Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CiviCRM VS SAP ERP

Compare CiviCRM VS SAP ERP and see what are their differences

CiviCRM logo CiviCRM

A Constituent relationship management for the Civic Sector

SAP ERP logo SAP ERP

SAP ERP is enterprise resource planning software developed by the German company SAP SE.
  • CiviCRM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • SAP ERP
    Image date //
    2025-02-06

CiviCRM features and specs

  • Open Source
    CiviCRM is open-source, meaning it is free to use and can be modified to fit specific organizational needs. This allows for cost savings and flexibility.
  • Integrations
    CiviCRM integrates well with popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla, allowing for seamless incorporation into existing websites.
  • Comprehensive Features
    The software offers a wide range of features such as contact management, event management, membership management, contributions tracking, and email marketing.
  • Community Support
    Being open-source, CiviCRM benefits from an active global community providing regular updates, plugins, and support.
  • Customizability
    Organizations can tailor the software to meet their specific needs through extensive customization options and add-ons.

Possible disadvantages of CiviCRM

  • Complexity
    CiviCRM can be complex to set up and manage, which may necessitate technical expertise for optimal configuration and maintenance.
  • User Interface
    The user interface is often considered less intuitive and aesthetically outdated compared to other modern CRM systems.
  • Performance
    The system can be resource-intensive, potentially leading to slower performance if not properly optimized or on lower-end servers.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    Due to its comprehensive feature set, new users might experience a steep learning curve before they can use the system effectively.
  • Limited Professional Support
    While community support is strong, professional support options are somewhat limited, which might be a drawback for organizations looking for direct assistance.

SAP ERP features and specs

  • Comprehensive Functionality
    SAP ERP offers a vast range of functionalities covering all essential business processes, including finance, sales, procurement, production, and HR, making it a one-stop solution for various business needs.
  • Scalability
    SAP ERP is highly scalable, suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises. As a company grows, the system can be expanded to accommodate increased workloads and new business processes.
  • Integration Capabilities
    SAP ERP seamlessly integrates with other SAP modules and third-party applications, ensuring smooth data flow across different departments and functions.
  • Industry Best Practices
    The platform incorporates industry best practices and standards, helping companies to optimize their operations and improve efficiency.
  • Advanced Analytics
    SAP ERP includes advanced analytics and reporting tools that provide valuable insights into business operations, facilitating informed decision-making.
  • Global Compliance
    The system supports various international compliance and regulatory standards, making it easier for global companies to maintain compliance across different regions.

Possible disadvantages of SAP ERP

  • High Cost
    Implementing SAP ERP can be expensive due to high licensing, implementation, and maintenance costs, making it less affordable for smaller organizations.
  • Complexity
    The extensive features and customization options can make SAP ERP complex to understand and use, requiring significant training and expertise.
  • Lengthy Implementation
    The implementation process can be lengthy and resource-intensive, often requiring extended periods to fully deploy and integrate into existing business processes.
  • Need for Specialized Skills
    Operating and maintaining SAP ERP demands specialized skills and knowledge, necessitating ongoing training or the hiring of experienced personnel.
  • Customization Challenges
    While SAP ERP is highly customizable, excessive customization can lead to issues with future updates and maintenance, potentially resulting in higher costs and complexities.
  • Flexibility
    Despite its robust feature set, some users find SAP ERP less flexible compared to other ERP solutions that might offer more adaptability to unique business needs without extensive customization.

Analysis of CiviCRM

Overall verdict

  • CiviCRM is considered a good choice for non-profit and advocacy organizations that need a comprehensive, customizable, and cost-effective CRM solution. Its strengths lie in its community-driven development, feature-rich functionality, and ability to handle a wide range of constituent management tasks.

Why this product is good

  • CiviCRM is a free, open-source CRM solution designed specifically for the needs of non-profit, civic sector, and advocacy organizations. It offers a wide range of features such as contact management, fundraising, event management, email marketing, and membership management, which are tailored to help organizations effectively engage and manage their constituents. Its integration capabilities with popular content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal make it a flexible option for organizations using these platforms.

Recommended for

    Non-profits, civic organizations, advocacy groups, and other organizations in the public sector seeking a tailored CRM solution to manage contacts, donations, events, communications, and more without the expense of commercial CRM systems.

Analysis of SAP ERP

Overall verdict

  • SAP ERP is generally considered a good choice for large and midsize organizations seeking to streamline their operations and make data-driven decisions. While it may require a significant upfront investment and time to implement, the potential benefits in terms of functionality and scalability can justify these efforts.

Why this product is good

  • SAP ERP is widely regarded as a robust and flexible enterprise resource planning software. It provides comprehensive solutions for managing business processes across various industries and departments, including finance, supply chain, human resources, and customer relations. Its modular architecture allows businesses to implement only those functions that meet their specific needs, which helps optimize operations and improve overall efficiency.

Recommended for

    SAP ERP is best suited for large enterprises and complex multinational corporations seeking a comprehensive ERP solution. It's particularly recommended for companies in industries like manufacturing, retail, utilities, and logistics, where integration of diverse and complex processes is crucial. Additionally, organizations with the resources for SAP-centric IT staff or partnerships may find it more appropriate due to the complexity and customization capabilities of the system.

CiviCRM videos

2014 CiviCRM User Summit Review

More videos:

  • Review - CiviLive: COVID-19 – Using WordPress & CiviCRM
  • Review - CiviCRM for Absolute Beginners

SAP ERP videos

🌟 SAP ERP Review | A Powerful Solution for Streamlining Business Operations

More videos:

  • Review - Independent Review of SAP S/4HANA | Unbiased Overview of SAP ERP

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CiviCRM and SAP ERP)
CRM
30 30%
70% 70
ERP
0 0%
100% 100
Sales
100 100%
0% 0
Sales Workflow
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CiviCRM and SAP ERP

CiviCRM Reviews

We have no reviews of CiviCRM yet.
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SAP ERP Reviews

17 Best ERP Software To Monitor Business Vitals In 2024
Features that make SAP ERP stand out from the competition include reliable multi-currency and multi-language capabilities, real-time access to overseas financial and operational data, and advanced supply chain management tools that ensure timely and efficient delivery of goods, crucial for highly regulated industries.
Source: thecfoclub.com
Best ERP Software 2022: Top Rated ERP Systems Comparison
SAP ERP is another product from SAP for large-sized organizations. It is one of the most widely used ERPs, which is being implemented across industries, across countries, across languages, and currencies. It also comes with a mobile interface to access anytime, anywhere. Apart from these, it also offers seamless migration to SAP S/4HANA.
10 Best ERP Software Of 2021 (+ Free ERP Options)
In 1972, five former IBM employees founded the company they call SAP Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung (“System Analysis and Program Development”). Since then, SAP ERP has excelled in enterprise resource planning and financial management solutions. SAP currently supports over 200M subscribers in their cloud user base and has been named a top contending software company...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CiviCRM seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CiviCRM mentions (10)

  • Self hosted club management software
    Apart from Admidio which has already been mentioned, another option to explore is CiviCRM. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is it possible for a political candidate to run completely off of free press?
    As a software developer, I looked at some of what they did, and some of what is commercially available for candidates. The guy who won in the races I ran in was spending $1500/month for a website that was a simple brochure. Something that could be set up for even folks running for school board might be a simple hosted brochure/blog site with Wordpress as a front-end, with CivCRM keeping track of volunteers and... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Looking for a membership management system
    Https://civicrm.org/ [this works with a cms like drupal, wordpress, joomla etc]. Source: about 3 years ago
  • CRM for a freelancer / for software related companies
    So far I found Chatwoot, CiviCRM, Corteza, ERPNext, EspoCRM, Dolibarr, Odoo, OroCRM, Mautic, SuiteCRM and X2CRM and there are probably even much more available. It seems that Odoo and ERPNext are huge but also very flexible (with many extensions available). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Management of non-profit organisation
    If you are already using wordpress, you may also want to look at CiviCRM [https://civicrm.org/] for managing members etc. It is used by non-profit orgs. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

SAP ERP mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SAP ERP yet. Tracking of SAP ERP recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing CiviCRM and SAP ERP, you can also consider the following products

EspoCRM - EspoCRM is open source CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software that allows you to see, enter and evaluate all your company relationships regardless of the type.

Sage Intacct - Intacct is a cloud-based accounting and financial management system that is designed for the businesses of all levels.

Pipeliner CRM - Pipeliner CRM empowers small to medium-sized sales teams to close more deals and lower risk. Implementation and training are a breeze. Mac & Windows.

Oracle NetSuite - NetSuite is the leading integrated cloud business software suite, including business accounting, ERP, CRM and ecommerce software.

Odoo CRM - Open Source CRM

Odoo - An all-integrated business app suite to unleash your growth potential.