SAP S/4HANA vs Sage X3: the ERP matchup for large enterprises in 2025
Choosing an ERP today is a bit like choosing a co-pilot for a Paris-Tokyo trip on a private jet. It has to be reliable, efficient and, above all, able to keep pace with you... without making you jump out of the sky.
SAP S/4HANA and Sage X3 are two of the leading players in this field. Two robust solutions designed for ambitious companies that want to manage their business at 360°, centralize workflows, and stay in control even when the going gets tough.
But behind their appearance as technological twins, their approaches diverge. One comes from Germany, brimming with cloud innovations and promises of automation. The other, more agile, seduces with its business flexibility and ability to adapt to realities on the ground.
So, which will it be in 2025? We've analyzed, compared, tested, and even crossed our fingers that your future ERP doesn't end up a gas factory.
What is SAP S/4HANA?
Overview of SAP S/4HANA
SAP S/4HANA is the flagship of cloud ERP. The brainchild of German software publisher SAP, it embodies the next generation of intelligent ERP, designed for large enterprises with complex processes and international reach.
Designed to succeed the aging SAP ECC, S/4HANA is based on an ultra-fast in-memory database (HANA) that boosts real-time processing performance. It's not just an ERP, it's a digital nervous system capable of connecting finance, supply chain, production, purchasing, sales, maintenance and much more... in a single cockpit.
- Target: large companies (industry, energy, services, retail) with global, multi-site needs.
- Positioning: high-end, modular solution focused on the intelligent digitization of business processes.
- Use cases: consolidated global financial management, AI-enabled inventory forecasting, real-time production tracking, automated purchasing cycles, complex regulatory compliance.
- Customers: Unilever, Airbus, Engie, Coca-Cola, TotalEnergies... we're talking big business.
SAP is also banking on the native integration of AI, machine learning and workflow automation to transform operational and strategic management. In other words, it's not the ERP that follows the movement, it's the ERP that anticipates it.
Key features of SAP S/4HANA
SAP S/4HANA doesn't just manage your back office, it reinvents it. Thanks to its processing power and XXL functional coverage, the ERP offers a complete suite for digitizing all links in the value chain, from headquarters to subsidiaries, from stock to end customer.
Here are the key functionalities to remember
- Advanced financial management: cost accounting, multi-currency consolidation, automatic closing, integrated management control.
- Real-time supply chain: dynamic planning, inventory and warehouse management, predictive logistics, live order tracking.
- Intelligent production and MRP: scheduling, preventive maintenance, quality management, IoT integration.
- Automated purchasing: strategic sourcing, supplier management, digitalized contracts and tenders.
- Sales and customer relations: order management, invoicing, integrated CRM with customer cycle tracking.
- Fiori user experience: a streamlined, responsive interface, with personalized dashboards according to roles.
The whole thing is 100% cloud, with integrated AI capabilities, machine learning to anticipate disruptions or automate low value-added tasks, and a strong compliance focus (IFRS, RGPD, etc.).
SAP S/4HANA
Advantages and disadvantages of SAP S/4HANA
Adopting SAP S/4HANA is a bit like switching from a sedan to a Formula 1 car. It's powerful, it's elegant, but it requires a great deal of mastery. Here's what we've learned about the benefits, and what to watch out for.
✅ Advantages
- Technological power: in-memory architecture enables massive real-time processing, a real game changer for finance and operations departments.
- Business hyper-customization: SAP offers ultra-specific modules, even for complex sectors such as chemicals and aeronautics.
- 360° vision of the company: a centralized ERP that unifies data, processes, subsidiaries and businesses.
- Integrated innovation: AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, process automation... everything is already in the box.
- Rich ecosystem: vast marketplace of SAP extensions and certified partners worldwide.
❌ Disadvantages
- High cost: S/4HANA is an ERP Rolls, and it shows in the budget (licenses, integration, maintenance).
- Complex implementation: time-consuming deployment, change management essential, especially for structures unfamiliar with SAP.
- Learning curve: despite the Fiori interface, the functional richness can be intimidating at first.
In short, SAP S/4HANA is tailor-made for large companies aiming for maximum performance, but it requires a certain level of digital maturity (and a budget to match its ambitions).
What is Sage X3?
Overview of Sage X3
Sage X3 is the ERP you choose when you want performance, but don't want to pay a fortune for it. Signed by British publisher Sage, it targets SMEs and ETIs that have outgrown the limits of a basic ERP, but don't necessarily need the gasworks of a behemoth like SAP.
Designed for high-growth companies, Sage X3 is built on flexibility, customization and a fluid user experience. All with solid functional coverage: finance, production, supply chain, purchasing, sales, CRM, HR... it's all there, without unnecessary overload.
- Target: SMEs, mid-sized companies and multi-site groups, particularly in industry, distribution, agri-food, chemicals and services.
- Positioning: flexible, customizable ERP with an excellent features/budget ratio.
- Use cases: multi-site inventory management, production management, regulatory traceability, financial consolidation, sales automation.
- Customers: over 7,000 companies worldwide, including Castalie, Derichebourg, Michel et Augustin, Seac Sub...
With Sage X3, we're clearly taking a hands-on approach: quick to deploy, more accessible than its heavyweight rivals, yet robust enough to support ramp-up.
Main features of Sage X3
Sage X3 plays in the big league, but without the ERP complex that's too heavy to digest. Its promise? Go fast, stay agile, and cover a lot of ground. All with a modern interface, designed for users who don't have time for that.
Here's what Sage X3 offers in concrete terms:
- Complete financial management: multi-company accounting, cost accounting, cash management, budget management, multi-country taxation.
- Tailor-made production: planning, scheduling, BOM management, real-time monitoring, quality management.
- Efficient supply chain: purchasing, inventory, logistics, automated inventories, batch and serial number traceability.
- Integrated sales and CRM: management of quotes, orders, invoices, reminders, customer history.
- Customizable workflows: process automation, notifications and approvals according to your business rules.
- Mobile and cloud accessibility: secure online access, mobile app for field teams, continuous updates.
What we like: each module can be activated or deactivated as required. No functional overload: you don't pay for what you don't use. And when it comes to regulations, Sage X3 ticks all the boxes too: RGPD compliance, ISO standards management, agri-food or chemical traceability.
Sage X3 ERP
Advantages and disadvantages of Sage X3
Sage X3 is a bit like the good pupil in the ERP class: efficient, adaptable, and more affordable than its premium competitors. But like all software, it has its darker side. Here's what you really need to know before taking the plunge.
✅ Advantages
- Quick to deploy: according to integrators, a Sage X3 project can be up and running in 4 to 6 months, whereas other ERPs take over a year.
- Business flexibility: the tool adapts to numerous sectors (industry, chemicals, agri-food, distribution, etc.) with ready-to-use functionalities.
- Clear interface and customization: users praise the rapid learning curve and views that can be adjusted to each profile.
- Good value for money: less expensive than the industry giants, while offering solid functional coverage.
- Solid multi-site and multi-country performance: particularly well suited to ETIs undergoing international growth.
❌ Disadvantages
- Functionalities sometimes limited for very large structures or ultra-specific processes.
- Smaller ecosystem than SAP: fewer partners, fewer extensions available, especially internationally.
- Uneven technical support, depending on the integrator chosen (quality is highly provider-dependent).
Sage X3 ticks a lot of boxes for ambitious SMBs who want to digitize without complicating matters. But for ultra-specialized or highly international needs, you can quickly reach your limits.
SAP S/4HANA vs Sage X3: compare functionalities
Although they both present themselves as complete ERP solutions, SAP S/4HANA and Sage X3 are not quite in the same league. One relies on technological power and advanced automation, the other on agility and ease of deployment. Here's a quick overview, before we zoom in on the key aspects.
| Key functionality | SAP S/4HANA | Sage X3 |
| Financial management | Highly advanced, AI and auto closing | Complete, but less automated |
| Supply Chain | Real-time, predictive logistics | Solid, multi-site traceability |
| Production & MRP | IoT integration, AI planning | Flexible, business-oriented |
| CRM & sales | Integrated but basic | Integrated CRM, good customer follow-up |
| Workflow automation | Native AI & RPA | Customizable workflows |
| Business customization | Highly advanced (SAP Best Practices) | High business adaptability |
| Mobility & Cloud | Native cloud, SAP Fiori app | Hybrid cloud, mobile app |
| Deployment | Long, complex, structured | Faster, flexible |
Focus 1: Financial management and consolidation
SAP S/4HANA is a powerful financial management solution. Automated closing, group-wide consolidated view, real-time analytics, international compliance (IFRS, SOX, etc.). The SAP FI-CO module is a worldwide reference.
Sage X3 offers efficient multi-company and multi-currency accounting, but is less advanced in terms of consolidation and automation. That said, it is more than sufficient for the majority of small and medium-sized businesses.
👉 To remember
Finance departments managing several entities in different countries will find SAP more robust, especially on a large scale.
Focus 2: Production control
SAP offers advanced integration with IoT, predictive maintenance and fine-tuned resource planning. Ideal for Industry 4.0.
Sage X3 remains highly competent, especially for industrial SMEs, with its modular and sector-based approach (bills of materials, quality, traceability).
👉 To remember
The power of SAP appeals to complex industrial sites. But Sage is still easier for field teams to get to grips with on a day-to-day basis.
Focus 3: Supply chain & logistics
SAP S/4HANA stands out for its ability to synchronize purchasing, inventory, delivery and planning, all in real time. Modules such as EWM (Extended Warehouse Management) go a long way.
Sage X3 offers a well-designed supply chain, with multi-warehouse management, automated flows and good batch tracking. Less "intelligent", but often sufficient.
👉 To remember
Sage is ideally suited to traditional supply chains. SAP is well equipped for international supply chains.
Focus 4: Automation & AI
This is where SAP pulls out the heavy artillery. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, RPA, predictive scenarios... everything is native to S/4HANA.
Sage X3 can automate processes via workflows, but without native artificial intelligence. It can be extended via connectors, but this is not its core value.
👉 To remember
If you're looking to massively automate your processes with AI, SAP is ahead of the pack. Sage puts up a good fight, but remains manual on this point.
Focus 5: Customization and business adaptability
SAP is highly customizable, but this often comes at a high cost (and time). You have to follow the SAP Activate methodology, go through certified consultants, etc.
Sage X3 is more pragmatic: you can customize the tool according to your business (agri, pharma, services...), without going overboard. Users appreciate this flexibility.
👉 To remember
Companies with "non-standard" processes gain in responsiveness with Sage. SAP offers more, but at the price of greater complexity.
SAP S/4HANA vs Sage X3 : Compare prices
| Software / Model | Pricing / license / subscription |
| Sage X3 | - Perpetual license: ≈ €4,500 to €13,500 excl. tax per full user (depending on modules/options). - SaaS (cloud) subscription: from around €23,000 excl. tax/year for a "basic" configuration. - The total cost then depends on the number of users, modules activated, integrations, configuration, support, etc. |
| SAP S/4HANA | - No fixed public price available online for Europe / France - SAP offers "on quotation". - According to an Anglo-Saxon source (outside the French context), the "starter" cost (including license + subscription) is quoted as ~ US$3,595 / month (equivalent to just over US$40,000 / year) - illustrating that S/4HANA is significantly more expensive than "average" ERPs. - The overall cost of a S/4HANA project includes licenses/subscriptions, infrastructure or cloud, integration, training, maintenance - which can quickly inflate the TCO (total cost of ownership). |
👉 What these figures mean in concrete terms
- Sage X3 offers greater budget transparency: pricing (license or SaaS subscription) is publicly available, so you can control the cost per user - ideal for SMEs.
- SAP S/4HANA is based on quotations only. Costs vary according to modules, hosting, number of users and integrations. No standard price.
- For the same scope, Sage X3 is more affordable for a complete ERP. SAP is especially justified if you're aiming for strict compliance, a global architecture, or ultra-complex processes.
- In all cases, you need to assess the TCO (total cost of ownership), including licenses, integration, support, training and maintenance.
- Company size, business complexity and expected level of automation have a major influence on the final bill.
SAP S/4HANA vs Sage X3: which interface is more intuitive?
The ERP interface is often the sinews of war. A tool can be ultra-powerful, but if no one dares click on it, it stays in the closet. The good news is that SAP S/4HANA and Sage X3 have been working hard on their UX in recent years. But they don't do it with the same philosophy.
| Criterion | SAP S/4HANA (Fiori) | Sage X3 |
| Handling | ⚠️ Initially complex | ✅ Fast and intuitive |
| Design / modernity | ✅ Very modern and responsive | ✅ Modern but more sober |
| Navigation | Rich but dense | ✅ Fluid and logical |
| Customization by user | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Flexible |
| Mobile accessibility | ✅ Native | ✅ Via application or browser |
| Training time | High (rich functionality) | ✅ Short (intuitive structure) |
SAP S/4HANA with Fiori: power and rigor
SAP relies on Fiori, its responsive interface designed for the cloud. Objective: a seamless user experience on desktop, tablet and mobile. It features :
- Personalized views by role (accountant, buyer, production manager, etc.)
- Clickable tiles, like an interactive dashboard
- Fluid yet dense navigation for newcomers
- Intelligent alerts integrated into workflows
When it comes to getting to grips with the software, it's powerful but demanding. Initial training is essential to fully exploit the tool.
Sage X3: simplicity and pragmatism
The Sage X3 interface focuses on accessibility. Less sexy on paper than SAP Fiori, it is seductively simple and clear, with :
- Classic but effective drop-down menu navigation
- Screens that can be customized according to role
- Quick access to key information (dashboards, KPIs, favorites, etc.)
- A modern interface, with no graphic overload
The result: a faster learning curve, especially for less technophile operational teams.
👉 To remember
SAP S/4HANA offers a high-end experience designed for large structures with sophisticated processes. Sage X3 prefers to cut to the chase, with a more pragmatic interface that's well suited to fast, everyday use.
SAP S/4HANA vs Sage X3: compare integrations
An isolated ERP is like an orchestra conductor without musicians: impressive, but useless. The ability of software to integrate with other business tools (CRM, e-commerce, payroll, BI...) is therefore crucial. And in this area, SAP and Sage X3 don't have the same score.
| Criterion | SAP S/4HANA | Sage X3 |
| Number of native integrations | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Very broad ecosystem, especially via SAP Business Technology Platform. Seamless integration with SAP suites (Ariba, Concur, SuccessFactors, etc.). | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ - Good coverage, connectors to Sage Payroll, Sage BI, FRP 1000, CRM, e-commerce tools, logistics, etc. |
| Ease of integration | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ - Powerful but often complex integrations, require SAP-certified consultants for optimal deployment. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ - REST APIs, connectors available, simpler integrations to set up, even for SMBs without an in-house IT department. |
| APIs available | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ - Well-documented APIs, wide openness, but often reserved for experienced developers. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ - APIs available and well thought-out for integrators. Good openness without excessive vendor dependency. |
| Automated workflows | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ - Integration with SAP BTP, native RPA and AI, advanced workflows for large-scale automation. | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ - Automation via customized, parameterizable workflows. Less advanced than SAP, but sufficient for most SMBs. |
| Flexible connectors | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ - Good functional coverage, but connectors often locked into predefined scenarios. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ - Modular structure designed for interoperability. More business flexibility in third-party integrations. |
👉 To remember
SAP, with its technological arsenal, targets the IT departments of multinationals. Sage, on the other hand, is more down-to-earth, appealing for its pragmatic interoperability, which is easier to deploy without an army of consultants.
When to choose SAP S/4HANA or Sage X3?
Choosing an ERP should never be a "technical" decision. It is above all a response to your business challenges, your internal constraints and your ability to manage a structuring project. Here are the most logical scenarios.
If you're a large, multi-site company with complex processes... choose SAP S/4HANA
- You manage several international subsidiaries with multi-currency financial consolidation
- Your business processes require strict, automated and often regulated rules
- You need predictive tools, artificial intelligence or advanced automation
- Your IT teams can absorb a long, structuring project, with budget and resources
- You are aiming for strong integration with other SAP solutions (Concur, Ariba, SuccessFactors...)
💡 This is the choice of industrial, pharmaceutical and energy groups, or any company subject to strong compliance constraints.
If you're a growing ETI or SME with concrete, agile needs... choose Sage X3
- You're looking for a full-featured ERP that's quicker to deploy
- Your business is fast-moving and requires a flexible, customizable tool
- You want to control costs and avoid heavy dependence on an integrator
- Your teams need a simple interface, understandable from the very first weeks
- You're in a sector such as agri-food, chemicals, distribution, or services
💡 This is the choice of small and medium-sized businesses who want an ERP that's robust but easy to live with on a day-to-day basis, without leaving three quarters of margin.
What to learn from the SAP S/4HANA vs Sage X3 battle
SAP S/4HANA and Sage X3 aren't exactly playing on the same field, even if they're claiming the same medal: that of the best ERP for demanding businesses. One is an ultra-technological war machine, the other a nimble, clever and controllable ally.
Here's a clear table to help you decide:
| Need | Our recommendation |
| ERP for a highly complex international group | SAP S/4HANA |
| Rapid deployment with controlled budget | Sage X3 |
| Advanced automation (AI, RPA, predictive analytics) | SAP S/4HANA |
| Intuitive interface for business users | Sage X3 |
| Structured project with solid IT department | SAP S/4HANA |
| ERP customizable to a specific sector | Sage X3 |
| Integrated application ecosystem (HR, purchasing, BI, etc.) | SAP S/4HANA |
| Simple interoperability with your business tools | Sage X3 |
Simply put:
- SAP S/4HANA is the ideal solution for complex, multi-country, highly industrialized environments, where technological excellence is expected.
- Sage X3 stands out for its flexibility, speed of implementation and efficiency in the field, with a price/performance ratio that's hard to beat.
FAQ on SAP S/4HANA vs Sage X3
1. Which ERP is easier to learn?
👉 Sage X3. Its interface is more intuitive, navigation smoother, and initial training quicker. SAP S/4HANA offers a modern UX (thanks to Fiori), but takes some getting used to, especially for the uninitiated.
2. Which software is best suited to international companies?
👉 SAP S/4HANA. It's designed to manage complex structures with foreign subsidiaries, consolidated reporting, international compliance (IFRS, SOX...), multilingual and native multi-currency.
3. Which is the fastest to deploy?
Sage X3, without hesitation. We're talking 4 to 6 months for a standard deployment. For SAP S/4HANA, allow 9 to 18 months, depending on functional scope and integration complexity.
4. Which ERP offers the most automation?
👉 SAP S/4HANA. It embeds advanced technologies: AI, machine learning, RPA, real-time analytics... Sage X3 offers automated workflows, but no native AI.
5. Which ERP is the most customizable?
👉 It depends. SAP S/4HANA allows very fine (but complex and expensive) customization. Sage X3 is more flexible and quicker to adapt to business needs, with no technical overhead.
6. Which is the most cost-effective?
👉 Sage X3, overall. Its cost of entry is clearer, and it requires fewer resources to operate. SAP S/4HANA can justify its price by its power, but requires a 6-figure budget from the outset.
7. Can these ERPs be integrated with tools like Salesforce or Power BI?
👉 Yes, both. SAP has a richer native ecosystem via its SAP BTP platform, but requires more effort to integrate. Sage X3 offers ready-to-use connectors and open APIs, which are more accessible.
8. Which should you choose for a cloud ERP project?
👉 Both exist in cloud versions, but SAP S/4HANA was designed natively for the cloud. Sage X3 offers SaaS or hybrid. The choice will depend on the level of outsourcing you want.
Article translated from French