Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Microsoft Dynamics AX vs SAP S/4HANA Cloud comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Dynamics AX
Average Rating
7.6
Number of Reviews
54
Ranking in other categories
ERP (5th), Activity Based Costing Software (3rd)
SAP S/4HANA Cloud
Average Rating
8.0
Number of Reviews
49
Ranking in other categories
Cloud ERP (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Enterprise Resource Planning solutions, they serve different purposes. Microsoft Dynamics AX is designed for ERP and holds a mindshare of 6.7%, up 6.2% compared to last year.
SAP S/4HANA Cloud, on the other hand, focuses on Cloud ERP, holds 11.8% mindshare, down 16.0% since last year.
ERP
Cloud ERP
 

Featured Reviews

SherifAnter - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 17, 2023
The sales and distribution modules are robust, and reliable, and seldom encounter issues
In GP, there are certain features like financial reporting that aren't part of the core GP package. Users might need to install additional components for these features. For example, there's a reseller product called Management Reporter, but many users would prefer to have the reporting capabilities integrated within GP itself, rather than relying on external tools. The manufacturing module in GP is quite basic, and those who require more advanced manufacturing capabilities often turn to third-party modules or tools. Additionally, you might be aware that in 2028, GP is expected to reach its end of life. Microsoft has already ceased selling GP to new customers. It's essentially the same product, but this marks the final year for GP's availability.
Majid-Mustafa - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 18, 2024
Good Fiori interface and business processes and uses its own database, not relying on third-party applications
ECC is almost finished. SAP will support it until 2027, and S/4HANA is the long-term solution, supported until 2040. S/4HANA provides more features using the Fiori interface and business processes. We can use the GUI, SAP Fiori apps, and web browsers. It is accessible online from anywhere in the world. It is a more user-friendly environment and faster than ECC. The major feature is that it uses its own database, not relying on third-party applications. The cloud aspect of SAP S/4HANA: It uses its own database, HANA 2.0, and because it is its own database, it works very smoothly and quickly. S/4HANA is stable, and there is no chance of data redundancy, making it fast and responsive for the client.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"It is easy to use, and it has a great UI. It has very well-structured modules. In terms of setup and configuration, they're logically placed, which makes it easy for any user to pick up information and learn more about the system, rather than just be plain key users of that business operating system."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics AX is that it fulfills our requirements. We haven't had any issues with performance."
"It's scalable."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics AX is customization."
"The stability is very good."
"The tool makes it easier to manage things."
"The relation between CRM and Sales, that's the main strength of this ERP."
"Almost all of the features that we use are efficient. Live master planning successfully handles all of our company's requirements."
"What I like the most about SAP S4HANA is how reliable and powerful it is."
"It was easy to implement."
"Both standard and customized integrations work well with no issues."
"The technical support team has been responsive and helpful, addressing issues and providing solutions promptly whenever needed."
"SAP S4HANA Cloud is one of the best products in enterprise solutions, especially in manufacturing, retail, logistics, wholesaling, and distribution."
"With the newer update, there are more funnels as well as ample opportunity to customize the solution. With the SAP Optimizer, companies are using about five to ten percent of the product as-is while the other ninety to ninety five percent is customized to automate and standardize processes."
"I like the SAP offerings and the standard best practices included in the SAP S/4HANA Cloud version."
"Since SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a SaaS application, it is already providing a lot of standard out-of-the-box features."
 

Cons

"AX does take some time and maintenance."
"The user interface could be better."
"We do not have access to daily projections."
"They should include some modules related to solving customer problems or resolving support tickets from our customers — like a help desk for ERPs."
"It needs better financials and reporting from the system, not through Excel."
"It is being decommissioned."
"The manufacturing module in GP is quite basic, and those who require more advanced manufacturing capabilities often turn to third-party modules or tools."
"The tool's setup phase and pricing are areas with certain concerns where improvements are required."
"The solution's speed and dashboard could be improved."
"I'd like to share my experience during the migration from SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA in the cloud. My primary challenge in this migration was the requirement to open a ticket for every request during the project phase, not during operational or post go-live phases. Despite this, I must acknowledge that overall, SAP has proven to be very reliable. To clarify the issue, after migrating to SAP S/4HANA, I opted to host my SAP solution on the private cloud by converting the license to SAP Cloud. The drawback I encountered during the project phase was the insistence on opening a ticket or service request for any issue or query I had within the project's activities. Looking ahead, I hope that SAP streamlines and simplifies this process for future customers, making it more user-friendly and efficient than my experience."
"S/4HANA isn't ideal for managing contracts and subscriptions. There isn't a feature to notify us when a contract for a service we need is approaching its end or a product is no longer supported. You need a separate solution for that."
"The user experience has some room for improvement. S/4HANA covers various scenarios based on the best business practices, but users complain about its user experience. It is not a user-friendly ERP solution. I rate the current UX seven out of 10."
"The product can be improved by including a module for after-sales service modules."
"It's not easy to facilitate the solution between us and SAP, so we have had to leave those issues open."
"I would like to see a feature where it allows integration with more platforms."
"One thing that could be better in SAP S/4HANA Cloud, especially in the public cloud, is how easily you can make changes."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's license renewal cost could be better."
"Comparatively, Business Central appears to be more cost-effective. Microsoft offers Business Central at only $70 per user per month in the US. In contrast, GP requires an initial investment, including around $9,000 for the GP license for three users and additional expenses for hardware. Therefore, the initial investment for GP is quite substantial. On the other hand, cloud-based ERP products like Business Central do not entail the same upfront investment and operate on an ongoing, subscription-based model."
"The tool's licensing model is based on user subscription. The pricing needs to be reduced for the Indian and South Asian markets."
"The yearly licenses are priced okay."
"The solution is on-premises and we do not pay for a license."
"The pricing is expensive."
"Go for cloud implementation, if cost is critical."
"The solution is expensive."
"The tool's pricing is reasonable."
"The solution's costs have significantly increased, and we have not seen any anticipated cost savings."
"Its pricing is way over any of the other ERPs. I'd rate it one out of ten in terms of pricing."
"This is a pricey solution that best serves large enterprises. Be sure to ensure that your company's requirements need to be fulfilled by SAP. There are many other ERP's that are cheaper yet highly functional. However, it is still cheaper than some of the competition (i.e. Oracle, ESD, etc.)"
"The pricing of SAP S/4HANA Cloud is on the higher side."
"The licensing process for SAP S/4HANA Cloud has worked well."
"SAP S/4 Hana isn't cheap, but its value depends on how much you can leverage from it. It's not just about the system but how well your people are trained to use it and adapt to derive benefits."
"The solution’s pricing is very high."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which ERP solutions are best for your needs.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Educational Organization
6%
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Government
6%
Construction Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Microsoft Dynamics AX?
The 2012 version is obsolete, and we don't have any support for it.
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Dynamics AX?
My clients' use cases for the product cover domains like retail, manufacturing, IT communications, and HR.
What do you like most about SAP S/4HANA Cloud?
The manufacturing area is a good feature.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP S/4HANA Cloud?
The solution's costs have significantly increased, and we have not seen any anticipated cost savings.
What needs improvement with SAP S/4HANA Cloud?
We have encountered challenges with integration projects, particularly between SAP and non-SAP systems, which have caused delays. While these issues are being gradually addressed, I recommend impro...
 

Also Known As

Dynamics AX, Axapta, MS Dynamics AX
SAP S4HANA Cloud
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

ConQuaestor, D & H Distributing, Sunny Queen, Mesa Associates, Britax Childcare, Ibema, Arafa, Sabo S.p.A.
La Trobe University, Carrefour Comércio e Indústria Ltda, Delaware Consulting and Corning Inc.
Find out what your peers are saying about SAP, Microsoft, Oracle and others in ERP. Updated: October 2024.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.