SAP S/4 Hana Cloud :
NetSuite is a more mature, “Born in the Cloud” ERP product which offers much greater functionality and flexibility than S/4HANA Cloud, which is one of five ever changing S/4HANA versions with a lot of IT resource needed to absorb updates
- SAP has five versions of S/4HANA with ever changing versions and names. Choosing the wrong version could mean needing to re-implement to a different solution. With the ongoing development of S/4HANA being very fluid, it is unclear which version or versions of S/4HANA SAP will continue developing so a customer has the risk of having to change version in the future.
- NetSuite with over 30,000+ unique live customers globally is significantly more established and stable than S/4HANA Cloud. With less than 300 live global instances as of January 2020, S/4HANA Cloud has a very small footprint and is a risky proposition as new customers are essentially test subjects as many partners will have done limited implementations.
- S/4HANA Cloud has more limited functionality compared with NetSuite and the other S/4HANA versions. As of February 2022, S/4HANA Cloud supported certain industries with additional licenses required for deeper functionality. This compares with the broad base of industries and sectors with deep functionality which NetSuite can support.
- The SAP S/4HANA eco-system is complicated, requiring integration with SAP “sister” cloud products. SAP sees S/4HANA as the “digital core” with links to the other SAP–acquired cloud products such as SuccessFactors for HR and Ariba for Procurement. Integration to S/4HANA can be complicated and costly, potentially requiring additional partner consultancy hours.
- S/4HANA Cloud has limited flexibility compared with NetSuite. Customers have to stick to rigid customization requirements, meaning little flexibility in meeting changing business requirements and needs. S/4C also has a limited eco-system of around 20 apps on the SAP App Centre working with S/4C versus 600+ NetSuite Suite Apps and easy end user driven NetSuite configuration.
SAP ByDesign:
- A pragmatically evolved and predictable ERP experience, delivered over two continuous decades, with 30,000+ customers. SAP ByD was terminated twice, and the future of product looks uncertain as it competes with other SAP products. It has less than 2000 unique customers. SAP has hinted it will build a new cloud product for the mid market.
- NetSuite Analyst recognition as a leader v limited SAP ByD recognition. The major relevant IDC and Gartner Analyst reports either do not specifically mention SAP ByD , or they combine SAP ByD with other SAP products in a secondary category. NetSuite is the Leader in most of these reports
- Agility through configuration, customization, extensibility and workflow. SAP ByD is built on the premise of best practice processes. Customization is difficult and expensive, and SAP ByD does not have a concept like workflow. SAP ByD does not have an extensible platform that supports 3rd party applications.
- Supporting functional scale with built-in capability like consolidation. While SAP ByD supports the presence of multi-companies, it does not have consolidation capabilities and needs either an SAP or partner add-on.
- More predictable engagement and implementation in NetSuite v SAP ByD. SAP partners implement using time and materials. SAP partners provide an estimate to win business, and then rescope and requote once a customer is hooked in.
- Customers put at risk in having to rely on SAP ByD Partners for long-term support. SAP uses its partners to sell, implement and support. SAP customers bear all the long-term risk and are constrained to the SAP partners capabilities.