SAP ECC

What is SAP R/3?

SAP R/3 is one of the early enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems developed by SAP. Launched in the early 1990s, "R" stands for Real-time data processing, and "3" refers to its three-tier architecture:

1️⃣ Database Layer – where data is stored

2️⃣ Application Layer – where processing takes place

3️⃣ Presentation Layer – where the user interacts with the system

SAP R/3 integrates key business processes such as Finance (FI), Sales and Distribution (SD), Materials Management (MM), Production Planning (PP), and more, into a single, unified system. It’s typically used by large enterprises due to its scalability and complex functionality.


🔹 How SAP R/3 Differs from SAP Business One (B1)

Target Audience
SAP R/3 : Large Enterprises / Multinational Corporations
SAP B1 : Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Architecture
SAP R/3 : 3-Tier (Database, Application, Presentation)
SAP B1 : 2-Tier (Client-Server Architecture)
Complexity
SAP R/3 : Highly complex and customizable
SAP B1 : Simplified, user-friendly, faster to deploy
Implementation Time
SAP R/3 : Longer, often 18+ months
SAP B1 : Quick, 1-6 months depending on complexity
Cost
SAP R/3 : High implementation and maintenance costs
SAP B1 : Cost-effective for smaller businesses
Integration
SAP R/3 : Extensive integration with other SAP and third-party systems
SAP B1 : Integrates easily with third-party apps and add-ons