Market Perspectives

We are happy to share some insights about SAP drawn from our latest market research, Ventana Research Buyers Guide: Business Planning, which assesses how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements.  

In all of our Buyers Guides, we utilize a structured research methodology called the Value Index that includes evaluation categories designed to reflect real-world criteria incorporated in a request for proposal (RFP) and vendor selection process. We evaluated SAP and 12 other vendors in seven categories, five relevant to the product (adaptability, capability, manageability, reliability and usability) and two related to the vendor (TCO/ROI and vendor validation). To arrive at the Value Index rating for a given vendor, we weighted each category to reflect its relative importance in an RFP process, with the weightings based on our experience and on data derived from our benchmark research on business planning. 

Our analysis classified SAP as Exemplary, receiving an overall grade of A with an 88.2% performance. SAP’s best grouped results came in Customer Experience at 90.9% performance and an A- grade due in part to its A- in TCO/ROI. In Product/Customer Experience, SAP received an A- grade, with an 87.3% performance due to its 94.0% performance in Manageability. SAP was designated an Overall Leader and a Leader in Product Experience, Customer Experience, Adaptability, Capability, Manageability and TCO/ROI. SAP fully participated in the RFI process. 

SAP’s A in Product Experience was impacted by its A- in Usability where it could improve elements of its flexibility in adapting to user preferences. Customer Experience was impacted by its A in Validation where it could improve its elements of customer commitment.  

SAP performed best in Customer Experience with an A grade, notably in TCO/ROI, receiving an A due to its support for prospective customers in making their business case for investment. In Product Experience, the breadth and quality of its technology administration led to its A+ in Manageability, its configuration and customization led to an A in Adaptability and its A- in Capability reflected its support for advanced planning techniques. 

This assessment was based on SAP Analytics Cloud, v. Q3 2023, released August 2023. 

This research-based guide is the most comprehensive assessment of the value of business planning software in the industry. Technology buyers can learn more about how to use our Buyers Guide by clicking here and included vendors that wish to learn more can click here. Read the report here.