SAP S/4HANA Cloud vs SAP Business ByDesign

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Our analysts compared SAP S/4HANA Cloud vs SAP Business ByDesign based on data from our 400+ point analysis of ERP Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

SAP Business ByDesign Software Tool

Product Basics

Running a growing business comes with enough challenges — managing core processes shouldn’t be one of them. That’s where SAP S/4HANA Cloud by SAP steps in, a modern cloud-based ERP solution designed to simplify tasks like finance, procurement, manufacturing and supply chain management.

It’s built for mid-sized to large enterprises, offering real-time insights and advanced analytics to keep things running smoothly. It also integrates advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning.

Top features include its user-friendly interface, customizable dashboards and industry-specific workflows. It beats traditional on-premise ERPs with faster deployment, lower maintenance and automatic updates.

Users love the flexibility and accessibility, helping them simplify daily operations. It offers various deployment options to meet different business requirements, including public cloud, private cloud, on-premise and hybrid models.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud offers a 14-day free trial at no cost that includes guided tours and sample data to help you navigate the system. Pricing depends on company size, number of users and selected modules. However, SAP S/4HANA Cloud hasn’t mentioned it directly on the website.

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SAP Business ByDesign is a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software designed to serve the needs of midsize businesses. It offers a comprehensive suite of services, including financial management, customer relationship management, supply chain management, and project management, among others. This software is particularly well-suited for businesses looking for a scalable solution that can grow with them, providing the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs. One of the key benefits of SAP Business ByDesign is its ability to offer real-time analytics and insights, enabling businesses to make informed decisions quickly. Additionally, its user-friendly interface and the fact that it's a cloud-based solution mean that it can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, which enhances operational efficiency. When compared to similar products, users often highlight its comprehensive feature set and the robust support provided by SAP. Pricing for SAP Business ByDesign typically follows a subscription model, based on the number of users and the scope of the services required, making it a flexible option for businesses looking to manage their expenses effectively.

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$40/User, Monthly
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$19/User, Monthly
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Automate Business Processes: Use intelligent automation, AI and robotic process automation (RPA) to handle routine tasks while optimizing others. This capability reduces manual work and lets employees focus on more valuable tasks. Our analysts give it a 100 for its intelligent capabilities.
  • Reinvent Your Business Model: Implement industry-specific solutions and best practices to introduce new strategies. Create customized products and explore innovative strategies to elevate how you do business.
  • Make Data-Driven Decisions: Access real-time data, embedded analytics and digital assistants to make informed decisions quickly. Engage with visual reports and use a context-aware digital assistant for a seamless, intuitive experience. Its standout capabilities earn it a perfect 100 for reporting.
  • Adapt: Address changes with real-time analysis and flexible tools for configuration, pricing, and quotes. These features help users quickly identify and manage changes. The system also notifies users of issues and suggests solutions. Our analysts rated SAP S/4HANA Cloud as the best solution in its category for procurement.
  • Accelerate User Adoption: Access a wide range of onboarding resources through openSAP and the SAP Learning Hub. These online hubs offer various learning formats to ensure users can easily understand and adopt the new system, no matter their preferred learning style.
  • Increase Efficiency: Equip employees with automation tools and real-time data insights to improve decision-making. This strategy reduces errors, saves time and money, and boosts productivity, driving better overall business performance.
  • Improve Usability: Built with SAP Fiori, the system is responsive, intuitive and designed to be simplistic. It provides a personalized and role-based user experience that can be accessed from any device. The system also supports 85% of functional requirements out-of-the-box so you have the features you need from the get go.
  • Centralize Data: In-memory computing stores all data in one unified system, avoiding fragmented databases. This centralization enables users to analyze large volumes of data at once and quickly spot trends, making data management more efficient.
  • Boost Time to Value: Start with guided implementation, quick technical setup and an intuitive interface. This helps the team to adopt the system quickly and deliver results faster.
  • Lower Expenses: Minimize total cost of ownership (TCO) with a subscription-based model. This cuts hardware, maintenance and upgrade expenses when compared to traditional on-premise systems.
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  • Enhanced Visibility: It contains real-time data analysis and visualization tools. For example, users can look at their finances minute-by-minute as transactions are processed and payments are made. Additionally, the project management feature will enable users to see how projects are progressing and allows them to look at attachments and information associated with individual project stages. 
  • Growth-Oriented: The configuration ability of this tool is relatively high, which allows it to transform as business needs grow and change. Modules and different software systems can also be integrated with the program to account for the company's specific workflows. ;
  • Increased Collaboration:  It supports multi-site and global operations, allowing for centralization of information and employees’ collaboration across different business centers and workflows. The project management tool increases collaboration as it enables visualization of project tasks, accessed by users with the appropriate permission levels. 
  • Improved Customer Experience: Browse through customer history to target marketing collateral and sales discussions to a specific user. Not only does this improve sales, but it also offers personalized and nuanced experiences to the customers, which makes them happy and improves retention rates. 
  • Demonstrated Opportunities for Improvement:  It provides insight into the areas in which a business could be streamlined or where money could be saved. For example, the procurement management tool lets users look at contracts and bids from suppliers and compare them to negotiate better deals and discover snags in the supply chain by visualizing real-time production information. 
  • Data Security It secures data through AES-256 encryption and SOC 2 compliance. Firewalls and 24/7 security monitoring can help deter hackers. Additionally, SAP’s data centers are ANSI/TIA EIA-942 Tier III facilities with bulletproof walls, meaning that the threat of unauthorized access to the system is further reduced. 
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  • Financial Management: The SAP S/4HANA financial and accounting management tool scored 100 in our assessment. Below are some key capabilities:
    • Run your business efficiently using built-in best practices, reporting and predictive analytics to maintain compliance and manage risks.
    • Analyze your revenue and costs in real time, allowing you to view data across various dimensions to understand profitability at any level of detail.
    • Automatically record financial transactions as they occur, ensuring reports are up-to-date while supporting multiple accounting principles for asset valuation.
    • Use KPIs to monitor and manage payables, receivables, and cash flow, giving you a real-time view of key financial metrics through a centralized dashboard.
    • Prioritize payments, track overdue invoices and identify high-risk customers to help your team manage costs more effectively and reduce the risk of bad debt.
    • Centralize tax and financial reporting, ensuring that all departments access the same consistent data, while guiding users through an interactive financial analysis process.
  • Sales Management: The SAP S/4HANA Sales module offers effective order and contract management, incentive and commission management, and support for sales teams. Its key capabilities include:
    • Manage the order-to-cash process efficiently across various revenue streams, including physical and digital goods, services, subscriptions, projects and bundles.
    • Oversee bundled orders from one place, tracking profit, cost and revenue for each order line item. Automate alerts for project changes, deadlines and expirations.
    • Equip sales reps to sell more effectively with a personalized home page, intuitive interface and quick access to tasks, applications and reports.
    • Create sales orders from unstructured data like PDF or image-based purchase orders using machine learning to extract information automatically.
    • Simplify incomplete sales order documentation with AI-powered autocomplete, which suggests missing fields based on historical data.
    • Automate invoicing by integrating billing and accounting, improving cash flow accuracy and simplifying accounts receivable, all while meeting local requirements.
  • Supply Chain Management: The SAP S/4HANA Supply Chain tool achieved an outstanding score of 100 in our assessment, surpassing Visibility ERP and Oracle Fusion Cloud. It offers users a range of capabilities, including:
    • Get real-time visibility into your supply chain with customizable dashboards. Track inventory, predict stock trends with AI and monitor deliveries instantly.
    • Automatically confirm and process customer orders, ensuring that they align with business priorities to meet customer expectations.
    • Help teams cut costs and reduce waste with easy-to-use mobile apps for packing goods more efficiently as part of the logistics process.
    • Shorten delivery times by making sure you have the right vehicles, optimized routes, and the right quantity of goods, saving both time and fuel.
  • Manufacturing Management: The SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing module is built on methods like lean control, continuous improvement and just-in-time replenishment. It can:
    • Optimize production by integrating processes smoothly, whether you're manufacturing to stock, order or custom specifications.
    • Meet customer demands by identifying and fixing capacity issues, bottlenecks or shortfalls early, using planning simulations to find the best solutions.
    • Balance supply and demand with real-time material requirements planning (MRP). The system immediately flags MRP exceptions and helps you resolve them quickly.
    • Ensure timely product delivery by tracking each container’s status with a real-time graphical Kanban board.
    • Deliver high-quality products by running quality inspections throughout the production process.
  • Procurement Management: The SAP S/4HANA Procurement module offers a scalable, value-driven and compliant process for managing operations. Its key features include:
    • Easily view and update all purchase requisitions at once. The Joule copilot simplifies how employees collaborate during procurement tasks.
    • Efficiently manage the entire procure-to-pay process, with real-time insights available at every stage.
    • Identify bottlenecks and cost-saving opportunities with a customizable dashboard that shows all key tasks. Automate workflows for purchase orders, contracts and invoices, and analyze them in detail.
    • Improve purchase contracts by setting up approval workflows. Track contract usage, plan renewals and negotiate long-term discounts with suppliers.
    • Predict delivery dates for purchase orders to improve planning and avoid production delays.
    • Make informed decisions by accessing real-time purchasing data without needing to open multiple reports.
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  • Financial Management: Leverage customer and supplier transaction data to look at the organization’s financial position in real-time. It supports multiple different currencies and reporting standards, ensuring that business conducted globally is accounted for and centralized. 
  • CRM 360 View: The CRM 360 view contains the ability to manage customers from the time they are prospects to their final purchase. The system uses historical purchase data to generate targeted advertisements. The customer history can be handed over to your sales team, who can use this information to refine and improve sales tactics.. 
  • Human Resources Management: The human resources tool allows employees to manage their timesheets and personal information. The program also gives HR professionals the ability to monitor purchase requests, complete payroll processing and manage time and labor. 
  • Project Management: The project management feature includes a project cost report that lets users calculate revenue and expenses on a project basis. It also enables users to analyze document flow through this feature’s integration with your supply chain. Documents such as customer invoices can be attached to projects to increase collaboration and visibility. 
  • Procurement Management: It centralizes supplier information, therefore enabling users to negotiate better deals and recognize inefficiencies. Users can also manage supplier contracts in the system. 
  • Supply Chain Management: Users can conduct demand planning in real-time using forecasting methods such as seasonal linear regression and moving average. The tool also contains outlier correction. Production management and supply network visibility are other helpful features of this tool. 
  • Localization: It allows users to operate globally. It centralizes information from different countries, companies and accounting systems to create a complete and accurate view of an organization’s state. 
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Product Ranking

#61

among all
ERP Software

#34

among all
ERP Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

85
74
99
92
84
41
70
90
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Inventory Management
Procurement
Supply Chain Management
Analytics and Reporting
Finance and Accounting
Finance and Accounting
Analytics and Reporting
Inventory Management
Project Management
Customer Relationship Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

SAP S/4HANA Cloud
SAP Business ByDesign
+ Add Product + Add Product
Analytics And Reporting Asset Management Customer Relationship Management Finance And Accounting Human Resource Management Inventory Management Manufacturing Order Management Procurement Project Management Service Management Supply Chain Management Warehouse Management 99 84 70 99 87 100 92 92 100 91 65 100 83 92 41 90 96 66 91 58 83 88 91 78 64 66 0 25 50 75 100
100%
0%
0%
88%
6%
6%
86%
0%
14%
43%
0%
57%
73%
0%
27%
91%
0%
9%
100%
0%
0%
96%
0%
4%
75%
17%
8%
67%
0%
33%
100%
0%
0%
91%
0%
9%
94%
0%
6%
56%
6%
38%
92%
0%
8%
83%
0%
17%
100%
0%
0%
90%
0%
10%
82%
0%
18%
91%
0%
9%
67%
0%
33%
78%
0%
22%
100%
0%
0%
67%
0%
33%
82%
0%
18%
59%
14%
27%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

86%
0%
14%
64%
0%
36%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 2815 reviews
Great User Sentiment 137 reviews
87%
of users recommend this product

SAP S/4HANA Cloud has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 87% when considering 2815 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

81%
of users recommend this product

SAP Business ByDesign has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 81% when considering 137 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

n/a
4.7 (14)
4.5 (730)
3.4 (38)
4.3 (338)
4.2 (24)
4.2 (388)
4.0 (22)
4.3 (1359)
4.3 (39)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated SAP S/4HANA Cloud and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Finance and Accounting, Procurement and Supply Chain Management.

Finance and Accounting Award
Procurement Award
Supply Chain Management Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Real-Time Inventory Visibility: It optimizes stock levels and avoids stockouts with instant inventory updates, reducing carrying costs and boosting customer satisfaction.
Purchase Order Accuracy: Some users say automating purchase order generation based on real-time inventory and demand has minimized errors in procurement.
Production Planning: It refines production schedules and resource allocation with real-time data insights from connected machines and sensors, increasing efficiency and output.
Financial Reporting: Many users appreciate the ability to generate accurate and timely financial reports with automated data consolidation from all departments.
Sales Team Productivity: It gives the sales team the ability to access customer data and manage orders directly from mobile devices. This increases overall productivity and works efficiently from anywhere.
Automatic Updates: Users say that SAP manages regular updates and maintenance, ensuring up-to-date features and security patches without the need for external resources.
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User-Interface: The solution has an intuitive user interface to facilitate understanding of the basic functions and navigate through the system with ease, according to 71% of users.
Reporting: According to 100% of users who reviewed this pro, it has advanced capabilities to create dynamic reports. Visualizations depict KPIs and other critical business metrics.
Documentation: About 100% of users who mentioned this pro said it has extensive documentation, with a user manual, videos, booklets and articles about the product’s use.
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Steep Learning Curve: It can be tough to transition from traditional ERPs to a new interface and cloud-based model. This could affect initial productivity, requiring user training to get fully up to speed.
Limited Customization: Users say the customization options are limited compared to on-premise systems. The ability to tailor the system for specific business needs is restricted.
Integration Challenges: Users find integrating with older, non-S/4HANA systems challenging. The process often requires additional tools and expertise, which can increase the complexity and overall costs.
Vendor Lock-in: Some users mention the reliance on SAP's cloud infrastructure makes it harder to switch to alternative solutions later. This dependency can reduce flexibility for future expansion.
High Subscription Costs: Some users say the cost of the software is a big barrier for small businesses since the initial implementation and ongoing subscription fees are relatively high.
Response Time: Customer support could be more responsive and efficient in addressing issues. Users mentioned that providing more thorough assistance would enhance the overall customer experience.
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Expensive: The solution is costly compared to other solutions available in the market, according to 100% of users.
Speed: According to 100% of users who reviewed this con, speed is a significant concern as it affects business productivity.
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As a free trial user of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, I can confidently say it excels in simplifying core business processes and offers top-notch capabilities. Our analysts give a perfect 100 for their Finance, Procurement and Supply Chain Management modules.SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a robust ERP solution widely used across various industries due to its flexible, modular design and comprehensive functionality. After trying it firsthand, I was surprised by the initial setup. It was smooth and intuitive, with sample data and guided tours provided to explore all modules easily.The main menu and search bar were easy to navigate without redirects. I also liked how user-friendly the interface felt, especially for a first-time user.The finance module stood out to me. It provides a centralized dashboard where you can store and generate all sorts of reports, and it's easy to keep track of payments and overdue invoices. For someone looking to optimize manufacturing, it offers real-time visibility into operations, making it easier to meet customer demands efficiently.That said, the free trial had its limitations. I couldn’t access all features or sample data completely, which made it harder to fully explore the system’s potential.That being said, our analysts rated the Finance, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management modules a perfect 100. Many recent reviews have echoed the same sentiment, praising its real-time inventory view and automated workflows. However, others mentioned the inability to customize workflows during the trial.Users also pointed out the system’s complexity, but I personally found it easier to navigate than expected with the sample data. Still, I’m unsure how it would perform with real-time data in an actual business setting.Pricing wasn’t listed directly on the site, but compared to competitors, SAP S/4HANA costs—including implementation, licensing and training—are higher, especially for smaller organizations with tighter budgets.Overall, SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a powerful tool with advanced capabilities, though its learning curve and customization limitations may be challenging for some. For larger organizations with the budget and resources to implement it fully, it can significantly improve operations and drive growth.

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SAP Business ByDesign is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that has garnered positive feedback from users for its comprehensive functionality and ease of use. The software provides a wide range of features, including financial management, customer relationship management (CRM), human resources (HR), supply chain management, and project management, all within a single, unified platform. Users appreciate the intuitive interface and the ability to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection. The cloud-based nature of the solution eliminates the need for on-premises infrastructure, reducing IT costs and complexity. While SAP Business ByDesign offers numerous strengths, some users have noted that the initial implementation process can be time-consuming and may require specialized expertise. Additionally, the software's extensive functionality can lead to a steeper learning curve for new users. However, SAP provides comprehensive training and support resources to assist with implementation and user adoption. Compared to other ERP solutions, SAP Business ByDesign stands out for its scalability and flexibility, allowing businesses to adapt the system to their specific needs as they grow. The software's ability to integrate with other business applications further enhances its value proposition. SAP Business ByDesign is particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that require a comprehensive ERP solution without the complexity and cost associated with larger enterprise systems. The software's scalability ensures that it can grow alongside the business, while its cloud-based delivery model provides flexibility and accessibility. Additionally, SAP Business ByDesign's industry-specific functionality caters to the unique needs of various sectors, making it a versatile choice for businesses across different industries.

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