SAP Business One and SAP Business ByDesign both meet the ERP needs of small to medium-sized companies. Why does SAP offer two options?
Many businesses see SAP ERP software as a solution for large corporations. However, smaller business processes such as bookkeeping, billing, inventory and customer contact management still need support. In many cases these activities take place using mis-matched tools and even manual processes. In a digital age technology offers much better options for managing and planning business operations and growth.
Growing companies need business process automation to improve efficiency. As a result, SAP recognized the need for robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) software optimized for small businesses. They use the latest technologies to build cloud-based ERP solutions for the next generation of market leaders.
Cloudfy is a Certified SAP Partner, providing SAP ERP system integration with your business to business (B2B) ecommerce platform. Synchronized information about customers, orders, pricing, products, inventory and order status, provides a unified view of your business operations. Your customers can find products, place orders, check their order histories and pay invoices online. Across your organization process automation improves data accuracy and increases efficiency. You can free up valuable time and resources to focus on other areas of your business.
Out-of-the-box integration with SAP ERP solutions bridges the gap between different parts of your business. Working with both SQL and HANA databases simplifies master data record imports. You can replicate SAP pricing logic,and provide near real-time scheduling.
Ecommerce, customer relationship management (CRM) and electronic data interchange (EDI), for example, all improve with accurate data sharing. By minimizing manual data entry, you reduce errors and improve customer satisfaction.
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SAP business solutions
SAP has become one of the world’s leading ERP solution providers over the last five decades. SAP is also one of the leaders in cloud-based business solutions which started with its software as a service (SaaS) ERP product, Business ByDesign.
SAP has designed its new Business Technology Platform (BTP) model to meet the needs of modern businesses. It offers a single, unified plugin platform for its ERP solutions that has all the features you might need. Instead of releasing features separately for different solutions, you can use functionality on any SAP platform.
Later in 2025 SAP will launch an AI-enabled cloud ERP service, RISE, for customers moving their complex installations to the cloud. This provides a new cloud subscription SAP ERP transition option. It’s important for those with on-premises systems because SAP maintenance is due to end in 2030. Available for purchase in 2028 for active use from 2031 to 2033, customers have a clear transition pathway to the cloud.
SAP Business One (B1) and SAP Business ByDesign both provide a connected suite of key business functions. These include:
- finance
- sales
- service
- inventory
- purchasing
- customer relationship management
- reporting.
Whether you’re looking at B1 or ByDesign here are some things to think about.
SAP Business One
Typically, small and mid-sized businesses use B1 as a stable and affordable entry-level ERP solution. You can run B1 on your own servers, as a hosted solution or in the cloud.
Across market sectors it supports all the business processes needed by smaller, fast-moving operations and offers scope for growth. Its core business suite can meet your end-to-end requirements. It provides integrated solutions and clear visibility of your whole operation. You can move on from spreadsheets and bookkeeping solutions like QuickBooks and benefit from real-time business analytics.
SAP ByDesign
There are limits to the business functions B1 can offer, which is where ByDesign can help. The choice is not necessarily based on your number of users, but rather on your business needs. You might want to consider ByDesign if you have a multinational business, complex manufacturing processes or strict compliance requirements. It provides the scalable features and functions expanding companies need from an ERP.
ByDesign is a SaaS solution with several implementation, training and cloud-platform options. It’s ideal for delivering process efficiency in real time when you manage complex projects. You can connect all your business functions to achieve best practices and benefit from in-depth analytics. You can also simplify customization and integration.
SAP ERP solution comparisons
It’s clear SAP Business One and SAP Business ByDesign overlap each other to some extent. A choice between the two depends on your company size, structure and growth plans.
Both solutions offer:
- finance
- integrated marketing and sales
- extensive CRM functions
- purchasing
- logistics
- production processing.
If you have a straightforward management structure, few locations and moderate growth plans B1 will suit your needs. If you have ambitious growth plans, multiple operating companies or locations, and a corporate management structure ByDesign will keep pace.
B1 offers integrated customization tools and a Software Development Kit, allowing you to develop integrated modules. You can also add flexibility and scalability with ‘loosely coupled’ solutions that don’t affect core operations. As a cloud-based solution ByDesign offers less flexibility for customization. However, you can use additional functions outside the application, integrated via interfaces. There are 3,000 applications, extensions, add-ons, and services in SAP’s online marketplace.
Case study: Corpac Steel
Based in Miami, Florida, Corpac Steel has locations in the Americas, Caribbean, Europe and Asia. These include manufacturing, operational and stocking facilities. It plays a key role in Corpac Group’s steel production, trading and distribution network.
To support its regional suppliers and global corporations in over 20 industries the company stocks over 100,000 tons of inventory, ready to deliver.
Case study: Joseph Murphy
Joseph Murphy is a family run wholesale hardware distribution company in Ireland. It supplies agricultural, gardening, household, electrical, DIY, paint, and building products to retailers across the country. The company needed robust SAP Business One integration and reliable product pricing attribution.
The new B2B ecommerce site provides a complete brand directory with accurate product and pricing information. Customers can now access and download their account information at any time and manage returns online.
SAP ERP integration with Cloudfy
With SAP ERP integrations you can easily and efficiently manage your online operations and provide seamless purchasing experiences. You can synchronize product information, inventory levels, and pricing data in real-time, so your information is always up to date. By streamlining order fulfillment you reduce errors and improve customer satisfaction.
Find out how to simplify, save and scale your business with SAP Business One or SAP ByDesign integration with Cloudfy. Contact us today.
Frequently asked questions: B2B ecommerce and SAP ERP integration
Both ERP solutions suit small and mid-sized businesses. However, ByDesign can meet more complex business requirements and is likely to cost a little more. Alongside integration with your B2B ecommerce portal, consider total cost of ownership and contribution to your business goals above price.
SAP ByDesign is a cloud-only offering. SAP Business One offers different deployment options in the cloud, with third-party hosting or on-premises. By combining cloud-based SAP solutions with advanced B2B ecommerce in the cloud you can digitally transform your operations.
Both SAP Business One and SAP Business ByDesign provide robust data security. SAP hosts ByDesign and can host Business One in the cloud, so you can rely on network access security. If you’re hosting Business One on-premises or via a third-party you must verify end-to-end data management and security yourself.
Both SAP Business One and SAP Business ByDesign provide business process flexibility. Designed for small businesses, SAP Business One prioritizes simplicity and flexibility. As cloud-based solutions you can also use third-party add-ons and extensions and integrate with B2B ecommerce solutions like Cloudfy.
