SAP ERP Core Finance Software

Pros

It is probably the best ERP out there, with tons of options, functions, best practices and customizations for your business needs.

Cons

It is quite expensive, and the interface isn't particularly attractive. It also requires a lot of integration with really every aspect of your business to reach its full potential. It isn't really a filler or supplemental software, it kind of requires you to go all in.

As a data analyst, the ability for me to go in and create views and queries to run against SAP data is amazing. I can do things now with HANA that I could never have dreamed of before. As I mentioned above, it is a huge investment and it is a complex installation but once everything is working, it is well worth it.

Pros

1) The speed with which you can get your data back.
2) The versatility in coding which allows more users to work in it.
3) The ability to do ad-hoc queries against SAP data which was impossible before.

Cons

1) This product is extremely pricey. Not for the faint of heart.
2) The setup can be quite an ordeal. Preparation is the key.
3) There is a good learning curve to getting everything working correctly.

The training is very useful as it gives more edge over other ERP. If you can work with any SAP products, other ERP Software will not difficult to understand and navigate.

Pros

1. It allows for future expansion of different organisation's operations as more features can be deployed to improve operational efficiency.
2. It guides users to make use of best general accounting accepted principles while performing their functions.
3. It reduce time in executing jobs and increases efficiency in project execution.
4. it is very user-friendly if well understood with in-depth training.
5. It synchronise seamlessly with Microsoft Office products such as Outlook, Excel, and Word.

Cons

1. It make use of specialised alphanumeric figures there making it very difficult to set-up by users of other ERP softwares.
2. It is not cost efficient for companies of unstable financial status.
3. Its installation is difficult for non-IT expert as it obeys the OSI layers: Application, Database and Network.
4. The distribution per use is not really flexible compared to other ERP Software.

I cannot say enough about the horrible experiences this has brought upon our company. We are a worldwide company and had used the older SAP for years. Now upgraded, we have found that nothing is working. None of our inspection plans transferred over, no PM"s transferred over, shipping and receiving are having to find a "workaround" as well as every other department like purchasing and manufacturing. It's been a travesty.

Cons

This software was an upgrade to our regular SAP and it's been nothing but a nightmare for each and every department. Nothing works as it should. We are all crying including our customers. Its been very bad for business so far.

Not at this time.

Pros

I like SAP because it makes my job life more easier to get the important tasks done in a timely manner. Our organization can also create custom made reports to fit each department's needs. It is a fast system, up to date, and works very well for me and my job responsibilities.

Cons

You have to open separate windows to do multiple tasks. I wish I do multiple job tasks all on one session instead of opening numerous sessions to do more than one task. I may need the other window open to review some information and cannot do all that on the same window.

Overall very simple to use. All the normal tools you need are there. If anything, there are a few too many tools - sometimes have to search a lot to find what i'm looking for. We use BPC as our Excel report tool.

Key for journal entries, use third party tool GLSU.

Pros

Everything option you need is there.

Cons

Need 3rd party tools to make it complete.

This tool make a big difference for management efficiency. The biggest issue is the ease of use and definity the lack of being intuitive.

Pros

Data sharing

Cons

Data entry

Advice to Others

The simplest the better

This product is a leading option for any organization that needs to control processes and streamline workflow; great platform for your customer driven solutions.

Pros

It's all in one provision, there aren't any other software solutions as expensive and defined as SAP Business ERP

Cons

It can be cumbersome until sufficient experience and training is provided for a user

Advice to Others

Walk into this one slowly with much consultation from others who have suitable field experience

I am using SAP for several of our customers to do transactions directly in their systems. SAP is relatively easy to learn and has a lot of features and options for customization. Each of our customers have a different way of processing the same type of transaction so for an outplant user it can end up being a lot to keep track off.
There is a lot of traceability so finding and correcting issues is easy and takes minimal research.

Pros

Highly customizable, covers all areas of the company, many reporting options

Cons

Many steps to each transaction, will almost always need to be customized.

SAP ERP is very useful but does take a steep learning curve like most SAP suites.

We currently use a number of in-house developed and off the shelf products to manage our various businesses. Although we are using SAP for a small portion of our business we have taken a large step in trying to make SAP our primary system. This is our 2nd attempt to implement SAP and the reason why we are once again proceeding with this is to streamline our accounting practices and reduce the number of accounting systems we currently use. A more comprehensive review can be provided after our implementation is completed.

Pros

Multiple modules provided with the base package. Acquire one system get all the integrated systems you need.

Cons

We have been waiting a long time to upgrade to new SAP version but typical to software applications this has taken an extremely long time. We have now been advised that that the new version of software is avail for uploading.

Advice to Others

It takes time to implement - doesn't happen over night.

Very complex finance-accounting system. You can create various project and track the respective profitability as well as cost allocation.

Pros

Multi-functional. Wide selection of various modules.

Cons

Is not user friendly.

i want to say thanks to Sap..Sap is very helpful software for big and small size of industry.

thanks sap team.

Pros

accuracy.

Cons

User Interface.....Sap can Increase.

Advice to Others

If u want perfect command on your business Go with SAP.

Finance module was user friendly, materials management module is clunky and better suited for manufacturing. Requires numerous non value add steps and frustrates stakeholders as is time consuming.

Likes Best

It is a great product for manufacturers, for our distribution needs, I was not impressed

Likes Least

It is not very user friendly and the modifications take some time to get done.

Recommendations

It is a great out of the box system, we switched from JD Edwards and had a team that could program the changes we needed.

Likes Best

It's ability to upgrade. There are several options to bolt on other versions and to use third party softwares with this product.

Likes Least

It doesn't work all that great with other Erps. On the chance that it does work, there are wife of few issues that come along with it.

Recommendations

Be patient. It gets easier. Training is always overwhelming but day to day use definitely helps with that process.

Likes Best

I liked the ease of navigation. It is nice to swap screens without loosing information

Likes Least

I do nit like that it wants you to update pricing every 6 months. A customer get's special pricing and I would like it to stay that way. I now owna small business and wish there was a more cost efficient version for a small number of users.

Recommendations

If you need a software to keep background information for customers easily accessible, this is a great program. If you need to track serial or lot numbers, this is a great program. If you need to have licenses or regulatory items verified before sales, this is a great program. If you don't watch it, the pricing will change in 6 months. There may be a setting to change this time frame, but I did not see it

Likes Best

Not much. User experience has been bad and it takes longer to implement than advertised. Its been a bad experience all around.

Likes Least

No ease of use, customization is poor. Time to run transactions is slow.

Recommendations

Ask for user testimonials in your specific space. We got user experience in other verticals and it did not translate well

Likes Best

So widely deployed you can google it in even some of the more detailed areas.

Likes Least

Sap just stopped innovating. All their attempts just seem to be more superficial or just infrastructure (e.g. Net weaver or Hana)
I suspect their installed base tied their hands to make any real changes but they have only now made a marginal effort for S4.

Recommendations

Try to actually look at the product instead of just powerpoints or strategy slides.

Likes Best

SAP is a powerful piece of software. You get out of it what you put in to it. If you want detailed reporting then be prepared for detailed data entry.

Likes Least

SAP looks and feels like a piece of outdated software, although I believe that it is not. It is hard to navigate and unless you know all of the Transaction codes that you need to use.

Recommendations

Remember that it is powerful even though it seems that it is not.