SAP Business One vs Workday
Side-by-side comparison of SAP Business One and Workday — features, pricing, modules, and deployment options.
SAP Business One vs Workday at a Glance
| Criteria | SAP Business One | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Small to midsize businesses wanting SAP reliability | People-centric organisations needing unified HR + finance |
| Starting Price | $95/user/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing Model | per-user | custom |
| Deployment | cloud, on-premise | cloud |
| Company Size | 1-50, 51-250, 251-1000 | 1001-5000, 5000+ |
| Implementation | 3–6 months | 6–12 months |
| Typical Cost | $50K–$250K | $300K–$2M+ |
Module Comparison
| Module | SAP Business One | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Accounting | ★★★ Strong | ★★★ Strong |
| Manufacturing | ★★ Moderate | — N/A |
| Supply Chain | ★★ Moderate | ★ Basic |
| CRM | ★★ Moderate | — N/A |
| HR & Payroll | ★ Basic | ★★★ Strong |
| Project Management | ★ Basic | ★★★ Strong |
| Inventory Management | ★★★ Strong | ★ Basic |
| Procurement | ★★ Moderate | ★★★ Strong |
| Warehouse Management | ★★ Moderate | — N/A |
| Ecommerce | ★ Basic | — N/A |
| Business Intelligence | ★★ Moderate | ★★★ Strong |
| Quality Management | ★ Basic | — N/A |
| Field Service | — N/A | — N/A |
| Asset Management | ★ Basic | ★ Basic |
Pros & Cons
SAP Business One
Pros
- +Affordable entry point into the SAP ecosystem
- +Strong financials and inventory for SMBs
- +Large partner network for localisation
- +Good reporting with Crystal Reports integration
Cons
- -Limited manufacturing depth vs. dedicated MRP systems
- -HR module is very basic — most need a third-party add-on
- -User interface feels dated compared to cloud-native ERPs
- -Scaling beyond 250 users can be challenging
Workday
Pros
- +Best-in-class HCM — payroll, talent, workforce planning
- +Excellent financial planning and analytics (Adaptive Planning)
- +Unified data model — no separate data warehouses needed
- +Consumer-grade UX with strong mobile experience
Cons
- -No manufacturing, warehouse, CRM, or ecommerce
- -Not a full-suite ERP for product-based businesses
- -Very expensive for mid-market companies
- -Limited supply chain capabilities
When to Choose SAP Business One
- You need an ERP best suited for small to midsize businesses wanting sap reliability
- Your company has 1-50 or 51-250 or 251-1000 employees
- You operate in Manufacturing, Wholesale & Distribution, Retail
- You prefer cloud / on-premise deployment
- Your budget aligns with $95/user/mo starting price
When to Choose Workday
- You need an ERP best suited for people-centric organisations needing unified hr + finance
- Your company has 1001-5000 or 5000+ employees
- You operate in Professional Services, Healthcare, Education
- You prefer cloud deployment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SAP Business One better than Workday?
It depends on your business needs. SAP Business One is best for small to midsize businesses wanting sap reliability, while Workday is best for people-centric organisations needing unified hr + finance. SAP Business One starts at $95/user/mo and Workday starts at custom pricing.
How does SAP Business One pricing compare to Workday?
SAP Business One uses a per-user pricing model starting at $95/user/mo, while Workday uses a custom model. SAP Business One typical total cost is $50K–$250K vs $300K–$2M+ for Workday.
Which is better for manufacturing: SAP Business One or Workday?
Both vendors serve manufacturing companies. SAP Business One is typically chosen by 1-50, 51-250, 251-1000 employee organizations, while Workday targets 1001-5000, 5000+ employee companies. Consider your company size and specific module needs to decide.
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