It might still be bad but for them it works pretty well after they have learned it. As a counter they think my writing commands in a shell as an incredibly bad interface while I think it is very efficient because I've learned it.
One of pain points I was talking about. I'm not sure how a screen/module is developed in SAP, but there are huge inconsistencies in various interactions I come across. I am inclined to believe that the third party developer of the screen ought to do some wiring to, say enable hyperlinks, or do logical linked screens but somehow the QA is so bad that it's frustrating.
For example, in our company, when I search for a Material code, there is no way / menu / system to automatically list all Purchase Orders, that contain that Material Code, sorted by date / department. I am guessing that the 3rd party developer ought to have built that functionality, but then what would be the point? After so many years in the ERP domain, shouldn't SAP have an automated system to do that?
Input boxes behaving as buttons, tabs either changing behavior of UI components that are clearly drawn as being outside of the tab, or outright behaving as buttons that cause random actions, loads and loads of nested modal dialogs...
Nope. Forget about it! :-)
I think another problem with these horrific ERP's is that their tentacles are everywhere in the org.
Oracle EBS, my personal "favorite", runs PLM (product lifecycle management), inventory, order management, work orders, customer install base, finance, purchasing, AND PTO entry, F.M.L. !
We can't have nice things in, say, PLM because the whole damn system is tied up tight as "modules" in Oracle EBS. Any kind of change or request involves, at a minimum, harassing a overworked guy in India who is constantly dealing with battle-axe personalities in finance and order management.
Things that SHOULD be taken for granted, like being able to create a hyperlink to the bill of materials for any part number-- that's seriously impossible, it's like a freaking moon shot for them (or so they say).