Tilburg University gets the right SAP data at the right time

Time-consuming SAP system copies

At Tilburg University, SAP is at the heart of their systems; they run SAP for Finance, and SAP SuccessFactors for their HR systems. Once a year, they used full SAP system copies to copy relevant data to their QA and Development systems. This was extremely time-consuming; with post-processing tasks, it took them up to six weeks to complete. During one of the last refreshes, this process caused errors, and the new systems weren’t ready in time for testing HR support packs. Because the process took so much time, they undertook the testing over the Christmas and New Year period, which put a lot of pressure on employees. The university realised they had to make changes to improve this process for the future.

Optimised copying with DSM Client Sync

As part of their updated process, the university selected Client Sync™, part of the EPI-USE Labs’ Data Sync Manager™ (DSM) Suite, to copy clients. This process is now 252 times (or 99.6%) faster than the previous, and the university has the data they need to do testing.

The university also runs SAP Portfolio and Project Management (PPM) for their research projects, which has a special data model. They found that Client Sync was flexible enough to be adapted to their PPM installation, and works well with both FI and HCM data.

The HR team previously had to request a copy of SAP SuccessFactors six weeks in advance, but the Client Sync copy can be scheduled to run on the same day, which means the data is fully refreshed between the SAP ERP system and the SAP SuccessFactors systems.

Accurate data for testing

The reduction in post-processing time has been a valuable time saver for the university; and they found the product itself very intuitive and easy to use. The university now has much more up-to-date test data in their systems for accurate testing of new developments in their SAP systems.

About Tilburg University

Tilburg University, located in the Netherlands, is a modern, internationally-oriented institution with a strong focus on social sciences. Founded in 1927, the university has over 19,000 students from more than 120 countries. Tilburg University is particularly renowned for its programmes and research in economics, business, law, social and behavioural sciences, humanities, and theology.

The university emphasises understanding society and tackling complex societal issues through multidisciplinary approaches. It holds high positions in international rankings, especially in fields like business, economics, and law. Beyond academics, Tilburg University aims to develop students into critical thinkers with strong moral character, prepared to contribute meaningfully to society.