Home > ERP Software > SAP S/4HANA Cloud > SAP S/4HANA Cloud vs Adaptive Planning

SAP S/4HANA Cloud vs Adaptive Planning

Last Updated: November 18th, 2024

Our analysts compared SAP S/4HANA Cloud vs Adaptive Planning based on data from our 400+ point analysis of ERP Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

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Product Basics

Running a growing business comes with enough challenges — managing core processes shouldn’t be one of them. That’s where SAP S/4HANA Cloud by SAP steps in, a modern cloud-based ERP solution designed to simplify tasks like finance, procurement, manufacturing and supply chain management.

It’s built for mid-sized to large enterprises, offering real-time insights and advanced analytics to keep things running smoothly. It also integrates advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning.

Top features include its user-friendly interface, customizable dashboards and industry-specific workflows. It beats traditional on-premise ERPs with faster deployment, lower maintenance and automatic updates.

Users love the flexibility and accessibility, helping them simplify daily operations. It offers various deployment options to meet different business requirements, including public cloud, private cloud, on-premise and hybrid models.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud offers a 14-day free trial at no cost that includes guided tours and sample data to help you navigate the system. Pricing depends on company size, number of users and selected modules. However, SAP S/4HANA Cloud hasn’t mentioned it directly on the website.

Adaptive Planning expedites planning, modeling, budgeting and prediction for enhanced decision making. It's suitable for all industries and available on the cloud. Establish benchmarks and initiate balanced boundaries.

Top modules include balance sheet cash flow, revenue, expense management, workforce modeling and capital management. It can improve precise budgeting and planning operations and assess numerous data set situations. It also facilitates company housekeeping and leaders to maximize a healthy working atmosphere.

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Product Insights

Automate Business Processes: Use intelligent automation, AI and robotic process automation (RPA) to handle routine tasks while optimizing others. This capability reduces manual work and lets employees focus on more valuable tasks. Our analysts give it a 100 for its intelligent capabilities.
Reinvent Your Business Model: Implement industry-specific solutions and best practices to introduce new strategies. Create customized products and explore innovative strategies to elevate how you do business.
Make Data-Driven Decisions: Access real-time data, embedded analytics and digital assistants to make informed decisions quickly. Engage with visual reports and use a context-aware digital assistant for a seamless, intuitive experience. Its standout capabilities earn it a perfect 100 for reporting.
Adapt: Address changes with real-time analysis and flexible tools for configuration, pricing, and quotes. These features help users quickly identify and manage changes. The system also notifies users of issues and suggests solutions. Our analysts rated SAP S/4HANA Cloud as the best solution in its category for procurement.
Accelerate User Adoption: Access a wide range of onboarding resources through openSAP and the SAP Learning Hub. These online hubs offer various learning formats to ensure users can easily understand and adopt the new system, no matter their preferred learning style.
Increase Efficiency: Equip employees with automation tools and real-time data insights to improve decision-making. This strategy reduces errors, saves time and money, and boosts productivity, driving better overall business performance.
Improve Usability: Built with SAP Fiori, the system is responsive, intuitive and designed to be simplistic. It provides a personalized and role-based user experience that can be accessed from any device. The system also supports 85% of functional requirements out-of-the-box so you have the features you need from the get go.
Centralize Data: In-memory computing stores all data in one unified system, avoiding fragmented databases. This centralization enables users to analyze large volumes of data at once and quickly spot trends, making data management more efficient.
Boost Time to Value: Start with guided implementation, quick technical setup and an intuitive interface. This helps the team to adopt the system quickly and deliver results faster.
Lower Expenses: Minimize total cost of ownership (TCO) with a subscription-based model. This cuts hardware, maintenance and upgrade expenses when compared to traditional on-premise systems.

Implement In-Depth Analyses: Grab real-time, detailed information for better adaptation and push solid strategies instead of numbers.
Expand Model Testing: Draft and evaluate models with complete analytical tools to pinpoint ideal growth trends and shift priorities when plans deviate.
Execute Numerous Plan Types: Construct daily, monthly, quarterly or long-term budgets and predictions to better align with lengthy fiscal goals in one place.
Conduct Effective Collaboration Methods: Initiate one centralized area to access and share information, workflows, security and more for better collaboration and keep everyone on the same page for estimates and budgets.
Leverage High-Powered Adaptability: Leverage the machine learning in-memory engine to monitor and conform to plan adjustments.

Financial Management: The SAP S/4HANA financial and accounting management tool scored 100 in our assessment. Below are some key capabilities:
- Run your business efficiently using built-in best practices, reporting and predictive analytics to maintain compliance and manage risks.
- Analyze your revenue and costs in real time, allowing you to view data across various dimensions to understand profitability at any level of detail.
- Automatically record financial transactions as they occur, ensuring reports are up-to-date while supporting multiple accounting principles for asset valuation.
- Use KPIs to monitor and manage payables, receivables, and cash flow, giving you a real-time view of key financial metrics through a centralized dashboard.
- Prioritize payments, track overdue invoices and identify high-risk customers to help your team manage costs more effectively and reduce the risk of bad debt.
- Centralize tax and financial reporting, ensuring that all departments access the same consistent data, while guiding users through an interactive financial analysis process.
Sales Management: The SAP S/4HANA Sales module offers effective order and contract management, incentive and commission management, and support for sales teams. Its key capabilities include:
- Manage the order-to-cash process efficiently across various revenue streams, including physical and digital goods, services, subscriptions, projects and bundles.
- Oversee bundled orders from one place, tracking profit, cost and revenue for each order line item. Automate alerts for project changes, deadlines and expirations.
- Equip sales reps to sell more effectively with a personalized home page, intuitive interface and quick access to tasks, applications and reports.
- Create sales orders from unstructured data like PDF or image-based purchase orders using machine learning to extract information automatically.
- Simplify incomplete sales order documentation with AI-powered autocomplete, which suggests missing fields based on historical data.
- Automate invoicing by integrating billing and accounting, improving cash flow accuracy and simplifying accounts receivable, all while meeting local requirements.
Supply Chain Management: The SAP S/4HANA Supply Chain tool achieved an outstanding score of 100 in our assessment, surpassing Visibility ERP and Oracle Fusion Cloud. It offers users a range of capabilities, including:
- Get real-time visibility into your supply chain with customizable dashboards. Track inventory, predict stock trends with AI and monitor deliveries instantly.
- Automatically confirm and process customer orders, ensuring that they align with business priorities to meet customer expectations.
- Help teams cut costs and reduce waste with easy-to-use mobile apps for packing goods more efficiently as part of the logistics process.
- Shorten delivery times by making sure you have the right vehicles, optimized routes, and the right quantity of goods, saving both time and fuel.
Manufacturing Management: The SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing module is built on methods like lean control, continuous improvement and just-in-time replenishment. It can:
- Optimize production by integrating processes smoothly, whether you're manufacturing to stock, order or custom specifications.
- Meet customer demands by identifying and fixing capacity issues, bottlenecks or shortfalls early, using planning simulations to find the best solutions.
- Balance supply and demand with real-time material requirements planning (MRP). The system immediately flags MRP exceptions and helps you resolve them quickly.
- Ensure timely product delivery by tracking each container’s status with a real-time graphical Kanban board.
- Deliver high-quality products by running quality inspections throughout the production process.
Procurement Management: The SAP S/4HANA Procurement module offers a scalable, value-driven and compliant process for managing operations. Its key features include:
- Easily view and update all purchase requisitions at once. The Joule copilot simplifies how employees collaborate during procurement tasks.
- Efficiently manage the entire procure-to-pay process, with real-time insights available at every stage.
- Identify bottlenecks and cost-saving opportunities with a customizable dashboard that shows all key tasks. Automate workflows for purchase orders, contracts and invoices, and analyze them in detail.
- Improve purchase contracts by setting up approval workflows. Track contract usage, plan renewals and negotiate long-term discounts with suppliers.
- Predict delivery dates for purchase orders to improve planning and avoid production delays.
- Make informed decisions by accessing real-time purchasing data without needing to open multiple reports.

Balance Sheet Cash Flow: Use flexible and straightforward self-service variance reports for business-wide utilization. Automate and streamline financial protocols to keep an eye on strategies and expansions.
Expense Management: Remove information silos with driver-based expense forecasting and in-depth, incremental budgeting. Integrate this module with other back-end platforms to create a single information hub.
Revenue Management: Perform drilled-down assessments to ensure strategies align with company objectives.
Workforce Modeling: Execute company-wide planning and joint operations. Manage current headcount plans and associate fees to ensure plans fit budget parameters.
Capital Management: Conduct expense distributions via an equipped rules engine. Plot fees efficiently.

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

87%

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SAP S/4HANA Cloud has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 87% when considering 2815 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Real-Time Inventory Visibility: It optimizes stock levels and avoids stockouts with instant inventory updates, reducing carrying costs and boosting customer satisfaction.

Purchase Order Accuracy: Some users say automating purchase order generation based on real-time inventory and demand has minimized errors in procurement.

Production Planning: It refines production schedules and resource allocation with real-time data insights from connected machines and sensors, increasing efficiency and output.

Financial Reporting: Many users appreciate the ability to generate accurate and timely financial reports with automated data consolidation from all departments.

Sales Team Productivity: It gives the sales team the ability to access customer data and manage orders directly from mobile devices. This increases overall productivity and works efficiently from anywhere.

Automatic Updates: Users say that SAP manages regular updates and maintenance, ensuring up-to-date features and security patches without the need for external resources.

Ease of Use: Adaptive Planning receives consistent praise for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design. Users with varying levels of technical expertise find it easy to navigate and operate, reducing the learning curve typically associated with complex ERP software. The drag-and-drop functionality and clear data visualizations contribute to a smooth and efficient user experience.

Cloud-Based Flexibility: As a cloud-based solution, Adaptive Planning offers the advantage of accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection. This eliminates the need for on-premises hardware and software installations, providing businesses with greater flexibility and scalability. Users appreciate the ability to access critical financial data and collaborate with team members remotely, enhancing productivity and responsiveness.

Robust Reporting and Analytics: Adaptive Planning's reporting and analytics capabilities empower users to gain valuable insights from their financial data. The software offers a wide range of pre-built reports and dashboards, along with the ability to create custom reports tailored to specific business needs. Users can easily analyze trends, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions to optimize financial performance.

Integration Capabilities: Adaptive Planning integrates seamlessly with various other business systems, such as CRM, HR, and payroll applications. This integration eliminates data silos and ensures data consistency across different departments. Users value the ability to connect their financial data with other operational data, providing a holistic view of the business and facilitating more informed decision-making.

Steep Learning Curve: It can be tough to transition from traditional ERPs to a new interface and cloud-based model. This could affect initial productivity, requiring user training to get fully up to speed.

Limited Customization: Users say the customization options are limited compared to on-premise systems. The ability to tailor the system for specific business needs is restricted.

Integration Challenges: Users find integrating with older, non-S/4HANA systems challenging. The process often requires additional tools and expertise, which can increase the complexity and overall costs.

Vendor Lock-in: Some users mention the reliance on SAP's cloud infrastructure makes it harder to switch to alternative solutions later. This dependency can reduce flexibility for future expansion.

High Subscription Costs: Some users say the cost of the software is a big barrier for small businesses since the initial implementation and ongoing subscription fees are relatively high.

Response Time: Customer support could be more responsive and efficient in addressing issues. Users mentioned that providing more thorough assistance would enhance the overall customer experience.

Limited Functionality: Adaptive Insights, while proficient in financial planning, may lack the comprehensive features required for all-encompassing enterprise resource planning (ERP) needs. For instance, it may not offer robust functionalities for managing human resources, supply chains, or customer relationships, potentially necessitating additional software solutions.

Customization Challenges: Adaptive Insights' customization options can be somewhat rigid, making it difficult for users to tailor the software to their specific workflows and unique business requirements. This inflexibility can lead to inefficiencies and frustration for users accustomed to more adaptable ERP systems.

Integration Complexities: Integrating Adaptive Insights with existing software infrastructure can pose challenges due to compatibility issues or intricate data mapping processes. These integration hurdles can impede seamless data flow and hinder the efficiency of business operations.

Cost Considerations: The subscription-based pricing model of Adaptive Insights can be a significant financial commitment for some organizations, particularly smaller businesses with limited budgets. The cost factor, coupled with potential additional expenses for implementation and support, may deter cost-conscious users.

As a free trial user of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, I can confidently say it excels in simplifying core business processes and offers top-notch capabilities. Our analysts give a perfect 100 for their Finance, Procurement and Supply Chain Management modules.SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a robust ERP solution widely used across various industries due to its flexible, modular design and comprehensive functionality. After trying it firsthand, I was surprised by the initial setup. It was smooth and intuitive, with sample data and guided tours provided to explore all modules easily.The main menu and search bar were easy to navigate without redirects. I also liked how user-friendly the interface felt, especially for a first-time user.The finance module stood out to me. It provides a centralized dashboard where you can store and generate all sorts of reports, and it's easy to keep track of payments and overdue invoices. For someone looking to optimize manufacturing, it offers real-time visibility into operations, making it easier to meet customer demands efficiently.That said, the free trial had its limitations. I couldn’t access all features or sample data completely, which made it harder to fully explore the system’s potential.That being said, our analysts rated the Finance, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management modules a perfect 100. Many recent reviews have echoed the same sentiment, praising its real-time inventory view and automated workflows. However, others mentioned the inability to customize workflows during the trial.Users also pointed out the system’s complexity, but I personally found it easier to navigate than expected with the sample data. Still, I’m unsure how it would perform with real-time data in an actual business setting.Pricing wasn’t listed directly on the site, but compared to competitors, SAP S/4HANA costs—including implementation, licensing and training—are higher, especially for smaller organizations with tighter budgets.Overall, SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a powerful tool with advanced capabilities, though its learning curve and customization limitations may be challenging for some. For larger organizations with the budget and resources to implement it fully, it can significantly improve operations and drive growth.

Adaptive Planning has garnered a reputation for its user-friendly interface and robust reporting capabilities. Users frequently praise its intuitive design, making it easy for finance teams to navigate and generate reports without extensive training. The drag-and-drop functionality and customizable dashboards are particularly popular, allowing users to tailor the system to their specific needs. Compared to other ERP software options, Adaptive Planning excels in its ability to handle complex financial modeling and forecasting. Its scenario planning tools enable users to create multiple "what-if" scenarios and analyze the potential impact of different business decisions. This feature is especially valuable for organizations operating in dynamic markets or facing uncertain economic conditions. However, some users have noted that Adaptive Planning's implementation process can be time-consuming and require significant IT resources. Additionally, while the software offers a wide range of features, some users find that certain functionalities, such as expense management, are not as comprehensive as those offered by competing products like Oracle NetSuite or SAP. These limitations may necessitate the use of additional software solutions, potentially increasing overall costs and complexity. Despite these drawbacks, Adaptive Planning's strengths in financial planning and analysis make it a compelling choice for mid-sized to large businesses with complex financial needs. Its ease of use and powerful reporting capabilities empower finance teams to gain deeper insights into their data and make more informed decisions, ultimately driving business growth and profitability.

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FAQ

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