SAP ERP vs IFS

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Our analysts compared SAP ERP vs IFS based on data from our 400+ point analysis of ERP Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

SAP ERP Software Tool
IFS Software Tool

Product Basics

SAP ERP is a cloud or on-premise ERP system. It supports financial, order and production management. Centralized data management makes accessing insights and sharing information easy.

Notable features include task automation, data visualization, HR management and budget development. Its powerful functions and scalability make it popular among users. However, some find the initial setup and maintenance costs high.

Pricing varies based on the modules, number of users and deployment choice.

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IFS offers is a suite of connected workflows such as accounting, warehouse management, distribution, sales and HCM. By integrating a range of front- and back-office workflows, the program aims to alleviate internal snags and streamline operations.

The software contains real-time insights and can be accessed either through the cloud or via on-premise installation. It’s intended for use by medium and large companies. The program is highly integrative and contains various online support and training options for users.

To learn more about their primary ERP offering, visit our IFS Cloud page.
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Product Insights

  • Centralize Data: Get a unified view of multiple business processes. Improve data accuracy, collaboration, reporting and data-driven decision-making.
  • Improve Efficiency: Automate routine tasks so employees can focus on strategic work. Connect workflows like data extraction and customer account management to reduce errors and boost productivity.
  • Ensure Accessibility: Deploy the system on-premise or through the cloud. Track processes and interactions on the go with mobile solutions.
  • Support Globalization: Manage international operations and multiple locations. Adapt to international laws, regulations, languages and currencies.
  • Reduce Bottlenecks: Use advanced analytics to track operations. Take quick action based on identified trends and hindrances.
  • Scale as Required: Access tools for industry-specific needs. Add modules to extend functionality and support growth.
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  • Accessibility: IFS solutions can be deployed through different avenues: SaaS, cloud service models, IFS Managed Cloud or on-premise. With cloud deployment, the program can be accessed at any time and any location as long as there is an internet connection available. 
  • Real-Time Data: The program includes real-time data and visualizations. For example, engineering changes, bottlenecks in the production system and any material shortages can be analyzed as they occur. Barcode scanning is also included to track the movement of products and materials throughout the supply chain. 
  • Revenue Boost: By identifying and reducing bottlenecks, forecasting demand and honing the sales process, revenue can be increased. IFS includes a range of features that can maximize revenue through elements such as reduction in spoilage and increased efficiency. 
  • Increase Productivity: IFS helps streamline and automate facets of workflows such as sales, manufacturing and distribution. By reducing the amount of time that employees spend on tasks such as supplier invoicing, which can be automated through this tool, more time is freed up for staff to work on other important tasks. 
  • Legal Compliance: This program helps to ensure company compliance with a range of industry or governmental standards and regulations. For example, IFS Human Capital Management can keep track of and manage employee health and safety measures in accordance with legal requirements. A dedicated maintenance tool is also available to help ensure that the company adheres to rules. 
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  • Financial Management: Track accounts receivable and payable. Create financial statements and reports for analysis and regulatory compliance. Analyze profitability and manage costs. Use scenario simulations, deep insights and financial data to create confident financial plans.
  • Manufacturing: Manage manufacturing operations and ensure production quality with built-in quality control. Get real-time shop floor updates and detect issues quickly. Support multiple manufacturing modes like discrete, process, kanban and just-in-time.
  • Production Engineering: Design production workflows based on BOMs, routings and work centers. Manufacture customized products by supporting agile manufacturing.
  • Asset Management: Establish measurement points, record data and manage critical asset information throughout its lifecycle. Schedule regular inspections, servicing and asset upkeep.
  • Sales Management: Use AI-based tools to create, confirm and fulfill orders. Manage customers with automated billing and financial accounting tools. Get sales performance and customer behavior insights to support strategies.
  • Supply Chain Management: Use goods movement control, inventory and warehouse management tools to support global supply chains and mitigate risk. Review stock levels, freight services and multi-modal routes.
  • Procurement: Manage material procurements, approvals, legal standards and supplier relationships. Use forecasted production data and spending records to get better prices.
  • Project Management: Design projects with defined billing plans, resources, price rates and profitability reports. Track work-in-progress and estimate revenues at every step.
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  • IFS Financials: IFS includes basic accounting tools such as general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable and fixed assets. It also contains business planning functionality that uses customer-defined planning models to enable demand-driven planning. The eInvoice tool automates supplier invoicing and enables electronic invoicing. Consolidation can also be conducted across multiple companies and with multiple reporting currencies. 
  • IFS Human Capital Management: This system allows employees to manage their own data as well as perform tasks such as applying for leave and updating time and expense reports. HR personnel can also manage payroll procedures, maintain health and safety information in accordance with government regulations and develop internal training programs through the tool. Recruitment can be done through the program’s connectivity with third-party applicant tracking systems (ATS). 
  • IFS Engineering: This feature includes the ability for continuously updated data related to factors such as design elements, products and facilities to be accessed throughout an organization. Change management capabilities allow users to view, approve and check changes before going ahead with change orders. The commissioning tool also ensures that facility components are designed, tested, etc. in accordance with operational requirements through the use of punch lists and mechanical completion packages. 
  • IFS Projects: IFS includes project management, risk management, project reporting and project budgeting features. Specific functionality consists of the ability to process project cost transactions, create projects using WBS, develop project schedules and develop forecasts using multiple versions of project estimates, reviews, budgets, etc. Estimate to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Complete (EAC) principles are supported and spreading rules are available. 
  • IFS Manufacturing: This tool can calculate capacity requirements, conduct Master Scheduling for finished goods, manage the production to order process and enable employees to report production information quickly. Project-based, discrete, repetitive and batch process manufacturing are also supported through the system. Visualization of the production plan is included and enables users to identify bottlenecks and material shortages. 
  • IFS Supply Chain: IFS offers demand forecasting, supply chain planning, inventory replenishment, sales order management, procurement, rental management, warehouse management and shipment management features. The inventory function is connected to the demand forecasting tool and includes different planning strategies such as economic order quantity and service level-driven safety stocks. Item traceability is also supported through barcode functionality, which provides real-time stock information. 
  • IFS Sales & Service: This feature controls the customer lifecycle from the time a lead comes in to the time that a product reaches its final destination. It assists with transportation by allowing users to visualize driving routes. It also supports service quote and contract management. Sales efforts can be streamlined through the sales configurator, which includes a product advisor that uses a series of questions to define requirements and recommend products. 
  • IFS Maintenance: IFS enables users to evaluate potential improvements in equipment performance, communicate with subcontractors through a collaboration portal, develop leaner MRO operations and manage preventive maintenance schedules. It also makes regulatory compliance for vehicle fleets easier and manages tasks such as fault reporting, preparation, execution and final reporting for maintenance-related matters. 
  • IFS Business Enablers: This solution includes role-based portals and personalized access to ensure that employees, customers and suppliers view the most relevant information and that no one has access to privileged information that they should not be able to review. The solution contains real-time data and allows for the connection of internal and external programs through web services. Add-ins and add-ons can be implemented to customize the solution through RESTful oData APIs from IFS. 
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Product Ranking

#8

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#147

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ERP Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 1028 reviews
Great User Sentiment 121 reviews
83%
of users recommend this product

SAP ERP has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 83% when considering 1028 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

80%
of users recommend this product

IFS has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 80% when considering 121 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

4.8 (13)
n/a
4.0 (521)
3.6 (20)
4.4 (174)
3.7 (22)
4.3 (26)
4.2 (65)
4.2 (294)
4.1 (14)

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Functionality: All reviewers who mentioned the functionality of SAP ERP explained the system as robust enough to manage all of their business processes.
Customization: Though there were some complaints concerning the need for IT assistance to develop customizations, 80% of users were impressed with the range of customization options.
Data Management: With extensive positive reviews mentioning data management, SAP ERP users are impressed with the data management and storage capabilities of the system.
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Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise IFS for its user-friendly design and easy-to-navigate interface, which reduces training time and improves adoption rates.
Flexibility and customization: The system's modular architecture allows for a high degree of customization, enabling businesses to tailor it to their unique processes and requirements without extensive coding.
Strong industry focus: IFS is particularly well-suited for industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and energy, offering deep functionality and expertise in these areas.
Mobile accessibility: Users can access the system from any device, including smartphones and tablets, enabling them to stay connected and productive while on the go.
Robust project management: IFS provides comprehensive project management capabilities, from planning and scheduling to resource allocation and cost tracking, helping businesses deliver projects on time and within budget.
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User Interface: Nearly 70% of reviewers describe the user interface as non-intuitive and difficult to learn how to use.
Cost: 80% of reviewers said that SAP ERP is very expensive, though they also said they saw an impressive ROI before implementation, justifying the cost. The system is typically only affordable for large enterprises.
Performance: Just over 80% of reviewers mentioned that SAP ERP performs slowly and can be unstable.
Implementation: All reviews that mentioned implementation were negative, explaining that the process was long and complex. In addition, users must complete rigorous training throughout implementation to learn how to use the system.
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High upfront investment: IFS can require a significant initial investment for implementation and customization, potentially exceeding budgets for smaller businesses.
Steep learning curve: The system's complexity can lead to a steeper learning curve for users, requiring extensive training and support to achieve full proficiency.
Limited out-of-the-box functionality: While configurable, IFS may not offer pre-built features for specific industry needs, necessitating additional development or workarounds.
Integration complexities: Integrating IFS with existing systems can be challenging, requiring specialized expertise and potentially leading to data silos.
Performance bottlenecks: Large or complex implementations may experience performance issues, requiring careful optimization and infrastructure considerations.
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SAP ERP is a powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP) system lauded for its robust functionality, extensive customization options and impressive data management capabilities.However, drawbacks are also evident. Reviewers find the user interface to be unintuitive and difficult to learn. Additionally, the high cost is a major hurdle, with users acknowledging its expensiveness, despite mentioning a strong return on investment (ROI).On the plus side, users appreciate its ability to handle various business tasks. A majority consistently praise configurations and data storage tools.Setting up the system can be long and complex, requiring extensive training. These factors limit SAP ERP’s appeal to large enterprises that have the resources to overcome these challenges. For smaller businesses, exploring alternative ERP systems with a more user-friendly interface and lower cost might be a better fit.

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User reviews for IFS paint a picture of a powerful and flexible ERP system, but one that demands investment and expertise. Fans praise its intuitive interface and industry-specific depth, especially in sectors like aerospace and manufacturing. "The power of IFS is amazing and overwhelming," one user gushes, noting its ability to handle 95% of their business processes. The modular architecture allows for significant customization, a major draw for many. "It can be tailored to fit almost any business environment," says another reviewer, contrasting it with the "rigid" feel of competing products like SAP. However, IFS isn't for everyone. The initial investment and customization needs can be daunting, particularly for smaller companies. "The cost can be high," admits a user, comparing it to the "more affordable" options like Microsoft Dynamics 365. Additionally, the complexity can lead to a steep learning curve. "It's not as user-friendly as NetSuite," says another reviewer, highlighting the need for extensive training. Integration challenges and potential performance bottlenecks are also mentioned as drawbacks. Ultimately, IFS seems best suited for companies with specific industry needs and the resources to invest in its extensive capabilities. "If you're looking for a deep dive into your industry, IFS is amazing," one user concludes. "But if you need something quick and easy, there are other options."

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