What is our primary use case?
In our current business context, we are part of the retail industry. Normally, we purchase products from overseas vendors, and then we resell those products. We may do DLP (Delivery Processing) and all. But after that, we store the products in the warehouse. Finally, we have a Salesforce automation system, which collects the sales orders and transfers them to SAP Business One. It is an integrated system with SAP Business One. Then, to process sales, our users raise the invoices. At the warehouse location, we deliver the goods to the end-users. This business operates as B2B (Business-to-Business), and we handle a considerable volume of transactions. We deal with automotive items such as spare parts, tires, and other products in our portfolio.
In the backend, the finance team prepares the financial statements through the SAP system. They book payments, process bank transactions, and more. So, this is an integrated process, and we use all the modules of SAP Business One, except for the production module, as we don't have any production requirements in retail. However, we have one subsidiary. When we implement SAP Business One for that particular aspect, we will use the production module.
Currently, we have a small area where we assemble sales kits for combining items into one particular product. So, with the new implementation, we will use all the modules, enabling us to get comprehensive financial reports. That's the background of our usage.
How has it helped my organization?
What is most valuable?
SAP has taken some steps for improved usability and product innovation, and they have capabilities in integrations, for example, RPA, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, which can be integrated with SAP Business One. So, they are expanding their capabilities and scope.
SAP Business One has to compete with Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics. But when comparing the user interface and the cognitive behavior of the system, SAP Business One stands out as the best.
Also, the documentation part and the user manuals provided by SAP are quite comprehensive. They give detailed instructions that are easy to understand and offer good guidance to users and consultants. So that's the strength of SAP Business One.
What needs improvement?
I have seen some limitations. For example, in Sri Lanka, I implemented SAP Business One in the fashion industry, specifically the footwear industry. Currently, the system does not support creating size-wise items with a size grid, which would be a beneficial feature to have.
Additionally, in some areas, particularly in budget preparation and cost accounting, there are certain limitations that could be improved. Specifically, the budgeting side needs enhancement.
When comparing SAP Business One with Netsuite and Microsoft Dynamics, Netsuite has a feature that allows easy integration with email, whereas SAP Business One lacks this capability. Users need to log in to the SAP Business One application separately to access emails, unlike Netsuite.
These minor features make a difference, and if SAP Business One can include and improve such aspects, it would become the ideal product for SMEs.
One another thing is SAP Business One consumes a lot of network resources and bandwidth, especially when accessing the web solution, B1 Web Access. While NetSuite is a completely cloud-based solution that can be accessed via a web browser, SAP Business One has this facility but faces some constraints, especially in terms of top performance and speed at the browser level.
However, in the network, there are issues regarding application slowness. This could be a major concern with SAP Business One. These are some areas of improvement for me.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SAP Business One since 2020. Currently, we are working with version 10.1.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is my 13th year with SAP Business One. Actually, I have been using SAP Business One since 2010, starting with an early version in 2005. So, it's been a stable product. I have been using SAP B1 for more than ten years now. It has minimum bugs compared to other tools, especially when comparing it with products like SAGE and SHS, which have more bugs.
SAP Business One is stable, meaning that when we enter data into the system at the front-end level, we can get accurate financial reports at the back end. It ensures the accuracy of the data, and we don't face struggles with financial reporting due to inaccuracies, unlike some local ERP systems where ledger accounts may not be right, leading to discrepancies in balance sheets and other issues. However, with SAP Business One, I don't experience such struggles; it works smoothly. I can confidently recommend it as a stable product.
How are customer service and support?
In the support team, we normally have access to the support portal in SAP Business One. At the first level, we can use the check facility to detect and resolve the issues ourselves. If needed, we can create a ticket and then pass the problem to them, and they will attend to it within twenty-four hours. According to that process, they attend to the job.
Additionally, SAP Business One has the Remote Support Platform (RSP), which allows them to connect and easily rectify any issues from their side. To use this feature, we need to install the RSP first.
Overall, I think if there are any inconveniences or instances, SAP have Business One's RSP (Remote Support Platform) along with a special KBS (Knowledge-Based System) that contains support nodes. If something goes wrong, we can refer to those notes and manage any issue with that information. Most of the time, we can find solutions by referring to these notes.
Additionally, SAP B1 have a huge community where we can search for answers if we don't know something. By simply going to Google and typing our query, we can usually find the information and support we need. They provide excellent support and guidance in terms of security as well.
How was the initial setup?
When comparing SAP Business One with other products, the initial stage can be challenging. The first thing is to comply with the standards and best practices. If we can apply those and define good process flows, along with setting up the necessary configurations, then the implementation process becomes smoother.
In the beginning, there might be some uncertainty, but it's not a big issue. The key is to follow SAP's recommendations and guidelines. They provide helpful guidance, and if we adhere to those, we will succeed in the implementation process.
It's totally an on-premises one. So we installed the HANA server, and this is a Business One server.
We have several office locations in Sri Lanka. So there are some remote users who access the system through KES Plus. Also, we have warehouses, and the warehouse users access the system through the KES Plus, where they do printing parts and refer to reports, among other things.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The initial cost for on-premise installation was around 50,000 USD for the licenses, including HANA database and other components. After that, we pay an annual maintenance cost (AMC) of 20% of the initial value, depending on the number of users.
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with ten to twenty users, it could be around 10,000 to 20,000 USD. However, if you move to the cloud and choose subscription-based licenses, the costs can vary depending on the service providers.
Additionally, if you use integration modules or third-party applications, it may incur extra costs. Compared to other products like Microsoft Dynamics and NetSuite, SAP Business One is cost-effective for SMEs.
What other advice do I have?
My advice would be; first, you should have the right consultant to implement the system. SAP Business One is a good product, but it needs to be properly mapped with your business requirements to gain maximum benefit. Customization may be required, such as developing reports, writing queries, and making small customizations, so it's crucial to get support from the right consultant. Some consultants may lack experience and knowledge about the product.
In my 13 years of experience with SAP Business One and over 15 implementations, I recommend applying the right solution, mapping, and complying with SAP's recommendations and special amendments. If there's a gap between the Business One ERP system and your business requirements, it may lead to failure in the ERP implementation.
SAP Business One is almost perfect. I can give it a ten out of ten. It has been a stable and reliable platform for me.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.