A business’ well-integrated operation can only be as good as its enterprise planning solution or ERP system. Over the years, the question is no longer about the value of ERP to optimizing business operations, but which ERP software can do the job better than the rest–this is something we will help you find out in this Odoo vs. SAP comparison article.
Here, we narrow down the list of 15 best ERP tools we have rounded up on our ERP software research to two: Odoo and SAP. As we go through our Odoo vs. SAP comparison, we will break down their differences as well as their similarities, their strength, and their weaknesses.
What Is Odoo?
Odoo is an open-source ERP that comes with its own suite of business applications. Offering a modular ERP, Odoo gives its customers the freedom to build their own ERP system according to the needs of their business and also their budget. The applications offered by Odoo include all the essential solutions: website building apps, sales, accounts receivable software solutions, and productivity tools. Each application is priced separately, which range from $5 to $20/month. Unless the application you are planning to purchase has a parent app, you can add an application to your ERP system individually.
When it comes to deployment, Odoo offers on-premise hosting, cloud hosting, and hosting on Odoo.sh–Odoo’s developer-first cloud hosting platform. Switching between platforms is also fast, easy, and free–all you have to do is contact the support team for assistance.
Odoo dashboard of your CRM metrics.
Products
Odoo offers a complete set of applications necessary for operating a business, some of which are the following:
- Accounting
- CRM
- Marketing
- Planning
- Inventory
- Invoicing
- Sales
- eCommerce
- Point of Sale, etc.
You can also create your own business and mobile applications using Odoo Studio, which supports codeless building of applications. In case you would like to access the developer tools to customize your ERP, Odoo.sh is the platform you need. Furthermore, Odoo has a broad range of ready-to-download free apps that support task management, accounting,
Integrations
Despite having a full suite of business tools, Odoo still offers extra integrations to further enhance its overall performance. Odoo integrates with some of the applications on our list of point of sale software, as well as these extra integrations that are also priced separately:
- DHL Express
- FedEx
- bpost
- UPS
- eBay Connector
- EasyPost
- United States Postal Service
- VOIP
- Amazon
Customer Support
Odoo provides an extensive knowledge base and resources for its users, developers, and partners. These resources include user guides, eLearning tools, online demo, API docs for developers, training for partners, and more. Odoo support team can also be contacted through chat or by sending a ticket.
Pricing
Cost-effectiveness is one of Odoo’s main advantages. Its modular structure helps in making sure that the users will only pay for the systems they need in their ERP, as well as the number of users. Below is a list of some of the modules and their respective prices:
- User — $7.5/month
- CRM — $10/month
- Website — $10/month
- Accounting — $10/month
- Invoicing — $5/month
- eCommerce — $5/month
- Sales — $5/month
- Point of sale — $10/month
- Inventory — $15/month
- Marketing automation — $20/month
The complete price list can be found on Odoo’s official website.
What Is SAP?
SAP is a reputable ERP equipped with robust tools and features that leverages the latest innovations in business technology. Over the years, SAP has developed and improved its products to accommodate the needs of different industries, such as financial services, retail, public services, and even energy and natural resources and help them keep up with the rapidly changing environment in the digital age.
Its most sophisticated product, SAP S/4HANA, is a fully integrated and intuitive ERP system that aims to revolutionize business processes with the help of artificial intelligence. This ERP solution utilizes AI technology and robotic process automation. Designed to scale along with your business as it adapts new business models, SAP S/4HANA delivers a seamless automation process whether on cloud, on-premise, or even via hybrid deployment.
SAP also offers SAP Business One, an ERP system with a modular structure offered for small businesses. SAP Business by Design, on the other hand, targets the growing midsize enterprises. Both ERP systems can be deployed as cloud-based software or on-premise.
SAP home dashboard showcasing all your important indicators.
Products
SAP has a wide range of products including dedicated ERP applications
- SAP S/4HANA (cloud and on-premise)
- SAP Business One
- SAP Business by Design
- SAP C/4HANA and other CRM apps
- Digital supply chain tools
- HR and people engagement
- Network and spend management
- Database and other business technology applications
Integrations
SAP ERP systems integrate seamlessly with other SAP solutions, such as SAP CRM, SAP Commerce, SAP Digital Manufacturing Execution, and more. SAP’s API also allows developers to build custom applications according to the needs of a business.
Customer support
SAP provides its users with a robust support system, which includes expert chat, guided responses, personalized support, dedicated help and customer portals, and more.
Pricing
- SAP S/4HANA Cloud — by quote
- SAP S/4HANA On-Premise — by quote
- SAP Business One — by quote
- SAP Business by Design — $1,647/month
Conclusion
Based on the information above, this Odoo vs. SAP comparison article highlights that Odoo is the more affordable option, and its modular structure offers more practical and flexible options. SAP ERP, on the other hand, excels in innovation as well as its customer support system. The downside to this, however, is SAP’s sophisticated technology comes with a price that is definitely higher than Odoo’s ERP system. As for the question of which one has the better ERP, the answer will depend on a business’ size, needs, and direction for growth.