SAP Versus Oracle ERP

A Brief Comparison

Areas of Difference

Product Overall SophisticationImplementation Issues

- Case Studies References

Support LevelBrief Product Functionalities

Integrated or Interfaced?

SAP An Integrated Application

Oracle ERP An Interfaced Package of Modules.

GL for Sub-Ledgers

SAP - No GL Flex-Fields Segments issue- FICO elements are available in

sub-ledgers e.g. MM Module like Internal-Order

Oracle ERP

5 out of 30 Segments of GL Key Flex-fieldA cumbersome data entry Issue for Sub-Ledger Payable, Purchase, Inventory

Reports

SAP Reports with Drill-down Feature With ALV Grid Features.With Dynamic Parameter ListWith Preview and Text/Pdf etc. Output Types

Oracle ERP Reports has No Drill Down Feature

With Preview and Text/Pdf etc. Static Output Types

Real Time Update of General Ledger (GL) with Actual Process

SAP (Being An Integrated Application) GL is updated instantly with valuated business transaction e.g. GR (Good Receipt) or Invoice Entry

Oracle ERP : (Being An interfaced Application) Programs are run manually or scheduled to create Accounting, transfer to GL Interface, Import to GL and finally post to GL Ledger.

Sub-Contracting to Vendors

SAPSophisticated Sub-Contracting Integrated to Production Planning Proper valuation accounting

Oracle ERPLimited functionality of Outside Processing.

Services Procurement

SAPService Purchase Orders Service Entry Sheet activities Acceptance of “Services items”Planned materials Unplanned cost elements.

Oracle ERPNo functionality of Service Entry Sheet

Centralized along-with Decentralized Purchasing Orgs.

SAPDynamic Organization structure

ClientCompany CodePlantsStorage LocationsPurchasing Orgs.

Oracle ERPStatic Organization Structure

Old Concept of Operating Unit Restricts Centralized with Decentralized Purchasing.

Procure 2 Pay Concept

SAPSAP MM covers complete cycles of Procure 2 Pay by Purchasing, Inventory and Invoice Verification

OracleOracle Purchasing, Oracle Inventory and Oracle Payable modules jointly covers the concept of Procure 2 Pay.

Cross Module Integration

SAPSAP Modules integrated with each other

Oracle ERPNo linkage to prime references of other modules

Changes in Documents

SAP offers detail history logs of creation and changes in SAP Documents

Oracle ERP offers very limited History Logs of Data Entry e.g.“Last Change By and Last Change When” in Record History Option.

Vendor-Material Relationship

SAP Offers “Info Record” to define the one to one relationship between Vendor and Material.

Oracle ERP has no similar elements to establish One 2 One Vendor-Material Relationship.

Data to Spreadsheets

SAP- Transfer Data to Microsoft Excel- Excel Pivot Tables. - ALV Grid Control facility

Oracle ERPOnly Text reports of tabular format are usable in Excel.Limited Online Summaries are Exportable in Excel

Screen Drill-Down

SAP Very High Level Drill-down Feature across SAP Modules in accordance with Authorization Matrix.

Oracle ERP has a very Low Drill Down Functions only in some Application Screens and not at report level.

Example: A SAP Finance User can drill-down to root level of a financial transaction.-Who was users-Entry time, -Log history of changes, -Approvers , -Accounting Entries etc

Processing Mode

SAPSeparate processing modes/screen for many SAP transactions and document Example: Create Purchase Order or Change or Print or Display(with or without price elements)

Oracle ERP No such standard bifurcation of processing modes of transactions

Search Engine Help at Field forShort List of Values for Input Selection

SAPSearch Engines to facilitate each fields where long list of values are expected for Online searching of Values Examples: Vendor , Material, Customer, Material Transaction Document etc.

Oracle ERP : No Search Engines Only Use of “%” is available for Long Lists

Copy & Paste Clipboard and Key Board Short-Cuts

SAPFacilitates with functionality of Copy & Paste from Clipboard From SAP and To SAP. Numerous Keyboards shortcuts are available for Fast Data Entry

Oracle ERPLimited use of Copy and Paste Limited Keyboard Short Cuts

Multi-Session for User

SAPMultiple concurrent sessions

Oracle ERPNo Multiple Sessions. Multiple Logins can be a workaround but multiple Login itself is a question from security point of view.

ERP Launching Platform

SAPSAP-Gui at user’s PC to access SAP

Oracle ERPNetscape or Internet Explorer etc required.

Bugs and Patches

SAP Stable to implement/upgrade

Oracle ERP Frequent Use of Patches to remove Bugs makes a volatile status

Planned Cost & Imports Automatic Valuations

SAPCovers all Planned Cost in a Purchase Order.Powerful features of “Purchase Order Conditions”Invoicing Parties in Invoice PaymentsAll import related payments

Oracle ERPNone of above features thus planned cost of a procurement are handled separately.

Documents Types

SAPMultiple document types as per user requirements ExamplePurchase Order has Old POs, Std. POs, etc.

Oracle ERPLimited Document Types

Overview of Related Data with User Working Area

SAPOverview Area at User workspace- Information related to Inter-module and Intra-Module for adoption and view purpose.

Example: “PO History” in Purchase Order helps user to see delivery status from Inventory Management.

Invoice Entry has PO structure Area for better invoice verification

Oracle ERP does not offer any Overview Area at User’s Data Entry Screen

Long Text Feature

SAP has multiple Long Text Feature. E.g. Material Text, PO Text, Delivery Text, Payment Term Text in MM Purchase Order.

Oracle ERP has no such feature of Long Text in Module Documents Types

Mass Data Loading/Changing

SAPIntegrated within ProductABAP Programs LSMW Various Data Mass Change Functions

Oracle ERPInterfaced with ProductADI (Application Desktop Integrator)SQL LoaderData Loader

User Friendliness

SAPReport Selection ParameterParameter VariantLayout VariantTransaction CodesAbility to meet Expansion & Complexity

Oracle ERPUnable to grow with Organization and meet complex scenarios.

Time to Decide

What is the Right Decision?Opting for Cheaper Solution means compromising on:

Efficiency of processes.ProductivityReimplementation ThreatReal Time IntegrationComprehensive FunctionalitiesEase of use