SAP Big YUGE Picture

SAP somewhat quietly published The Big Picture diagram, self-described as “Capabilities Reference Architecture for Best SAP S/4HANA Transformation.”

Considering the rapid growth of SAP’s offerings and constant renaming, a “big picture” is long overdue. Some folks on LinkedIn were rightly excited about it. The peanut gallery reactions were more snarky, including a humorous commentary from yours truly.

Generally, I’m a big fan of diagrams: a picture is worth a thousand words. This one though is not only “designed by a committee,” but it also has the SAP marketing department’s filthy paw prints all over it. “Best Custom Business AI,” “Best Business Data,” “Best Integration”- the list goes on.

Here’s one of my favorite USSR anecdotes.

A kindergarten teacher asks the children: “In which country do kids have the best toys?”
Children exclaim excitedly: “In the Soviet Union!”
The teacher asks: “In which country do kids have the best candy?”
Children: “In the Soviet Union!!!”
Suddenly, the teacher hears a little boy, Vova, crying.
“Vova, why are you crying?”
Vova sobs: “I want to live in the Soviet Uuuuuunion!!!”

This diagram is kind of like that. Oh boy, do I want to live in the SAP Best McBestface world! In the USSR, we simply had no idea what was going on elsewhere and had nothing to compare to. But I’m really not sure whom The Big Picture committee is trying to kid. In 2025, most SAP professionals don’t live behind the Iron Curtain of a totalitarian society (yet). Just claiming something is “best” is not how it works. JP