Why this matters. The DSAG Investment Report 2026 shows that 56% of users continue to use S/4HANA on-premises, 54% are sticking with ECC, and 43% are already working on specific AI use cases. You can’t identify the right ERP solution by looking at the list of vendors, but rather by how transparently it addresses your requirements, your data, and your exit options.
When This Comparison Applies—and When It Doesn’t
This comparison is appropriate if:
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You’re looking for an ERP solution and want to define clear selection criteria before creating a shortlist of vendors;
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You view 7- to 10-year lifecycle costs and vendor lock-in as equally important factors alongside functionality;
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You want an independent evaluation—free from any vendor affiliation.
This comparison is not appropriate if:
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a specific vendor has already been selected for political reasons;
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it involves a simple version migration without changing the solution;
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the data architecture and process owners have not yet been determined.
The Four Differentiation Criteria
ERP solutions differ primarily not by their modules, but by four structural levers. An independent evaluation—free from vendor affiliation—is the minimum requirement for a sound ERP selection process.
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Requirement Fit: Which of your twelve to twenty core processes does the solution cover out of the box, and which require customization? Output: a documented fit-gap analysis.
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Data architecture: In what format will your data be stored after implementation, and how portable is it? Proprietary formats measurably increase switching costs.
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AI Capability: Three-quarters of AI use cases in the DACH region currently run on non-SAP stacks. Check whether your solution allows for AI extensions without requiring a complete system replacement.
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Exit Clauses: Indexation of subscription fees, auto-renewal, and data handover upon contract expiration—these are the real TCO levers.
Common Mistake and How to Avoid It
A mechanical engineering company in Baden-Württemberg with 280 employees selected an ERP solution from a list of top vendors in 2022 without negotiating exit clauses. Three years later, the planned AI expansion failed due to the proprietary data format—and the switch cost the company twelve months of migration effort.
In practice, an ERP comparison only works if it honestly addresses three layers: requirements, data, and contract. From over 1,200 selection projects we’ve supported, we’ve learned that choosing a solution is less a matter of the product itself and more a matter of clarity regarding requirements.
What to Do Next
If you’d like to assess how robust your shortlist is today:
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Identify three critical business decisions (e.g., order approval, inventory valuation, month-end closing).
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For each decision, check whether the solution supports it out of the box or only with customization.
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Check the data export format and exit clause. Anything you can’t figure out shouldn’t be in your contract.
We can conduct this review with you in a structured manner and translate the results into a vendor-neutral scoring model—which will shorten the comparison process by weeks.
FAQ
Three to five solutions. Fewer than that won’t allow for a meaningful comparison; more than that dilutes the evaluation and ties up resources that would be better spent on requirements analysis.
Cloud is a good choice for stable, standard processes, small IT teams, and minimal customization needs. On-premise remains advantageous for deeply integrated production control and strict data residency requirements.
At least three: full data export in an open format, a cap on the indexation of subscription fees, and a termination option without automatic renewal beyond the initial contract term.
