes are made quickly, efficiently and without errors. The solution lies in automating these interfaces.
The goal: Automated SAP ITSM processes
By automating the interfaces, companies can ensure that information is exchanged between SAP and ITSM systems in real time. Changes in SAP systems are automatically mapped in ITSM tickets, and vice versa.
The SAP-ITSM integration makes it possible to map the entire change and release process from request to deployment in a single, end-to-end workflow. This reduces manual effort, minimizes the error rate and increases transparency.
Integration framework connects SAP and ITSM
This is possible via the certified SAP add-on REALTECH SmartChange. This easy-to-implement and easy-to-use out-of-the-box solution successfully integrates SAP operations into higher-level ITSM processes. An integration framework connects the SAP system and the ITSM tool used by means of a bidirectional interface. SmartChange integrates seamlessly with Jira, ServiceNow and other ITSM solutions.
SAP Change and Release Automation: Your benefits
Teams are unburdened and agile
Minimizing time-consuming manual activities by automating them across the board significantly reduces the workload of operations and development teams. Sources of human error are minimized. In addition, collaboration across departmental boundaries improves due to process transparency in all systems. Agile collaboration is now possible and breaks down silo thinking.
Significantly shortened “time to market
In addition, consistently transparent and automated processes result in a shortened time-to-market for the rollout of innovations. These can now be made available to users in an uncomplicated and much faster way.
Audit-compliant documentation
Last but not least, this solution ensures seamless and thus traceable, audit-proof documentation – in both the SAP and ITSM systems.
Our conclusion in figures
In total, automation in SAP change and release management can mean up to 75 percent less work for you, 50 percent lower costs and 50 percent fewer queries from auditors.
FAQs: SAP Change Management
With ChaRM, Solution Manager offers standardized change and release management. However, support ends in 2027, so alternatives are required.
In addition to SAP Solution Manager, there are various third-party solutions that optimize change and release management in SAP systems. One of the most powerful alternatives is REALTECH SmartChange, which offers a high degree of automation of transports, tests and documentation. It also enables seamless integration with ITSM tools such as ServiceNow or Jira to ensure consistent and efficient change processes.
Bidirectional interfaces can be used to connect SAP Change Management with ITSM tools to ensure a consistent workflow. Solutions such as REALTECH SmartChange enable seamless integration into ITSM tools such as ServiceNow or Jira.