What is SAP?

SAP is a technology company that has been around a long time and offers what is often regarded as the top ERP software in the world. SAP ERP is built primarily for large companies in a variety of industries. Companies that are household names (e.g. BP, Coca-Cola, BASF, Audi, Burger King, and Citrix) very likely use SAP’s ERP software somewhere in their operations.

SAP practically invented ERP and its large customer base has been using the software for a long time. I started my ERP career as an SAP implementation consultant, helping companies get up and running on SAP; so I have first-hand knowledge of the solution (though I will admit, that was a long time ago!).

Why doesn’t everyone use SAP ERP?

SAP’s ERP solution can do practically anything from a functionality standpoint. It has a massive and robust configuration layer that allows consultants to accommodate almost all business requirements. So, if this is the case, why doesn’t everyone use it?

As you might have guessed, all those capabilities come with a high price point that most small to medium-sized companies dare not entertain. Even if they could afford the software, smaller companies are priced out by the fact that SAP ERP takes quite a bit of consulting to get the solution implemented. And even looking beyond the initial pricing and implementation fees, there is some considerable cost of ownership needed to keep the solution working properly. This is why other solutions, like Infor, have emerged as more popular and better fits for companies that can’t afford SAP ERP. Not sure what Infor is all about? Check out our blog Infor ERP Software: Everything You Need to Know

How is Infor different from SAP ERP?

As I said before, companies use SAP’s ERP software because it can do pretty much anything. It is a robust solution that fits in a variety of industries, and has to be configured to meet the needs of the company implementing it.

The first difference between SAP ERP and Infor ERP is that Infor does NOT fit in a variety of industries. It is designed for companies that manufacture and/or service something. If your company does not fit in that category, then Infor is typically not a good choice for you. Because of this industry focus, Infor’s solutions are more easily implemented—meaning quicker, and less expensively. In other words, Infor ERP’s differentiator from SAP is that it’s a more affordable, flexible, and efficient option for small to mid-size manufacturing companies (that likely don’t need the full-scale capabilities of SAP ERP anyway).

We have written many blogs on ERP in manufacturing to explain more about Infor’s ERP solutions. If you would like to read one, check out ERP Implementation in the manufacturing industry to get started.

Infor ERP may be a fit for you

If you want to learn more about different ERP solutions, we can explain what companies use SAP’s ERP software and why…and also why Infor ERP may be a better fit for your company. Click here to sign up for a free phone consultation with Jack Shannon, our in-house expert who is not a salesperson.

Visual South typically works with companies that manufacture something. These companies are experts in their products, but not experts in implementing ERP—and that is why they come to us. Our team can guide you through a successful implementation of ERP solutions for your SMB and be a valued resource for years to come.