smart-plm [documents] - User-friendly document management in SAP
In today’s business world, manual data maintenance outdated. It is not only prone to errors but also resource-intensive. To remain competitive in an ever-changing landscape, our customers rely on the proven, standardised solution from market leader SAP. This solution creates a standardised database that enables efficient collaboration across departmental boundaries and reduces working hours without the need for annoying media jumps.
However, companies still face challenges related to the adaptability and usability of the SAP standard. This is where our innovative SAP add-on smart-plm [documents] comes in. The solution is designed to seamlessly integrate adaptive document management into the SAP standard. When designing this add-on, we paid particular attention to user-friendliness.
Our SAP add-on smart-plm [documents] offers the following advantages:
- Seamless integration: Integrates seamlessly into the SAP environment without disrupting existing workflows.
- Ease of use: The intuitive user interface makes work easier and requires minimal training.
- Adaptability: It can be easily customised to meet your organisation’s unique requirements.
- Efficient document management: Automated data maintenance and a standardised database make document management easier and more accurate.
- Time and resource savings: The implementation of smart-plm [documents] leads to shorter working times and an increase in overall efficiency.
Organise documents in a time-saving, clear and auditable way
Our SAP add-on provides a powerful solution for seamless integration and management of documents within the standard SAP environment. Using “Generic Object Services”, it can be contextually integrated into different business objects, enabling more flexible and effective document management.
smart-plm [documents] provides users with a clear power transaction that enables document-centric access. This allows users to quickly search for documents, browse tree-like directory structures, create new documents and make changes. This user-friendly interface makes working with documents in the SAP standard straightforward and efficient.
A unique feature of our SAP add-on is the ability to link documents and document structures to various SAP business objects via document records. This enables a wide range of use cases, including managing document records for materials, equipment, suppliers, customers, employees, production orders, purchase orders and PSP-elements from SAP PS.
Transparent document control – easy to use
Hierarchical structures are integrated in many SAP modules, including SAP PS and Plant Maintenance (SAP EAM / SAP PM), which can be automatically linked to a similar document structure. This creates transparency in document management and supports process, documentation and project management. Documents can be classified in the system according to various criteria, such as internal, external, technical or commercial, making it much easier to find them quickly.
For even more precise document control, the Document Management System (DMS) offers an innovative approach called ‘process route’. This allows approval processes to be started quickly and easily without having to resort to rigid SAP workflows. Proven SAP standard structures such as document info record, document structurese and classifications are used in the background of the application.
The user interface of smart-plm [documents] is based on the user-friendliness of Windows Explorer. This makes the add-on extremely intuitive and user-friendly. This makes it the ideal solution for SAP users migrating to S/4 HANA and looking for a replacement for SAP Easy DMS.
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Overview of benefits!
Miele chooses smart-plm [documents] für Document Management
In addition to its well-known domestic appliances for kitchen, laundry and floor care, Miele also offers products and system solutions in the field of medical and laboratory technology. In order to be able to sell these products in both the EU and the USA, the product documentation must comply with numerous legal requirements of the Food & Drug Association (FDA) and the European Medical Device Directive (MDR).
Miele has chosen our SAP add-on smart-plm [documents] to centrally create, manage and control product-related documents in an FDA-MDR compliant product file.
Basler AG selects smart-plm [documents] as a replacement for SAP Easy Document Management
Basler AG, a leading international manufacturer of high-quality cameras and camera accessories, is introducing smart-plm [documents] as a replacement for SAP Easy DMS.
SAP Easy DMS is a GUI application for operating SAP’s own DMS, but is no longer supported by SAP with S/4 HANA.
With smart-plm [documents], documents can still be managed in the future in a time-saving and clear manner – similar to Windows Explorer.
The decision has been made – smart-plm [documents] will be the successor of SAP Easy DMS!
Bayern-Chemie GmbH, a global technology leader in missile and space propulsion systems and a wholly owned subsidiary of MBDA Company, is implementing smart-plm [documents].
Bayern-Chemie was previously using SAP Easy DMS. As SAP Easy DMS is no longer available as of S/4 HANA 1511, Bayern-Chemie has chosen smart-plm [documents] as the successor to SAP Easy DMS.
Among other things, the add-on will be used to manage order-related production verification documents.
Südstärke relies on smart-plm [documents] for efficient document management in SAP
Südstärke is a leading supplier in the starch industry, specialising in the development, production and distribution of high-quality potato starch.
Südstärke has chosen smart-plm [documents] as the central solution for SAP document management. The SAP add-on will be used primarily for managing equipment records and functional location records in maintenance (SAP EAM) in order to optimise standard processes in the company.
Success stories of our customers with smart-plm [documents]
smart-plm [documents]
Case study Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik
In 2019, Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik introduced SAP S4/HANA company-wide in order to pursue a future-proof digitalisation strategy. To efficiently connect the various departments, from business to engineering, the company relies on the SAP add-on smart-plm [documents].
This solution enables standardised SAP document management and thus shortens the paths close to the business process.
smart-plm [documents]
Case study Seidenader Maschinenbau
The use of a modern document management system in SAP enables shorter processing times without media discontinuity and structured document storage with a proven system. This means that information can be found quickly across departments.
Documents of all formats are managed and archived according to policy.
The full benefits are only realised when the processes are available company-wide via a standardised database. At Seidenader, this value is particularly evident in engineering, where an efficient DMS is a central component of a future-proof SAP PLM. Seidenader has chosen the SAP add-on smart-plm [documents].
Why smart-plm [documents]? There are other programmes on the market
- SAP ECTR – was developed specifically for engineers and CAD users and not for the rest of the users
- SAP Easy DMS – is no longer available as of S/4 Hana 1511
- SAP Document Center – is no longer being developed by SAP
- SAP DMS and various Fiori applications – not really user-friendly
We have combined our expertise and various SAP DMS developments in one solution
What can our smart-plm [documents] solution do?
- Search, worklist, navigation in the directory tree, maintenance of document info records all in just one transaction. Compared to the SAP standard, this makes navigation easier for the user and significantly reduces the number of clicks required. Direct modification of original documents analogue to Windows (move, copy, rename…etc.) with just one click! => Few clicks – everything at a glance
- Management of the relevant data on one screen (meta data, originals, object links, long texts, class characteristics)
- Modelling of simple processes without workflow development
- User-specific display/hiding of selection criteria for a clear and role-based search function => the user can freely select their criteria
- User-specific authorisations for files and folders
- Direct email dispatch with attachments
- Download multiple files as a ZIP file
- Routes for easy collaboration e.g. for modelling document approval processes
- Modelling of simple processes as a process route without workflow development
- Changes in the process flow if it has already been started
- Collecting documents from the tree or from the search results
- Download multiple files as a ZIP archive
- Email with attachments
- Quick access and favourites for documents and directories (e.g. the document records for my 5 machines or my projects; recently visited folders)
Additional and convenient functions:
- Template document records
- Document templates for presetting metadata and class characteristics
- Automatic status changes to previous versions
- Additional test layer
- Automatic status change of old document versions when a new version is released
Advantages of the document record, as part of smart-plm [documents]:
- Mapping of a tree-like record structure in SAP via document parts lists in the familiar Windows Explorer structure.
- Linking of the document record with any SAP business objects, e.g. project, WBS element, equipment, material)
- Drag & drop function from Windows Explorer to SAP for complete folder structures
- Functions similar to Windows for editing documents (e.g. rename, move, copy….)
- Context-dependent access to the documents in the respective SAP application via the Global Object Service
- Creation and retrieval of template records for the respective SAP business object
Examples of business objects:
Technology used:
- SAP GUI (ABAP) application: We believe that web technologies are not suitable for power applications.
- UI optimised for SAP Fiori theme (not a requirement)
- Open software architecture for high customisation
- On-premise installation – no cloud
- Future-proof database by using SAP standard elements: Document info record, document parts list, classification.
- Available as of SAP Basis 7.40, SP09, and of course, for every SAP S/4 HANA release
- Optimistic locking concept