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SAP CRM vs Salesforce Essentials comparison

Salesforce and SAP are both solutions in the CRM category. Salesforce is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.0, while SAP is ranked #3 with an average rating of 7.6. Salesforce holds a 0.4% mindshare in CRM, compared to SAP’s 9.6% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Salesforce users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of SAP users who would recommend it.
Salesforce Essentials
Read 14 Salesforce Essentials reviews
  • 170 Views
  • 68 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
SAP CRM
Read 44 SAP CRM reviews
  • 3,525 Views
  • 1,984 Comparison Views
84% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

SAP CRM and Salesforce Essentials are two CRM solutions competing for dominance in the business market. Salesforce Essentials seems to have the upper hand due to its cloud-based features and ease of deployment, offering flexibility and scalability that attract companies with these needs.

Features: SAP CRM excels in lead management, forecasting analytics, and sales reporting, offering deep customer insights with ERP integration. It supports extensive customization and scalability. Salesforce Essentials provides integrated Sales and Service Cloud capabilities, focusing on customer engagement and AI-driven segmentation, offering ease of use and proactive management tools.

Room for Improvement: SAP CRM users note the need for better user-friendliness, interface design, and performance speed improvements due to its technical complexity. Salesforce Essentials could benefit from simplifying its UI and enhancing customization options for diverse user needs, alongside optimized mobile solutions.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SAP CRM is utilized in hybrid and on-premises setups with variability in support based on partners, while its public cloud option is less common. Salesforce Essentials is preferred for public cloud deployment, offering straightforward customer service and a responsive support structure, though third-party customizations can be pricey.

Pricing and ROI: SAP CRM is priced higher due to its robust features and integration capabilities, which may not suit smaller businesses. It uses a licensing and annual fee structure. Salesforce Essentials, while considered costly, offers better fits for businesses with ample budgets. Both solutions can deliver ROI over several years, depending on enterprise scale and deployment strategies.

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Buyer's Guide
SAP CRM vs. Salesforce Essentials
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
7.9
Salesforce Essentials offers an efficient, user-friendly platform that accelerates sales, aids teams, and automates processes for quick returns.
Sentiment score
6.6
Sales and revenue increased; operational efficiency justifies costs, but Salesforce suits large organizations more than smaller ones long-term.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
8.0
Salesforce Essentials is praised for fast, efficient support and reliable service uptime, enhancing user satisfaction and operational stability.
Sentiment score
7.0
Customer service is responsive and reliable, with 24/7 support, although customization and response times can vary.
Their service and uptime is phenomenal.
Salesforce Essentials has excellent customer service.
For more quotes and insights, download the Salesforce Essentials report
I am satisfied with their response time and quality.
For more quotes and insights, download the SAP CRM report
AA
GS
FA
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
Salesforce Essentials is highly scalable, supporting enterprise-level needs with flexibility, although some report connectivity and enhancement dependency issues.
Sentiment score
8.1
SAP CRM excels in scalability, efficiently supporting numerous users and large data volumes while integrating various business functions.
It is one of the most scalable systems available.
For more quotes and insights, download the Salesforce Essentials report
We handle a huge amount of data in our CRM without any problems.
For more quotes and insights, download the SAP CRM report
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
Salesforce Essentials offers stable performance, smooth SAP integration, minor bugs, and reliable uptime, ensuring minimal operational disruptions for users.
Sentiment score
8.1
SAP CRM is stable and reliable, with occasional issues, but generally offers smooth operation and minimal downtime.
Salesforce Essentials has proven stable, with no downtime that affects my work.
For more quotes and insights, download the Salesforce Essentials report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the SAP CRM report
 

Room For Improvement

Salesforce Essentials needs better integration, intuitive UI, competitive pricing, simplified automation, enhanced connectivity, and improved language support.
SAP CRM requires UI enhancements, better integration, real-time analytics, increased flexibility, and modern tech adoption for future growth.
Instead of requiring users to think about system navigation and clicking procedures, they can simply follow a workflow that guides them through the process.
There are other competitors, like Zoho CRM, that offer similar features at a lower cost.
For more quotes and insights, download the Salesforce Essentials report
I am happy with SAP CRM because whenever we have requirements for changes or customization as per our needs, we get them, and the downtime is minimal.
For more quotes and insights, download the SAP CRM report
AA
GS
FA
 

Setup Cost

Salesforce Essentials is costly, but offers value through flexibility and add-ons, despite complex payment options and operational expenses.
SAP CRM is costly, targeting large enterprises, with high setup costs but competitive features; price cuts could increase appeal.
The cost of running Salesforce Essentials is significant.
The costs associated with Salesforce Essentials are substantial, which is a drawback compared to competitors who offer similar services for less.
For more quotes and insights, download the Salesforce Essentials report
SAP CRM is not suitable for small companies because of the cost.
For more quotes and insights, download the SAP CRM report
AA
GS
FA
 

Valuable Features

Salesforce Essentials offers cloud deployment, customization, AI, and mobile support, benefiting process optimization and data integration despite high costs.
SAP CRM provides customizable reporting, seamless ERP integration, real-time data, enhancing customer management and improving business processes globally.
It is very customizable to specific needs.
Salesforce Essentials is excellent because it is one of the most flexible CRMs available.
For more quotes and insights, download the Salesforce Essentials report
If there is any error in our machine, a log is automatically generated, and from SAP CRM, we can see that the machine has problems.
For more quotes and insights, download the SAP CRM report
AA
GS
FA
 

Categories and Ranking

Salesforce Essentials
Ranking in CRM
15th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
14
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SAP CRM
Ranking in CRM
3rd
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
44
Ranking in other categories
Local Government CRM (2nd), Marketing Management (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the CRM category, the mindshare of Salesforce Essentials is 0.4%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP CRM is 9.6%, down from 10.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
CRM
 

Featured Reviews

Srini-Dhanaraj - PeerSpot reviewer
Manages service requests and dispatches engineers to resolve issues
I work from home for a heater manufacturing company. They wanted to move away from their current SAP CRM system to Salesforce. There is a fulfillment process, which involves taking an order, delivering it, and providing service. Salesforce is used to manage the order-taking process. Once an order is taken, the backend system, SAP ERP, handles product manufacturing, delivery, and installation. After installation, the Service Cloud in Salesforce takes over for ongoing service management. Once your order is confirmed, integration with the SAP ERP backend will be seamless. The system takes the sales order from Salesforce and starts processing it for procurement, starting with creating a production order, manufacturing, and then delivery. Once the product is delivered, this information is passed back to Salesforce Service Cloud. In the Service Cloud, a service engineer receives a notification indicating that a product needs to be delivered to a specific location for installation. The engineer then inspects and installs the product at the designated site. SAP ERP manages the product manufacturing and delivery processes. After the product is delivered to the customer, Salesforce Service Cloud takes over. It manages service requests and dispatches engineers to resolve issues reported by customers. Service Cloud captures the information and creates an incident record when a customer reports a product fault. Engineers receive this information and promptly visit the client site to fix the issue. The solution is easy to implement. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
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ToniaSpight-Sokoya - PeerSpot reviewer
A CRM system that helps you automate and integrate your customer data and customer facing-activities: sales, marketing, service, and e-commerce
One area for improvement is the security model, especially regarding records management retention and the audit and legal holds. Since we're in the middle of a cloud digital transformation, it's essential to ensure the system flags documents properly according to global retention policies. We need to address bugs and make sure our system fully aligns with our procedures and policies. This is crucial to prevent breaches, especially in a time when breaches are becoming more common. For instance, my personal identity was compromised four months ago when my mortgage company had a breach, and I’m still working with the FTC to clean up the damage. In my work in mortgage and financial services, I’m focused on preventing this kind of issue for our consumers and clients.
Read full review
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
University
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Salesforce Essentials?
Salesforce provides the best they have with the current version. Most of the features we need are already there, and it's very easy to use.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Salesforce Essentials?
Salesforce Essentials is very expensive, but it delivers exceptional value. It is a good platform to have if you can afford it because it has numerous add-ons and modules. Anything that Salesforce ...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Salesforce Essentials?
We use a limited number of automated workflows in Salesforce Essentials. The workflows we implement are designed to make sales teams' lives easier when executing certain tasks. Instead of requiring...
See all answers
What do you like most about SAP CRM?
Getting the right information at the right time across different programs is important. These programs lack interaction between them. IPA is a good option to bring them together.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP CRM?
SAP CRM is not suitable for small companies because of the cost. It is suitable for medium and large enterprise companies.
See all answers
What needs improvement with SAP CRM?
Recently, the price of SAP CRM has increased, which is one concern. Another issue is that sometimes we experience slow performance. Reports in SAP CRM itself can become very slow. Other than that, ...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Salesforce Essentials
June 2025
Salesforce Essentials reportDownload Salesforce Essentials product report
Buyer's Guide
SAP CRM
June 2025
SAP CRM reportDownload SAP CRM product report
 

Overview

Salesforce Essentials is a cloud-based CRM tool for businesses seeking flexible, scalable, and customizable solutions to enhance sales and customer support processes.

Designed for seamless integration across multiple channels, Salesforce Essentials includes Sales and Service Cloud to simplify sales tasks and customer management. It enhances finance, credit, and quality processes with user-friendly AI capabilities and predictive analytics. Despite its strengths, there is room for improvement in SAP integration, interface simplicity, and report generation. Cost-effectiveness and support for diverse languages are also potential upgrade areas. Businesses use this CRM solution for lead management, opportunity tracking, and automating sales workflows, transitioning from paper-based methods to digital efficiency.

What are the essential features of Salesforce Essentials?
  • Scalability and Flexibility: Accommodates growth and customization needs.
  • Multiple Channel Integration: Enhances finance and quality processes.
  • User-Friendly: Easy navigation with AI capabilities.
  • Cloud Deployment: Includes Sales and Service Cloud features.
  • Predictive Analytics: Improves productivity and tracking.
  • Mobile App Support: Facilitates on-the-go access and management.
What benefits or ROI can users expect from Salesforce Essentials?
  • Improved Productivity: Automation features save time and streamline tasks.
  • Enhanced Customer Management: Centralizes interaction and data handling.
  • Ease of Transition: From manual to automated workflows.
  • Performance Monitoring: Standardizes processes for better oversight.

In the retail industry, businesses employ Salesforce Essentials for customer data management and transparency in order processing. Healthcare providers use it for patient engagement and streamlined communication. Financial services utilize it for billing management and compliance, harnessing automation tools for efficient data handling.

Salesforce

SAP CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management solution that helps businesses streamline their sales, marketing, and service processes. It offers a range of features including lead management, opportunity management, campaign management, and customer service management. With SAP CRM, businesses can effectively manage their customer interactions, improve customer satisfaction, and drive revenue growth. 

The solution integrates with other SAP modules, allowing for seamless data exchange and real-time insights. It also offers mobile access, enabling sales and service teams to access critical information on the go. 

SAP CRM is a powerful tool for businesses looking to enhance their customer relationships and drive business success.

SAP
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Brau Union Osterreich AG, Nu Skin Enterprises Inc., AOK Bundesverband, RAK Ceramics, NHS 24, Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters, FC Bayern Munchen AG, Tumi, The Kellogg Company, MVV Energie AG, Anglian Water Services, German Football Association (DFB), Nebraska Book Company Inc.
Buyer's Guide
SAP CRM vs. Salesforce Essentials
June 2025
Free Report: SAP CRM vs. Salesforce Essentials
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