Abstract:
This white paper delves into the introductory aspects of SAP Cloud ALM tool along with steps to create SAP Cloud ALM Tenant. This white paper has equipped you with the foundational knowledge to get started. For a deeper dive into the configuration and implementation details, refer to the resources mentioned throughout the paper or explore the official SAP documentation.
Introduction:
When SAP release cloud ALM, people asked is it just SAP Solution Manager hosted in the cloud, the answer is no. As the name implies Cloud ALM is a cloud application that was built by SAP from scratch, and it is hosted on the sap business technology platform. So, here we can say that ALM is not a solution manager that is hosted on the cloud and just called as Cloud ALM.
SAP Cloud ALM is designed to support customers who are running their SAP solutions in the cloud. It covers various aspects of the application lifecycle, including project management, implementation, operation, and optimization.
Key features and aspects of SAP Cloud ALM include:
Project Management: SAP Cloud ALM assists in planning, executing, and overseeing SAP implementation projects. It provides tools for project managers and teams to collaborate effectively, track progress, and manage resources.
Implementation: It supports the implementation phase by providing guidance, best practices, and tools for configuring and customizing SAP solutions.
Operations: Once the SAP solutions are live, SAP Cloud ALM helps manage and monitor ongoing operations. This includes monitoring system health, managing incidents, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
Optimization: The solution also focuses on continuous improvement and optimization of SAP solutions. It provides analytics and insights to help organizations identify areas for enhancement and make informed decisions.
Integration: SAP Cloud ALM is designed to integrate with other SAP solutions and tools, creating a seamless environment for managing the entire application lifecycle.
Cloud-Based: Being a cloud-based solution, SAP Cloud ALM allows users to access the platform from anywhere, facilitating collaboration among team members regardless of their physical location.
In short, we can introduce SAP Cloud ALM using below bullet points:
- SAP Cloud ALM is cloud application.
- Built on SAP BTP i.e. Business Technology Platform
- Better user interface
- Open APIs
- Cost effectiveness
- Based on the Keep it Simple Short and Standard principle
Just for the information, SAP solution manager was the famous ALM tool which use to provide by SAP to its customers which involved functionalities like application operations, business process operations, data volume management, test management, project management, change control management, process management, process management, IT service management and much more. We must say Solution manager was fabulous in taking care of management cycle in business. But it became complex to configure the functionalities and maintain them on an ongoing basis.
To eliminate the complexity, SAP came up with the tool called SAP CALM or Cloud Application Lifecycle management which is kind of ready to go solution for the customer business requirements.
Compared to Solution Manager, ALM application is installed and maintained by the SAP from a technical perspective. Right away, this tool makes it attractive to customers as they don’t have to spend money installing and maintaining it.
Now we move to dive into the workflow and functionalities of SAP Cloud ALM.
SAP Cloud ALM Functionalities:
Cloud ALM Functionalities mainly divided into 2 parts:
- Cloud ALM for Implementation
- Cloud ALM for operations
SAP Cloud ALM for Implementation:
Above Hexagonal figures represents the workflow process view of Cloud ALM for implementation.
So, simplification of above figure explanation is:
In the design phase, you design the functionalities in the SAP system as per business requirements. Conduct fit-to-standard workshops to convert the business requirements into standard SAP processes.
Once the design is complete, you start configuring the software as per the design.
Then test the configurations.
And finally, deploy and go live with the product or solution.
Technical Functionalities under SAP Cloud ALM for the implementation process:
SAP Cloud ALM for operations:
Simplified Process View for SAP Cloud ALM for operations:
Once the product goes live, other important task is to monitor for any issues and if issues comes then we need to find the root cause and rectify those issues along with its automation. We can say hyper care support is required after product goes live.
Technical Functionalities under SAP Cloud ALM for the operation process:
It has got different types of monitoring functionalities using which you can monitor end-to-end business processes, you can monitor integration between multiple SAP and non-SAP applications, performance monitoring, incident management etc.
SAP Cloud ALM Activation:
Prerequisites for requesting SAP Cloud ALM:
- S user with the role Edit Cloud Data on SAP for me
- Requester assigned to a respective customer.
Simplified Steps for requesting the SAP Cloud ALM:
1. Open https://support.sap.com/en/alm/sap-cloud-alm.html link. We will get page like below picture.
2. Then click on Request button and open the System and Provisioning dashboard on SAP for me.
3. After that Choose Start Provisioning.
4. After that you will get a Start New Provisioning Request like below
5. After that Start selecting the best suitable geographical region as per our requirements for our SAP Cloud ALM. We can refer link: https://help.sap.com/docs/link-disclaimer?site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sap.com%2Fabout%2Ftrust-center%2Fda... for the reference.
6. Now we will proceed with a creation of unique subdomain name. The subdomain name is used for the creation of an SAP Cloud ALM-specific subaccount in the SAP Cloud ALM-specific global account on SAP BTP. It's also part of the URL that is used to access SAP Cloud ALM.
https://<subdomain>.<region>.alm.cloud.sap
We need to make sure here is subdomain name should be unique.
7. After filling ups all the details, we will see window like below that our provisioning is triggered.
8 . After successful completion of provisioning triggering, SAP automatically prepares an SAP Cloud ALM tenant and creates a global account and a subaccount on SAP BTP for us. We will receive administrator authorization in all of them.
Finally completing all the above 8 steps, we will receive a Welcome Mail from SAP which is having the link to our newly created SAP Cloud ALM Tenant.
Reference Links: Requesting SAP Cloud ALM | SAP Help Portal
Legal Disclaimer for Links | SAP Help Portal
Summary: This white paper tells us exactly how we can utilize SAP Cloud ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) which is a cloud-based solution designed to support the entire lifecycle of SAP applications along with its different functionalities’ aspects. SAP Cloud ALM aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated platform for managing SAP landscapes in the cloud, promoting collaboration, and ensuring a smooth transition throughout the application lifecycle.
My Next blog will be on Required steps for SAP Cloud ALM. Stay tuned .….. 😊
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