Oracle Database vs. SAP Supply Chain Management

We migrated from NoSQL to an Oracle database. One of the reasons was robust backup and recovery options available in the Oracle database, which provide zero data loss. A transactional database like Oracle is a better fit for our use case than NoSQL. On a large scale, deployment was evaluated as a cheaper option than the NoSQL engine. This conclusion came even after considering Oracle license is expensive.

Incentivized

For retail, logistics and manufacturing industry business cases, I think SAP Supply Chain Management is very well suited. GATP backorder processing, forecasting, scheduling, product availability check, rule based ATP checks are specific scenarios in which it is well suited.

Incentivized

• Supports most of the Operating Systems like Unix, Linux and Windows Server.
• It works well in high load environment under intense parallel transactions setup.
• Highly reliable DBMS, especially RAC is very much reliable.
• Well managed and predictable release of security patches.
• We have highly scaled it from on-prem to a cloud cluster environment for our product.
• One of the best-performing DBMSs on Linux machines under test delivers high throughput (QPS).

Incentivized

• Availability of different statistical forecasting methods covering different patterns i.e. Trend, Cyclical, Seasonal and Irregularity.
• Different modules to cater to different business requirement ranging from long-term need (Demand Planning), Medium Term (Supply Planning), Short Term (Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling).
• Easy integration with core ERP for transfer of master and transaction data. Planning specific functions can be executed in SAP APO while execution can still be carried out in core ERP suite.

Incentivized

• The memory demand and management makes it impossible to run it in a container.
• It is hard to perform local unit testing with Oracle even using the personal edition (aggressive all the available memory grab for itself).
• Lack of built in database migrations (e.g. as Flyway).
• The need to install the Oracle client in addition to its drivers.
• The cost of running it, especially in the Cloud.
• Comes with very spartan community grade client/management tools whereas the commercial offerings tend to demand a premium price.

Incentivized

• When moving from non-SAP to SAP solution for Supply Chain Management-APO, it may take some time for business users to get use to, as solution provided in user interface sometime seems complex.
• For track and trace solution within SAP Supply Chain Management has scarcity of good resources especially when you want to track custom objects with complex use cases.

Incentivized

There is a lot of sunk cost in a product like Oracle 12c. It is doing a great job, it would not provide us much benefit to switch to another product even if it did the same thing due to the work involved in making such a switch. It would not be cost effective.

Incentivized

Many of the powerful options can be auto-configured but there are still many things to take into account at the moment of installing and configuring an Oracle Database, compared with SQL Server or other databases. At the same time, that extra complexity allows for detailed configuration and guarantees performance, scalability, availability and security.

Incentivized

1. I have very good experience with Oracle Database support team. Oracle support team has pool of talented Oracle Analyst resources in different regions. To name a few regions - EMEA, Asia, USA(EST, MST, PST), Australia. Their support staffs are very supportive, well trained, and customer focused. Whenever I open Oracle Sev1 SR(service request), I always get prompt update on my case timely. 2. Oracle has zoom call and chat session option linked to Oracle SR. Whenever you are in Oracle portal - you can chat with the Oracle Analyst who is working on your case. You can request for Oracle zoom call thru which you can share the your problem server screen in no time. This is very nice as it saves lot of time and energy in case you have to follow up with oracle support for your case. 3.Oracle has excellent knowledge base in which all the customer databases critical problems and their solutions are well documented. It is very easy to follow without consulting to support team at first.

Incentivized

Overall the implementation went very well and after that everything came out as expected - in terms of performance and scalability. People should always install and upgrade a stable version for production with the latest patch set updates, test properly as much as possible, and should have a backup plan if anything unexpected happens

Because of a rich user base and support for any critical issue, this is one of the best options to choose. In case the project has a TCO issue, it can compromise and choose Postgres as the best alternative. SQL server is also good and easy to code and maintain but performance is not as good as the Oracle

Incentivized

SAP provides an extensive product suite with its SCM and has functionalities to cater to different industries. Supply chain planning is divided into several steps, some of which are executed by components in SAP ECC and others by components in SAP SCM. It is possible and advisable to integrate these two systems and to use them together for planning. System integration takes place using the Core Interface (CIF). Even though As/400 remains a critical part of the computing infrastructure for many of the global organizations, ease of scalability, integration with cloud, advanced planning and analytics functionality and availability of strong talents make SAP SCM a better choice.

Incentivized

• Multiple applications can use the same database and still get high performance
• Licensing cost is still a concern compared to the other options available in the market that are very very inexpensive
• Almost a maintenance free database
• Oracle Grid makes life easy in terms of monitoring and managing the databases

Incentivized

• SAP Supply Chain Management provided suitable solution for promotion planning, forecasting, life cycle planning, VMI replenishment etc. Business team started seeing benefits of those in no time.
• For collaborative planning, business team had few dis-satisfactory points when compared with previous non-SAP solution.

Incentivized