This whitepaper discusses the concepts of how SAP is structured to support the
management and utilization of business documents and the need for transactions and
workflows to have "in-process" access to supporting documents. SAP uses object-
based content management, linking each document to specific transactions and
records. Users access content from transaction screens, (not a File explorer view) and
all contextual information about a document is referenced in the transaction screen
itself.

Setting up a system to support this capability can be called "content enabling" the SAP
ERP System (ECC and S/4 HANA, S/4 RISE), as the ERP systems do not come with
their own native ECM. As such, SAP provides a generic document services framework
which enables external ECM systems to support these activities. This SAP framework is
called ArchiveLink; partner solutions receive formal SAP ArchiveLink certifications to
assure customers they can rely on these external ECM systems in running their
business. Traditionally, legacy ECM systems like Open Text, Documentum, and FileNet
were used to manage and store (archive) these documents.

Now all the content services capability native to the Hyperscalers (Microsoft Azure,
Google Cloud and AWS) can be used for SAP ECM content services as an alternative
to the legacy ECMs and all the infrastructure they require, due to their being originally
developed for on-premise deployments.
‍
For example, IntelliDocX AL-ACS for Azure & SAP (ArchiveLink certified) is designed
to “Content Enable” SAP processes by leveraging Azure’s Content Management
system, SharePoint and Blobs along with Azure’s range of content processing services.
Plus Azure AI driven document intelligent capabilities are provided the SAP content. All
in a serverless cloud native architecture as enabled by AL-ACS, which provides
unbounded options to extend and enhance SAP ERP content management and
processing.
‍
This future forward approach supports business driven AI enabled content
management, all while delivering a compelling, more intelligent and productive
experience for both inside-SAP users and the Azure/O365 users.
‍
By default, unstructured content is stored in the transactional database or in-memory
(S/4 HANA) if no external content management facility is implemented. As enterprises
move their SAP ERP to the cloud and/or undertake SAP RISE migration initiatives it is
especially imperative to take their business content to the cloud also.
‍
Keep exploring these insights by getting the full whitepaper which explains the as-is
details behind SAP ECM while considering the business potential and power of
intelligent SAP Content Management!