SAP ERP vs SAP S/4HANA comparison

SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA are both solutions in the ERP category. SAP ERP is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.6, while SAP S/4HANA is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.5. SAP ERP holds a 9.0% mindshare in ERP, compared to SAP S/4HANA’s 5.8% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of SAP ERP users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of SAP S/4HANA users who would recommend it.

SAP ERP

Read 108 SAP ERP reviews

12,562 Views
10,929 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

SAP S/4HANA

Read 126 SAP S/4HANA reviews

11,741 Views
10,449 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

SAP ERP

SAP S/4HANA

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA both cater to enterprise resource planning needs, occupying a competitive space in the SAP ecosystem. SAP S/4HANA appears to have a competitive edge due to its modern architecture and real-time analytics, offering improved efficiencies and performance.

Features: SAP ERP is valued for its comprehensive capabilities in finance, inventory management, and production planning, along with the ability to customize flexible workflows and integrate seamlessly across modules. SAP S/4HANA enhances these functions through HANA's in-memory processing, enabling real-time analytics, supporting IoT and AI technologies, and featuring a modern, user-friendly interface.

Room for Improvement: SAP ERP could benefit from greater customization flexibility, better third-party integration, and a more intuitive user interface. SAP S/4HANA, while offering advanced features, faces challenges related to high resource requirements and complex migration from legacy systems, with an emphasis on significant training needs for staff.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SAP ERP is primarily an on-premises solution with varied technical support quality, noted for a complex setup. SAP S/4HANA provides flexible deployment options, including cloud environments, facilitating agile implementation and superior scalability, generally receiving higher ratings for customer service, though users still call for quicker response times.

Pricing and ROI: Both SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA are identified as high-cost investments, justified by their extensive feature sets. SAP ERP is considered costly for smaller businesses due to licensing and maintenance fees. Conversely, SAP S/4HANA offers long-term ROI advantages through enhanced operational efficiencies and quicker insights, although initial investment costs are substantial. Both platforms deliver significant ROI over time, especially S/4HANA due to its modern capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed SAP ERP vs. SAP S/4HANA Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

SAP ERP vs. SAP S/4HANA

April 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 892,776 peers since 2012

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

3.8

SAP ERP enhances efficiency and saves time, offering varied ROI timelines through improved inventory management, accountability, and automation.

Sentiment score

4.5

SAP S/4HANA delivers positive ROI, particularly for larger companies, enhancing efficiencies and competitive advantages despite initial costs.

SAP ERP did provide value for money.

Henrik Rabiega

CIO at Vortella

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP ERP report

It's not a matter of the solution; it's a matter of the clients and the approach that we follow.

Reviewer2705517

Works at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees

If we can maximize that, we can get the full price benefit of the solution.

Effendy Mohamed

Principal Instrument and Control at PETRONAS

We have observed a good return on investment, with calculations based on a five-year ROI plan.

JobiJ

Account executive at Cisco

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP S/4HANA report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

6.8

Users find SAP ERP customer service satisfactory, appreciating quick responses but suggesting improvements in knowledge and technical efficiency.

Sentiment score

6.2

SAP S/4HANA support quality varies by region, with mixed response times and varied user satisfaction, often requiring escalation.

SAP technical support is very good.

VijayaraguramanRajaram

Consultant at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees

It was very quick, and we didn't have many tickets, but every time any issues arose, they were very quickly resolved.

Henrik Rabiega

CIO at Vortella

It is not easy to justify something as high priority unless the system is completely down.

Achmad Dimyati

IT Service Management Team Lead at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP ERP report

A traditional challenge with SAP support is that SAP teams only support the standard functions, which are part of the product.

Deepak Madhavan

Delivery Head- IT Shared Services at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Establishing the right channels was a challenge, as BTP was new to everyone, including our SAP contacts.

Sagar Godbole

Chief Executive Officer at LogicalDNA Solutions

I would rate the support a ten because there are a lot of knowledge-based articles published, and most of them are available online.

Ramesh Namburi

Program Director at KloudData Inc.

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP S/4HANA report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.1

SAP ERP is praised for scalability by large companies, supporting growth and integration, despite initial challenges.

Sentiment score

7.7

SAP S/4HANA offers scalability and flexibility for medium to large enterprises, though pricing may challenge smaller entities.

It is scalable when moving from one version to another or adding additional components like warehouse management.

VijayaraguramanRajaram

Consultant at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees

The scalability of SAP ERP is excellent.

Achmad Dimyati

IT Service Management Team Lead at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP ERP report

SAP S/4HANA scales exceptionally well.

Girish Ogirala

Enterprise Architect at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

It is very easy to scale within businesses, especially when a new business falls within the range.

Chijindu Oziogu

Project accountant at Montego Upstream Services Limited

Scalability is a key strength of SAP, especially for HANA, compared to all the other ERPs.

Deepak Madhavan

Delivery Head- IT Shared Services at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP S/4HANA report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.2

SAP ERP is stable and reliable, with minimal issues, satisfactory performance, and regular updates enhancing its reputation.

Sentiment score

7.7

SAP S/4HANA is stable, with high user ratings; minor issues are often due to implementation or environmental factors.

Production processes would be on hold without stability, so it is quite important that the software is very stable.

Henrik Rabiega

CIO at Vortella

Stability-wise, SAP ERP is the best product among others.

VijayaraguramanRajaram

Consultant at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP ERP report

The SAP HANA system is not very easy to unlock, and it's something strange as, compared to other databases, when transaction logs are full, you stop the system, run the transaction log backups, and then restart.

reviewer2090781

Associate Partner - SAP Solution Architect and MDG expert at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Not very often, but it can happen, especially with user load; if many people use the system at the same time, there might be issues depending on various factors.

Umit Sengul

Enterprise Architect at E.ON

I rate the stability of SAP S_4HANA as fairly stable because we have never experienced any downtime from SAP, and the performance is good.

Zahid Mashhood

Head of IT at Genix Pharma (Private) Limited

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP S/4HANA report

Room For Improvement

SAP ERP needs modernization with improved UI/UX, cost reduction, easier integration, and better support for smaller businesses.

SAP S/4HANA needs improved user experience, integration, cost, AI, documentation, consolidation, mobile compatibility, features, analytics, customization, and pricing.

SAP ERP could improve by integrating additional components such as digital signatures and barcoding.

VijayaraguramanRajaram

Consultant at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees

SAP recently implemented Databricks, and they started investing significantly in the analytic environment.

Achmad Dimyati

IT Service Management Team Lead at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

I believe that SAP ERP needs to include AI functionality now, as I think it would be a significant change that could improve and enhance the product.

Ken Kuo

Manager at Innatech

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP ERP report

Organizations face challenges like adapting to new technologies rapidly, and whether customers are early or late adopters influences their experience.

reviewer1333659

Managing Director at a recruiting/HR firm with 501-1,000 employees

I can perform a lot of data manipulation directly on SAP using S-One, without having to resort to Excel, unlike with View ID.

Chijindu Oziogu

Project accountant at Montego Upstream Services Limited

The performance of the SAP interface could be improved.

reviewer2090781

Associate Partner - SAP Solution Architect and MDG expert at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP S/4HANA report

Setup Cost

SAP ERP offers comprehensive features but is costly, particularly for SMEs, with high licensing and implementation expenses.

SAP S/4HANA, perceived as expensive, offers robust capabilities appealing to large enterprises, with variable costs and complex licensing.

Small and medium companies can struggle with the pricing.

Henrik Rabiega

CIO at Vortella

The pricing for SAP ERP is medium but slightly on the higher side.

VijayaraguramanRajaram

Consultant at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP ERP report

It's higher compared to similar peer solutions.

JobiJ

Account executive at Cisco

Most users or IT professionals typically criticize the high price of SAP license costs.

Umit Sengul

Enterprise Architect at E.ON

It's not easy to have a clear understanding of the price and the value, especially if I talk about the business transaction platform.

reviewer2090781

Associate Partner - SAP Solution Architect and MDG expert at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP S/4HANA report

Valuable Features

SAP ERP provides integrated, customizable modules with real-time data, ideal for large enterprises needing scalability, security, and efficiency.

SAP S/4HANA offers an intuitive interface, seamless integration, real-time data access, and industry-specific tools enhancing efficiency and scalability.

The consistent integrations and real-time data analytics in SAP ERP significantly enhance the decision-making process by facilitating follow-ups and action points.

VijayaraguramanRajaram

Consultant at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees

SAP ERP has impacted our organization positively because it is highly customizable to build any process we have in our companies and to write programs.

Henrik Rabiega

CIO at Vortella

SAP ERP is particularly strong in manufacturing, from production planning to plant maintenance, then Material Management itself, and managing warehouse management and inventory control.

Achmad Dimyati

IT Service Management Team Lead at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP ERP report

It enables the posting of transactions and allows us to see the impact across various application scenarios, providing significant benefits for business.

Girish Ogirala

Enterprise Architect at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The way SAP has helped our customers is by establishing a discipline where industry-specific operations and SAP's standard processes work hand in hand, improving resource utilization, material movement control, and cost control.

Sagar Godbole

Chief Executive Officer at LogicalDNA Solutions

The insights given help us make strategic decisions.

reviewer1575774

Technical Lead at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SAP S/4HANA report

Categories and Ranking

SAP ERP

Ranking in ERP

2nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

108

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SAP S/4HANA

Ranking in ERP

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

126

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the ERP category, the mindshare of SAP ERP is 9.0%, down from 17.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP S/4HANA is 5.8%, down from 11.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

ERP Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SAP S/4HANA	5.8%
SAP ERP	9.0%
Other	85.2%

ERP

Featured Reviews

Achmad Dimyati

IT Service Management Team Lead at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Long-term adaptation and evolution meets changing technology trends

SAP ERP is not really real-time. We use the HANA database which is supposed to be memory data in memory, but we are still not very happy. It is supposed to be real-time and come very quickly, but in reality, it still takes time to run. That is why we use BW of SAP, Business Objects, and now we have moved to the Analytic Cloud where we start using predictive AI. SAP recently implemented Databricks, and they started investing significantly in the analytic environment. SAP ERP has been left behind as they moved to S/4HANA with the HANA database. They restructured the whole table structure of SAP ERP, introduced simple finance, simple logistics, and moved HR to SuccessFactors. They have the BTP layer where they manage everything from integration to master data management. The challenge with SAP is that they move very fast to different products and buy different products. It requires significant investment and many skills to catch up because all of these have different sets of technology. The fundamental has changed differently. It is not monolithic anymore but different products under one name, SAP. You have to buy it model by model for additional models. Products such as SuccessFactors, Ariba for procure to pay, Concur for travel, and Facility Management use totally different technology. They try to integrate with each other, but it remains a challenge for SAP to make them have the same management, technology, and operational approach.

Read full review

MuhammadNadeem3

Manager Sap at PTCL

Integrated workflows have streamlined hiring, purchasing, and daily operations across departments

Areas of SAP S_4HANA that could be improved or enhanced include the evolving aspects of the application over time. There are other SAP applications such as SuccessFactors and Ariba that integrate with SAP S_4HANA. In recent years, SAP introduced an addition called RISE with SAP, which allows companies to use cloud solutions instead of requiring their own premises hardware. SAP partners with cloud providers such as Azure, Amazon, and Google, assisting companies in migrating from hardware to cloud solutions. A challenge that arises is the lack of immediate expertise when raising tickets for problem resolution with SAP, leading to delays. We have asked SAP to improve this area to provide users with better benefits from the cloud solution, as we encounter this issue frequently.

Read full review

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which ERP solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

892,776 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

15%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

14%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	31
Large Enterprise	78

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	51
Midsize Enterprise	26
Large Enterprise	54

Questions from the Community

Is Anaplan better than SAP ERP?

There are different aspects of both Anaplan and SAP ERP that I like and dislike. Anaplan improves forecast accuracy and drives up the quality of analytics. Rather than spending all of their time co...

See all answers

What needs improvement with SAP ERP?

SAP ERP logged out in slightly less time than expected. Updates to the SAP UI would be useful.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SAP ERP?

I have been using SAP ERP for posting journal entries and analyzing the P&Ls and the financial close. By posting in FBL3N in SAP ERP, I can verify my journals and review how they were posted. I...

See all answers

Are there any advantages of SAP S4 HANA over SAP Business One (SAP B1) apart from the cost?

SaP Business One is a complete solution for business management. The software applications are broad, ranging from accounting to project management and human resources. It is very versatile and com...

See all answers

What needs improvement with SAP S4HANA?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SAP S4HANA?

My experience with SAP S_4HANA involves working on several projects helping customers prepare their transition from ECC to SAP S_4HANA. My role was to study the gap and technical feasibility by exe...

See all answers

Comparisons

IFS Cloud Platform vs SAP ERP

Compared 5% of the time

Oracle E-Business Suite vs SAP ERP

Compared 5% of the time

Infor M3 vs SAP ERP

Compared 4% of the time

Microsoft Dynamics AX vs SAP ERP

Compared 4% of the time

Anaplan vs SAP ERP

Compared 3% of the time

More SAP ERP Competitors

Oracle E-Business Suite vs SAP S/4HANA

Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs SAP S/4HANA

Compared 5% of the time

SAP S/4HANA Cloud vs SAP S/4HANA

Compared 4% of the time

Odoo vs SAP S/4HANA

Compared 4% of the time

Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP vs SAP S/4HANA

Compared 4% of the time

More SAP S/4HANA Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

SAP ERP

April 2026

Download SAP ERP product report

Buyer's Guide

SAP S/4HANA

April 2026

Download SAP S/4HANA product report

Also Known As

No data available

SAP S4HANA

Overview

SAP ERP integrates modules like finance, supply chain, and material management, delivering seamless operations and real-time analytics. Its customization, scalability, and robust security make it ideal for large enterprises across different industries, enhancing decision-making and business efficiency.

SAP ERP is a comprehensive tool designed to streamline enterprise operations across finance, procurement, HR, sales, logistics, and manufacturing. Known for its adaptability and user-friendly interface, it supports real-time data analytics, crucial for informed decision-making. Its scalability ensures suitability for large organizations, while its reliable security measures protect data integrity. Despite its complexity and high initial costs, SAP ERP provides extensive customization options, aligning with specific business practices and enabling enhanced productivity. However, improvements are needed in integration with other systems and reporting features.

What are the key features of SAP ERP?

Module Integration: Seamless connectivity across finance, material management, and supply chain.
Real-Time Analytics: Provides up-to-date data for better decision-making.
Customizable Interface: Adapts to specific business needs for efficient processes.
Scalable Solution: Suitable for growing enterprises with diverse requirements.
Robust Security: Ensures data integrity with centralized measures.

What benefits or ROI should businesses look for when evaluating SAP ERP?

Improved Efficiency: Streamlined business processes enhance productivity.
Data Consistency: Centralized data supports accurate business insights.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensures adherence to industry standards.
Enhanced Decision-Making: Real-time analytics provide crucial information.
Scalability: Adaptation to growing business demands and requirements.

SAP ERP is utilized in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and utilities to integrate complex enterprise functions. It aids in production planning, financial control, and maintaining compliance with regulations. Its capability to align with distinct business requirements enables industries to achieve greater operational efficiency.

SAP

SAP S/4HANA is an advanced ERP system utilizing in-memory computing, offering real-time analytics and seamless integration. Its user-centric Fiori interface simplifies operations, making it ideal for diverse business needs in finance, logistics, and high-performance data management.

SAP S/4HANA stands out for its in-memory database technology and integrated analytics, which provide organizations with real-time access to data, enhancing business efficiency. It simplifies complex processes through prebuilt scenarios and allows robust customization to fit specific industry needs. The platform is crucial for high-performance data management and decision-making across sectors like finance and logistics, integrating different departments to support digital transformation initiatives. It offers both cloud and on-premise deployment options, catering to large-scale enterprises seeking flexibility, scalability, and improved operational efficiency.

What are the key features of SAP S/4HANA?

In-Memory Database: Enables real-time analytics and data processing.
Seamless Module Integration: Allows departments to work cohesively across the platform.
User-Friendly Fiori Interface: Enhances the overall user experience with intuitive design.
Integrated Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights for better business decisions.
Customization Options: Offers flexibility to tailor processes to specific business needs.

What benefits or ROI should be reviewed?

Improved Efficiency: Real-time data access helps streamline operations.
Enhanced Decision-Making: Integrated analytics provide actionable insights.
Scalability: Supports growth with flexible deployment options.
Cross-Department Integration: Facilitates collaboration across different business functions.
Cost-Benefit Balance: Evaluate setup costs vs. operational improvements.

In industries like finance, supply chain, and manufacturing, SAP S/4HANA supports business processes by integrating core functions and enabling real-time analytics. It enhances financial management, inventory control, and purchasing decisions, making it popular among large-scale users in retail and pharmaceuticals.

SAP

Sample Customers

B&G Manufacturing, Unilever, Life is good Inc., Joy Global Inc., City of Cape Town, Bhopal Municipal, Corporation (BMC), adidas Group, Butcher & Packer Supply Company, Franklin Valve L.P., Evoshield, Prime Meats, a Norsan Group company, EMC Corporation, Varian Medical Systems Inc., FC Bayern Mªnchen AG, AkzoNobel Chemicals B.V., T¾V Rheinland, Pacific Drilling S.A., Fire & Rescue New South Wales, University of Amsterdam, Pa_alon S.A.

Nestle, O.C. Tanner, Sabre, New York Life Insurance Co., MEMEBOX, Siemens AG.

Buyer's Guide

SAP ERP vs. SAP S/4HANA

April 2026

Free Report: SAP ERP vs. SAP S/4HANA

Find out what your peers are saying about SAP ERP vs. SAP S/4HANA and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

892,776 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our SAP ERP vs. SAP S/4HANA report.

See our list of best ERP vendors.

We monitor all ERP reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.