SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud vs Workday
Side-by-side comparison of SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and Workday — features, pricing, modules, and deployment options.
SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud vs Workday at a Glance
| Criteria | SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Mid-market and standardised enterprises wanting fast time-to-value | People-centric organisations needing unified HR + finance |
| Starting Price | $180/user/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing Model | per-user | custom |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Company Size | 251-1000, 1001-5000 | 1001-5000, 5000+ |
| Implementation | 3–6 months | 6–12 months |
| Typical Cost | $150K–$600K | $300K–$2M+ |
Module Comparison
| Module | SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Accounting | ★★★ Strong | ★★★ Strong |
| Manufacturing | ★★ Moderate | — N/A |
| Supply Chain | ★★ Moderate | ★ Basic |
| CRM | ★★ Moderate | — N/A |
| HR & Payroll | ★ Basic | ★★★ Strong |
| Project Management | ★★ Moderate | ★★★ Strong |
| Inventory Management | ★★ Moderate | ★ Basic |
| Procurement | ★★★ Strong | ★★★ Strong |
| Warehouse Management | ★ Basic | — N/A |
| Ecommerce | ★ Basic | — N/A |
| Business Intelligence | ★★★ Strong | ★★★ Strong |
| Quality Management | ★ Basic | — N/A |
| Field Service | — N/A | — N/A |
| Asset Management | ★★ Moderate | ★ Basic |
Pros & Cons
SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud
Pros
- +Lowest TCO in the S/4HANA family — no infrastructure or upgrade projects
- +Quarterly automatic updates keep you on the latest features
- +Rapid 3–6 month implementations via Fit-to-Standard
- +Standardised best-practice processes reduce complexity
Cons
- -Limited customisation — no custom ABAP; extensibility via BTP only
- -Not suited for complex manufacturing or engineer-to-order
- -Mandatory quarterly upgrades cannot be delayed
- -Multi-tenant environment limits data residency control
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 S/4HANA Public Cloud
- You need an ERP best suited for mid-market and standardised enterprises wanting fast time-to-value
- Your company has 251-1000 or 1001-5000 employees
- You operate in Professional Services, Wholesale & Distribution, Retail
- You prefer cloud deployment
- Your budget aligns with $180/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 S/4HANA Public Cloud better than Workday?
It depends on your business needs. SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud is best for mid-market and standardised enterprises wanting fast time-to-value, while Workday is best for people-centric organisations needing unified hr + finance. SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud starts at $180/user/mo and Workday starts at custom pricing.
How does SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud pricing compare to Workday?
SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud uses a per-user pricing model starting at $180/user/mo, while Workday uses a custom model. SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud typical total cost is $150K–$600K vs $300K–$2M+ for Workday.
Which is better for professional services: SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud or Workday?
Both vendors serve professional services companies. SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud is typically chosen by 251-1000, 1001-5000 employee organizations, while Workday targets 1001-5000, 5000+ employee companies. Consider your company size and specific module needs to decide.
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