By Carina Birt
Posted Accounts Payable software – Accounting for change
In this digital age, there is no reason at all for organisations to suffer the errors, risks and time lost to disjointed and largely manual [...]
Efficient contract management in SAP®
The be all and end all of contract management in purchasing processes
In contract management, small errors can result in big costs. Those who want to act securely here should have a handle on everything. But sometimes that is a difficult undertaking, because most companies manage thousands of active contracts. It is often difficult to maintain perspective – especially when the documents are also found in a variety of locations. Particularly in purchasing processes, the SAP®-integrated contract management (EASY PCM Contract Management) means: working more efficiently, remaining in compliance, and always getting orders off the ground within the framework of current contracts.
Advantages of contract management in SAP® – with EASY PCM Contract Management
Supports the entire contract lifecycle
EASY PCM Contract Management supports and accompanies the entire lifecycle of a contract – from contract initiation and creation to the negotiation of addenda to contract termination and archiving of the concluded contract. Contract management in SAP® – works for you.
Always rule-compliant
Electronic contract management supports the goal of the digitization of business processes. Increasing or maintaining compliance is a very important factor, including risk minimization and transparency about risks. This transparency and control of risks thus also provide for preventing dangers and ensuring productivity and profitability. One of our customers, for example, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG; Berlin transport Services), uses EASY PCM Contract Management for strategic and legally compliant contract design and the reliable observance of dates and deadlines – with several thousand contracts and agreements, this now succeeds almost effortlessly.
Simple, intuitive operation
The departments benefit especially from the simple and intuitive operation of the contract management, from quick access to all contracts in the company and the reliable observation of the compliance guidelines. Different contract types can be optimally supported thanks to easy adaptability. That is why the integration of EASY PCM Contract Management in SAP® functions so smoothly, since our contract management software is based 100% on SAP® technology – ideal for the seamless access to master and transaction data from the SAP® system.
Transparency
Regardless of location, contract managers stay on top of contract and cancellation deadlines, upcoming contract extensions, or warranty periods, as well as upcoming monetary obligations from concluded contracts.
Mobile work
Access to EASY PCM Contract Management takes place across devices via SAP® Fiori®/HTML5 – for fast access via PC or smartphone/tablet. EASY SOFTWARE provides two different solutions for contract management – optimized for on-premises operation in the SAP® environment or as a purely cloud solution. No matter when or where – always up to date with our contract management for SAP®. Additionally, the contract management is available to you in a Software-as-a-Service version based on SAP® Cloud Platform: EASY PCM Contract Management Cloud Edition. This can be obtained through the SAP® AppCenter. Your advantage: you don’t need any SAP® licenses; instead, you simply lease the Contract Management Cloud Edition.
Everything in one place – the contract file
A fast, structured, and simple overview of all the data for every contract. Contract management in SAP® bundles all important emails, Office documents, and paper scans structured in the right place in the contract file. No tedious, time-consuming searching necessary.
- Reports
Deadlines, volumes, statuses – everything important for every contract can be presented in your own or standardized reports. An indispensable advantage for controlling.
Potentials in the process of contract management in SAP®
Use the opportunities of digital contract management in SAP®. Always have an overview of all existing contracts – every contract is only a mouse-click away, no matter where you are, whether you access by desktop, smartphone or tablet. Maintaining dates and deadlines finally succeeds in next to no time.
The integrated contract management makes all relevant information clearly available. Nobody has to dig through the depths of the SAP system anymore.
Jacqueline Rada, Staff Division Law and Compliance, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG)
Digital contract management in use in SAP®
BVG
EASY SOFTWARE implemented a contract management solution for more effective processes for Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe.
Gewobag
EASY SOFTWARE implemented contract management software for Gewobag Wohnungsbaugesellschaft to make more effective use of rental and group contracts.
FAQ on contract management in SAP®
What versions of PCM Contract Management are offered? There are three versions of the SAP®-based contract management from EASY:
EASY PCM Contract Management – Classic Edition
This version in WebDynpro has been tried and tested for years. This version has the most references and the largest functional scope. Above all, the payment plan function with the option of generating payment vouchers fully or semi-automatically.
EASY PCM Contract Management – Fiori® Edition
This HTML5 version has been available since Q4 2017. In the future, most development efforts will go into this version, so that the functional scope will more and more equal the Classic Edition. The focus of the Fiori® Edition is companies which would like to be able to access contracts from any device. Furthermore, it offers a modern and intuitive interface which allows occasional SAP® users (for example, managers) to work with the solution without the effort of training.
A Software-as-a-Service version based on the SAP® Cloud Platform is offered as a supplement, which can be acquired via the SAP® AppCenter. No on-premises components are necessary here. As a result, the functional scope differs from what is documented in the current product function description.
How does PCM Contract Management differ from the SAP® solution?
With PCM Contract Management, all contracts in a company can be managed and administered. SAP® does not have its own comparable solution in the standard product for contract management which includes all contracts. SAP® MM only has purchasing relevant contracts, the real estate management (RE-FX) correspondingly only contracts for buildings, rental agreements, etc.
What are the major advantages of PCM Contract Management?
PCM Contract Management is easy for users to operate and offers the company an opportunity to manage all contracts centrally. The latter is very important particularly for the executive management.
Can customers continue to use their existing archive?
Yes, all PCM products support the SAP® ArchiveLink interface and thus any archive which is already connected to the SAP® system can be used. Recommendation: have a distinct area (content repository) set up for contract management.
Does EASY offer Fiori®/SAP®-UI5 apps for PCM Contract Management?
Cross-device access via SAP® Fiori®/HTML5 has been provided since Q4, 2017 – also for purely on-premises installations.
Can PCM Contract Management be operated under SAP® S/4HANA®?
Yes, EASY PCM Contract Management supports SAP® S/4HANA® and is run capable there.
Is the contract management handled in the SAP® GUI or via a Web interface?
The contract management is operated by all users in Internet Explorer. SAP® WebDynpro is used as the technology here. The interface can be correspondingly simplified for casual users (hiding of information, showing contracts only once they have a certain status, showing only contract-relevant documents, etc.). Cross-device access has been provided via SAP® Fiori®/HTML5 since Q4, 2017
How can the contract management be started?
Users can save the link to the contract management as a favorite. Alternatively, a link can be entered in the SAP menu. When using SAP® Fiori, the integration is supported in the SAP® Launchpad.
Is the SAP® Organization Management supported?
This question is frequently asked in connection with the allocation of contracts to responsible parties and departments. Yes, the SAP® Organization Management is used. However, there is often a BUT here: very rarely is the SAP® Organization Management used by the customers so thoroughly definitive that it can be used for allocation in contract management. Alternatively, a list of all departments can be maintained in the contract management. This can be used as an alternative for the authorization verification.
Is the operation and appearance user-friendly?
The contract management interface and its operation are designed for the easy and fast used by the users. The operation is intuitive and requires only a brief orientation for the users. The user interface was developed in the SAP® WebDynpro technology. As a result, the contract management is operated in Internet Explorer. This represents a significant simplification of operation, particularly for users who otherwise do not work with SAP®. An additional optimization of the user experience is achieved through the provision of HTML5/SAP® Fiori® interfaces. Here, the information is provided specific to the device and appropriate to the role.
What languages are supported?
The product is delivered in German and English. A translation template (interfaces) for French and Dutch is included in the delivery. This can be expanded and adjusted in the project. The interfaces can be translated into additional languages. This is generally done together with the customer.
What is the advantage over a non-SAP® solution?
EASY PCM Contract Management is fully integrated into SAP®. No interfaces to other systems are needed, and the contract data are not copied to other systems. Users also remain in the familiar SAP® environment, and the integration of SAP® data is easier. The SAP® authorization concept can also be taken over, which eliminates the doubled maintenance of roles and authorizations.
Is the contract management design modular?
Yes, there are basic modules and specialized modules. Only the modules which the customer needs for their project are installed. At the beginning, customers can install only the preconfigured Process2Go. The customer decides which functions they would like to use from this Process2Go. More functions can added at any time. The use of the document converter for creating thumbnails is included in the Process2Go. The customer can also implement the converter at a later time. The same is true for the conversion into the long-term format PDF/A. This may require a license. The product includes programs which will later create thumbnails for already stored documents and/or convert the documents to PDF.
