SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition Reviews

“Removes a lot of trouble!

Pros

The cloud based setup removes a lot of the trouble around updates and ongoing maintenance. Scaling is also very convenient and bringing a new entity on board is quite simple. Integration across the SAP ecosystem works really well too!

Cons

Customization options are somewhat limited. Connecting it with non SAP products can take extra effort and performance may occasionally become a concern when handling larger transaction volumes.

“better customization offered

Pros

Over time this platform has become much more flexible and can be customized better to the needs of different companies. The cloud version is also a big advantage because it helps businesses reduce costs.

Cons

Moving from an on premise setup to the cloud can be very complicated mainly because of how complex the customizations are. In some cases that makes companies consider starting over in the cloud and only doing a partial migration from the on premise environment.

“handy reporting in one place

Pros

Having all the reporting in one place makes the system very convenient to use. Even though my company operates in a heavily customized environment I was still usually able to track down the reports I needed whether through the built in search or by using Google or AI tools to point me in the right direction.

Cons

No cons to mention.

“Unified reporting

Pros

Bringing finance, controlling and logistics data together in a single table makes reporting much simpler and removes the need for constant reconciliation.

Cons

The public cloud edition is fairly standardized so it doesn't offer as much flexibility for very specific business processes as an on premise setup would.

“impressive data visualization

Pros

Something that really stands out for me is the softwares impressive data visualization which makes analytics and reporting much faster to handle. It also does a very good job of processing large volumes of data in real time without slowing things down.

Cons

Biggest hurdle is the pricing when it comes to installation. It's quite expensive and not really affordable for small organizations and businesses.

“flexible cloud with strong inventory

Pros

Its flexibility really caught my attention and the platfom has given us solid value for the money! On top of that its inventory management capabilities have been especially impressive and have added a lot to the overall experience.

Cons

Overall it has been performing very well for us and so I do not have any complaints about its features at this point.

“Overly complex workflow

Pros

At the end of the day it only does what I need it to do and lets me complete the tasks I'm supposed to handle. Beyond that though, there really isn't much standout value I can say about the software :/

Cons

Using this software feels unnecessarily complicated and nothing about it comes across as accessible or particularly user friendly. I have to keep going back to notes and step by step procedures for most of the applications just to get through my work.

“good compliance but costly

Pros

How effective it is for risk management and its overall compliance are things that work really well for us. It also does a solid job of improving business process outcomes which makes it valuable from an operational standpoint!

Cons

Getting around the software can be challenging because the interface feels complex especially for beginners who are still learning it. Also the pricing is another concern and can be difficult to justify.

“Powerful analytics and finance suite

Pros

It brings business processes together really well with real time data analytics and strong finance and controlling capabilities already built into the system.

Cons

The total cost of owning it is quite high, the integration can get very complex and there are also a lot of limitations when it comes to customization.

“easy integration

Pros

Connecting it with other on premise systems has been easy! The system is also fairly simple to configure and handling data analytics is convenient and efficient.

Cons

It comes at a high cost. The interface is not especially user friendly, the online help tools are not very accessible and getting comfortable with the platform takes quite a bit of time.

“Real time insights that deliver

Pros

Having real time access to current data makes a big difference since it helps teams make faster decisions and respond at the right moment.

Cons

Rolling it out an involve a fairly large upfront investment. Other than that employees may need additional training and re skilling to get comfortable with the new technology and updated processes.

“modular platform

Pros

It comes as a modular platform that fits businesses of different sizes! It works well with both SAP and non SAP applications which makes integration much more practical. The system also covers multiple business functions such as finance and logistics and it supports a range of AI use cases. Also its capabilities can be expanded further through Business Technology Platform extensibility.

Cons

A limitation is that customers have very little control over the recurring updates that happen in it. SAP rolls out upgrades according to its own release schedule.

“comprehensive ERP across teams

Pros

It's a very complete enterprise resource planning solution that works well across multiple areas of the business including supply chain, finance, sales, accounting and more.

Cons

Onboarding takes a while and training also requires a fair amount of time. It really needs solid project management during rollout to make sure the entire process goes well and delivers a good return on investment.

“effective financial reporting tools

Pros

There are plenty of financial and tax reports that I use every day to review transactions, reconcile accounts and prepare tax filings.

Cons

A few of the reports still need to be customized before they fully match our specific requirements.

“Simple interface

Pros

The software offers a very clear and interactive interface that feels flexible and simple to use.

Cons

The pricing plans are fairly expensive and can be out of reach for small businesses.

“smart automation for finance

Pros

Comes with advanced AI capabilities that help automate manual tasks efficiently and improve the way financial operations are managed for us.

Cons

Product has met expectations and I haven't run into any operational issues up to this point.

“constant innovation

Pros

One thing I really appreciate about it is the flexibility and scalability it offers. It gives you the option to pick a subscription plan that actually fits your business needs and requirements. Another strong advantage is the regular innovation cycle which means you get early access to new technologies and ongoing developments. It also helps simplify business processes and supports digital transformation in a very practical way. On top of that it provides high availability and handles disaster recovery very well.

Cons

Up to this point we have not run into any issues with it.

“huge data storage capacity

Pros

Its huge data storage capacity really stood out to me as well as the flexibility to customize it so procurement workflows keep running properly. It also gives a detailed view of inventory management across every stage from PR and PO to GRN and goods issued. Overall it's a very capable product for monitoring and tracking business performance.

Cons

There are moments when it feels a little laggy. That said it's somewhat understandable for ERP software that has to handle and process such large amounts of data.

“powerful real time ERP insights

Pros

Getting real time visibility into data while keeping ERP processes well connected has been a big advantage. The integration across the system feels smooth and helps everything work together more efficiently.

Cons

The initial setup takes effort and customization can get pretty complicated especially at the beginning.

“Logical structure, great functions

Pros

The system has a logical structure and works with a relatively small number of tables which makes it feel well organized.

Cons

It does take quite a bit of effort to install but overall it is very functional and built in a logical way.

“overwhelming and outdated workflow

Pros

Compared with SAP 3 or whatever older native desktop version we moved away from, this was at least a slight improvement. There are some decent customization options too like being able to hide buttons that are never used but honestly that was about the only real benefit.

Cons

Hearing that a new client uses this platform makes me cringe. It may be a powerful system with tons of functions but it feels incredibly overwhelming to work in. You practically need a week long training course just to grasp the basics. Every function (and there are so many of them) is either buried behind unclear alphanumeric codes like VL02 or MIGO or given labels that do not really match the task you are trying to complete. I have never worked with another program that requires this many clicks just to handle something simple like printing a Bill of Lading. On top of that the interface feels extremely outdated.

“complete inventory control

Pros

Having inventory, costs, quality plans and plenty of other functions all in one application is really convenient and makes daily work much easier to manage.

Cons

Just when you get used to the layout an update comes in out of nowhere and changes things.

“Clean interface

Pros

The interface feels clean, easy and simple to use.

Cons

After using it for more than a year I haven't run into any issues or complaints.

“excellent platform

Pros

It stands out as an excellent ERP platform especially because it integrates well with all kinds of businesses.

Cons

Getting started at the beginning can be somewhat challenging especially during the initial onboarding process.

“Slower reports functionality

Pros

One thing I really appreciate is the room to improve the production cockpit especially by adding more options for scrap, rework and production version reporting. It has also given us very useful possibilities for analyzing production process statistics.

Cons

What I like least about it is the working pace since a lot of reports take several minutes to generate.

“secure invoicing that delivers

Pros

Handling invoicing transactions is very convenient and uploading and processing invoices in the system feels more secure than with other programs.

Cons

At times the software is slow to respond to actions and it can occasionally freeze.

“clear interface and solid value

Pros

Right away the interface feels very clear and well organized. I had been searching for a program like this for quite a while so it was a relief to finally find one that fits what I needed. I'd definitely recommend it.

Cons

Occasionally getting through to customer service can be difficult. There are also moments when the program slows down a bit.

“Cloud ERP with no setup hassle

Pros

Using this cloud based ERP has been a really positive experience especially since there's no need to install dependencies or deal with extra setup requirements.

Cons

Getting started can be a bit challenging for new non technical users during the initial hands on training so adding more tutorials would make onboarding much better.

“works really well

Pros

The Analytics module has been a standout for me especially with the impressive visuals it delivers. On top of that the overall ERP system works really well and feels very capable.

Cons

The initial onboarding can be a bit challenging especially for people who aren't very technical.

“real-time inventory visibility

Pros

Something that really stands out is the instant visibility it gives into inventory, demand and supplier performance. That level of insight helps optimize inventory management, cut down on stockouts and make planning much more effective. It also connects procurement, production, warehousing and distribution very well which improves collaboration across teams and makes the overall process more smooth.

Cons

A big downside is the complexity of the onboarding. It requires thorough planning, experienced people and a significant investment in training to get everything up and running properly. Customization can also be more difficult with this than with SAP MM which adds another layer of challenge.

“highly adaptable

Pros

The software offers a lot of flexibility and can be adapted in many different ways to fit various needs.

Cons

Setting up materials in the system can take quite a bit of time and feels tedious.

“Great support

Pros

It connects well with a wide range of business tools which makes working across systems much more convenient. The user community is large and very active so it's usually possible to find help or shared knowledge quickly. The documentation is also thorough and readily available which adds a lot of value.

Cons

Starting off can feel a little challenging at first especially for users who are completely new to the platform.

“stable performance

Pros

Its durability, strong performance and solid integration capabilities have been really impressive.

Cons

At this point I haven't had any negative experiences to mention.

“user friendly

Pros

Getting started with it was very easy and using it has been simple from the beginning. When it comes to my finance work, uploading monthly files into the platform is easily one of the most effortless tasks I handle.

Cons

One thing that could be better is how quickly the system shows where errors are. Having to switch back and forth between pages to track them down feels a bit tedious.

“accessible navigation

Pros

Using the system is very easy and finding the information needed to complete key reports is simple and efficient.

Cons

The downside is that integration can take quite a while since the onboarding process is very lengthy.

“Fully connected operations

Pros

One of the biggest advantages is how tightly everything is integrated. We needed a platform that didn't require us to connect and maintain a bunch of separate tools just to keep operations running and this has really solved that problem. All of the modules work together so there's no constant concern about whether integrations are holding up and the data updates immediately across the system.

Cons

Pricing is the biggest downside. That can become a real challenge for companies planning to use the software as part of their growth and expansion.

“practical workflow

Pros

Getting into the system was very quick because it's accessible and easy to use. I was able to learn it for production, logistics and storekeeping within a week. It feels practical and sustainable since it cuts down a lot of paperwork and it also makes it possible to trace previous sales orders when a customer wants to place the same order again.

Cons

One area it really needs to improve is user notifications when an administrator makes changes. Without that it creates a lot of confusion especially when sales orders have already been completed and only later it turns out the customer had changed their production order. In large manufacturing environments, production teams usually do not have enough time to keep checking back on older sales orders.

“Reliable cloud performance

Pros

Among SAP products this has been the fastest one I've used since it was designed specifically for the cloud and I haven't run into any connection issues at all. It also helps smooth out processes and has the potential to noticeably improve the overall user experience.

Cons

New users will need substantial training when getting started and the cost can be too high for small or mid sized businesses so it makes more sense for larger companies.

“Makes daily work better

Pros

The system gives us agile, reliable access to company information which makes daily work feel much more dependable.

Cons

Extracting certain data still requires using other tools which adds extra steps to the process.

“project tracking and processing

Pros

Keeping up with my customers projects is much more manageable with the project management features in it. After using it for the past year I've come to see it as the strongest cloud based ERP option available right now. One of the biggest reasons I value it so highly is how effectively it analyzes and handles transactions.

Cons

Starting with it is very costly whether that's the cloud infrastructure itself or bringing in a consultant to handle the onboarding. On top of that the ongoing expenses are also considerable especially when it comes to upgrades and maintaining system security.

“modern interface

Pros

A better graphical interface makes the system more pleasant to use. It also connects every department in the organization electronically which helps information flow across teams. Since it is a cloud based solution there's no need to rely on large IT assets within the office.

Cons

The biggest downside is the high cost involved when planning an upgrade from an older version.

“fast and effective ERP

Pros

It's a very fast and effective enterprise resource planning tool.

Cons

The design could be more user friendly and a bit easier to figure out.

“always current with newer APIs

Pros

Something that really changes with it is the upgrade experience especially compared with how painful upgrades have been in almost every organization I've been part of. It also pushes you to revisit and sharpen your business processes since the upgrade schedule is now driven by the software rather than handled on your own timeline. Another big advantage of staying on the latest version is how much S/4 emphasizes API connectivity with the ERP. Because the system is updated continuously you consistently have access to the newest APIs.

Cons

At the same time the feature that makes it strong can also create extra work. Business users need to stay very attentive when validating core functionality after each upgrade. That process can take quite a bit of time but it is necessary to protect business continuity.

“Secure cloud access anywhere

Pros

Using the cloud this way offers maximum security and lets you work while on the move.

Cons

It's simple to use and can be adapted to your specific needs.

“Real-time data visibility

Pros

One thing I really appreciate is having complete data available in real time while also avoiding duplicate entries.

Cons

However integration can be difficult and supporting multiple user logins is still a challenge.

“good reporting function

Pros

It's a very good software for reporting and sharing information and it has been consistently useful to work with.

Cons

I can't really point to any major downsides because it has continued to provide a good user experience overall.

“well integrated

Pros

I really appreciate how well the system is integrated and the level of control it provides which helps prevent possible errors.

Cons

It's not exactly something I dislike but because it's a bit expensive we end up being limited in the number of users we can have.

“Solid performance

Pros

The speed it offers when handling information along with its web based accessibility, makes it a reliable and efficient solution for mid sized and larger industries.

Cons

Onboarding and consulting really need to be handled by true specialists who know the platform well otherwise they may end up offering only limited functions because of their lack of expertise.

“scalable cloud with lighter upkeep

Pros

Something that really stands out with it is how much more scalable it is than the on premises version. It's much easier to adjust resources as business needs change which gives companies more flexibility to grow without overspending. Another big advantage is the reduced maintenance effort. Since it's cloud based there's no need to manage on site hardware and this platform takes care of updates and patches. That helps keep the system reliable while also freeing up internal IT teams for other work.

Cons

Because the platform runs entirely in the cloud, it depends a lot on having stable internet access. If the connection goes down or becomes unreliable, access to the system can be disrupted and that can affect daily operations. Another downside is that customization is more limited compared to an on premises setup. The standardized cloud model is helpful in some ways but it can make it harder to tailor the system extensively for very specific business needs.

“Dependable workflows

Pros

This has been in place at my company for many years and my team and I use it every day. The biggest benefits are that it handles both approval workflows and accounting in one system. The level of control is quite high because the software is fully secure. It also includes a lot of automation that helps improve productivity. For example I can import matrices directly into our accounting which saves us a valuable amount of time.

Cons

The software is very comprehensive but some specific tasks tied to our business are not available out of the box so we need custom development through paid modules. These additional modules are not always included in the budget so it is better to plan for them in advance.