The SAP R/3 4.7 version is the functional and technical advancement over classical Enterprise Resource Planning solution that provides customers flexibility, stability, new functions and new technology. It achieves these functions by facilitating connection to marketplaces, portals and other collaborative applications as well as enabling an easy evolution to mySAP.com. This new model of SAP R/3 is also more flexible to future upgrades.

The basic model of SAP R/3 Enterprise Release 4.7 consists of three parts:

• Web Application Server
• Enterprise Core
• Enterprise Extensions

The WAS 6.2C of SAP Enterprise integrates all the features of already existing SAP Basis and Web application server. In addition, it provides users with additional enhancements in the form of package concept, global parameterization with business configuration sets, Unicode compliance, and accessibility.

Enterprise Core (SAP Release 4.7) includes all R/3 4.6 functionality with limited functional enhancements and developments. On a go-forward basis, all legal changes and support packs, including stabilization and performance enhancements, will be applied at the Enterprise Core level. According to SAP, this Enterprise Core will remain stable until at least 2007. Therefore, no planned upgrades are necessary, just support packages.

Extensions use a technology called ‘package builder.’ The concept is similar to user exits. Extensions may be activated selectively and independently of each other or remain inactive. A new set of extensions will be released annually as the Enterprise Core remains stable. For example, Extension Set 1.10, available with R/3 Enterprise, will consist of extensions in FIN (FI/CO), HR, PLM, TRVL, and SCM (WM, PP, MM). If you take advantage of any Extension, the Extension would need to be activated in a similar manner and with the level of effort required to customize new functionality. This Extension philosophy decouples all development from the R/3 technical platform, allowing the SAP community more flexibility in taking advantage of enhanced functionality The Enterprise Extensions are the center of functional developments. These functionalities are selectively deployable and each functionality has its own release cycle.