Aerospace & Defense

Top 10 HCM Software In 2025

Top 10 HCM Software In 2025

The HCM market is generally divided into three segments based on company size: (1) organizations with up to 100 employees, (2) those with 100 to 1,000 employees, and (3) enterprises with over 1,000 employees. Each segment has distinct needs, and HCM solutions are typically tailored to reflect those requirements. For smaller companies—those with fewer than 100 employees—simplicity is key. These organizations often prefer solutions that are easy to implement without the need for consulting support, favoring a DIY deployment model. Such platforms prioritize user experience, often featuring flatter data structures and minimizing complex hierarchies to reduce implementation friction. 

The next tier of HCM solutions adopts a suite-centric approach, often paired with managed services. In the mid-market segment, managed services are especially critical, as most organizations lack the resources to monitor and stay compliant with the complex and ever-changing labor laws across multiple counties, states (or provinces), and countries. Managed services are also a key differentiator for solution providers, allowing them to demonstrate more value compared to their larger peers. 

Larger solutions offer a broader range of technical capabilities to support diverse compensation structures, labor profiles, and business models. However, they may not be as user-friendly or easy to implement, as they prioritize data integrity—an essential factor for large companies focused on enhancing HR operational efficiency and minimizing administrative overhead. While mid-market solutions often include localizations for multiple countries, their vendor partner ecosystem tends to be less robust, limiting consulting options.

Selecting an unsuitable HCM software that is not tailored to your industry can impact your enterprise architecture. This list aims to outline the pros and cons of the leading HCM software options available in the market.

10. UKG Ready

UKG offers two main HCM products tailored to different business sizes. It is built for small to mid-sized organizations, with a focus on ease of use and lower implementation costs. It stands out by offering managed services and better reporting capabilities compared to many entry-level products. While not ideal for very small startups, it provides a middle ground between lightweight platforms like BambooHR and more complex systems like Workday. UKG Ready also supports global operations, with coverage across over 85 countries.

Is your business looking for simplicity without giving up reporting power? Do you need a global HCM system, or are you managing a U.S.-focused workforce? How important is ease of implementation versus advanced features like succession planning? Understanding where UKG fits in the HCM landscape is key to being successful with this product. For a deeper look at how it compares to other platforms, download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now.

Top 15 Digital Transformation Trends - Download

9. Zoho HCM


Zoho HCM serves SMBs across industries like IT, education, media, and finance. It works especially well for companies already using other Zoho products. One of its biggest strengths is its bundled pricing. You get access to multiple apps for the price of just one from other vendors. The platform also supports advanced features, including complex benefits rules and employee type management—features not always found in mid-market solutions.

Are you already using Zoho apps and considering expanding into HCM? Do you need more robust recruiting and workflow tools without jumping to a full enterprise solution? How important are managed services and global payroll support in your decision? Zoho HCM may be a good fit if your needs include strong recruiting capabilities and customization flexibility. For a full breakdown of where it stands in 2025, download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now.

8. Infor WFM

Infor WFM targets industries that need strong scheduling features, especially healthcare and retail. It supports complex compensation setups and works well for managing branch-level operations. However, its overall HCM suite is not as broad as some competitors. To fill those gaps, companies often need third-party tools. It’s a solid choice for enterprises already using other Infor products, but not ideal for smaller businesses or organizations needing an all-in-one HCM.

Does your organization require tightly integrated scheduling within your HR system? Are you in healthcare or a similar field where staffing rules are complex? How important is having managed services bundled with your HCM platform? If your answers lean toward niche workflows and deep scheduling needs, Infor WFM might be the right fit. For a full look at how it ranks and where it shines, download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now.

7. BambooHR

BambooHR is built for small to mid-sized businesses with straightforward HR needs. It offers a simple setup, which keeps implementation quick and cost-effective. Its easy-to-use interface supports tasks like onboarding, training, and document management. However, it relies on partners for managed services and may lack the depth some businesses need. While great for startups, it doesn’t offer robust reporting or built-in tools for more advanced functions like time tracking.

Is your team looking for a lightweight HCM that’s easy to adopt? Are advanced reporting or built-in time tracking essential to your workflows? Would you prefer a system that reduces your reliance on consultants? If your priorities align with simplicity and fast deployment, BambooHR might be a strong match. To compare BambooHR with other top platforms, download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now.

6. ADP Vantage HCM

ADP Vantage is built for large enterprises needing a full suite of HR, payroll, and workforce management tools. It’s especially valuable for companies already using ADP payroll, with strong support for complex org structures. Its real strength is in payroll and benefits administration—so much so that even other vendors rely on ADP for these functions. However, the platform’s modular history can lead to a fragmented user experience and added complexity during setup and integration.

Are you managing a large workforce and need a system with strong payroll capabilities? Do you already use ADP services and want tighter integration? Or are you weighing the trade-off between robust functionality and ease of use? For a deeper look at how ADP Vantage compares to other top HCM platforms, download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now.

5. Dayforce HCM (Previously Ceridian)

Dayforce is one of the few HCM platforms that caters to both SMBs and large enterprises. While it started in the SMB space, it now supports organizations with tens of thousands of users. It may not match the scale of legacy enterprise systems, but its modern design and faster deployment make it attractive for companies wanting to avoid lengthy implementations. Dayforce is particularly strong in payroll, WFM, and benefits—especially for companies using Microsoft ERP systems.

Is your business in a sector where scheduling and compliance are critical? Are you using Microsoft ERP and looking for a more complete HCM experience? Does your team need strong payroll tools but not managed services? If so, Dayforce might be worth a closer look. Download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now to explore how Dayforce compares to other leading platforms.

4. UKG Pro

UKG Pro serves mid-sized and enterprise organizations. It strikes a balance between broad features and ease of use. Managed services are a key part of its value, helping companies without large HR teams manage compliance and labor regulations across borders. Pre-built integrations speed up deployments and reduce the need for custom setups.

Do you need support for complex workflows without the heavy lift of a traditional enterprise system? Are you looking for a platform with strong global capabilities and built-in regulatory tools? Do managed services matter to your HR team? If so, download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now to see how UKG Pro stacks up against other top platforms.



The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

3. Oracle Cloud HCM


Oracle Cloud HCM targets large enterprises. It supports complex org structures, approvals, and global compliance. Industries like tech, telecom, and healthcare benefit most—especially those already using Oracle ERP. Its native integration offers value but can increase costs and complexity, particularly where tight HCM-ERP alignment is a must.

Does your organization need advanced support for compensation models and large-scale workflows? Do you already rely on Oracle for other business systems? Are you equipped with the IT resources to manage a high-touch platform? If so, download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now to see how Oracle Cloud HCM compares across enterprise needs.

2. SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors HXM Suite caters to large, global companies. It supports high volumes, complex business models, and multiple geographies. With support for 43 languages and more than 45 localizations, it meets the needs of multinational workforces. Like Oracle Cloud HCM, it may require a strong IT team and consulting support, especially when configuring workflows or compliance processes.

Does your company operate across many regions with complex HR needs? Do you need industry-specific extensions or plan to integrate with other SAP tools? Are you ready to invest in a platform that brings deep localization and enterprise-grade functionality? Download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now to see how SuccessFactors stacks up against leading HCM platforms.

1. Workday

Workday remains a top choice for large enterprises. It offers strong tools for managing complex HR processes. Its architecture is modern, and the interface is easy to navigate. However, Workday adoption in the mid-market has been slower. Many mid-sized companies prefer platforms with bundled managed services, which Workday doesn’t offer directly. Without strong IT support, mid-sized firms often struggle during implementation.

Is your organization dealing with complex compensation or benefits workflows? Do you need a scalable solution that integrates with tools like Salesforce or ServiceNow? Are you prepared for the technical depth Workday demands? Download the Top HCM Software in 2025 report now to see how Workday compares to other leading platforms.

Final Words

Due to differences in labor laws across regions, choosing and implementing HCM products requires specialized expertise. HCM workflows are often closely integrated with ERP, MES, and Service Scheduling modules. As a result, selecting the right HCM software can significantly impact the overall enterprise architecture and affect operational efficiency.

When integrating HCM software into your system architecture, it’s important to define the roles and responsibilities of each system interacting with the HCM software. This guide will help you narrow down options that best align with your architectural requirements.

Download the Full Report

FAQs

Top 10 Digital Transformation Roles

Top 10 Digital Transformation Roles

Looking for an ERP consultant who might be able to answer every question you might have? Well, unfortunately, just like different skill sets exist in a house construction project, ERP projects are no different with their need for digital transformation roles and skill sets. In fact, at a much bigger scale. Also, the more components you have in your architecture, the more skillsets you might require. Because the underlying technologies may be different, and they require years of training and specialization – to hit the ground running from day one, as that would be the expectation from ERP consultants.

Additionally, their educational backgrounds vary. The person who studied Supply Chain is likely to be deeper in the Supply Chain role. The same could apply to accounting and sales processes as well. A weaker chain (or an inexperienced resource) might slow down the whole project as they would need to be coached at every step of the way. Think of coaching basic ERP concepts such as the difference between a receipt and a voucher – and their implications on the process if interchanged. Their decision-making might not be sound either, which might have catastrophic consequences for the project.

Top 10 Digital Transformation Roles - List

So, understanding the importance of each of the digital transformation roles is critical for the success of your digital transformation initiatives. Most digital transformation initiatives fail because of a missing skillset. Or assigning unqualified resources to crucial positions. This is especially important for key cross-functional roles such as project manager or sponsor. These roles are typically more critical than the others, such as subject-matter experts. This list will help you understand the different digital transformation roles that might be required for your unique project.



The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

10. Change Management Consultant

The change management consultant drives the entire change management process (and is among one of the most critical digital transformation roles). It starts with the identification of change, creating a business case to justify the change, exploring several change initiatives, and finally, implementing and monitoring changes. Depending on your budget, you might hire a dedicated change consultant or work with an independent ERP consultant. The independent consultants might bundle change management offerings along with their ERP selection, implementation, and integration expertise. 

Irrespective of the approach, change management is absolutely essential for the success of your technology initiatives. The technical vendors (and your internal teams) will struggle with change management due to the “power struggle.” So an external change management consultant is recommended. Depending upon the structure of your organization (and the scope of this role), you might need up to 20-25% of their time allocated to the project. With more involvement during the pre-selection phase, as well as the training phase.

9. Best-of-breed Apps and Add-on Experts

The role of best-of-breed apps and add-on experts is to provide the functional and technical expertise of these add-on products. Most ERP consultants are unlikely to have depth with each add-on or application. 

So you might need at least part-time resources that are familiar with these apps. The more apps you have in your architecture, the more skill sets you might require. And the more part-time resources you are likely to have as part of your project, the harder the scheduling will be, driving the overall costs of the project. Depending upon the structure of your organization (and the scope of this role), you might need a couple of hrs of their time as and when needed. Since these resources could be a true bottleneck to the project planning, you might want to pre-allocate some of their capacity. Or identify areas where their input might be required early in the process to ensure that they are not a showstopper for the project.

8. ERP Integration Consultants

Most ERP applications are huge in size and have thousands of tables and modules. The traditional ERP consultants are divided into two streams: functional and technical. ERP technical consultants specialize in Windows and proprietary database programming for that application. Also, traditional ERP applications were not service-oriented architecture-based. So, ERP consultants didn’t have as strong integration skills. The integration consultants specialize in API integrations, enterprise integration patterns, master data governance, and enterprise architecture

If you have multiple applications in your architecture, you will need specialized ERP integration consultants. Depending upon the complexity of your architecture and integration requirements, you might need part-time or full-time integration consultants. The integration consultants might also require time from ERP technical or functional consultants – to get help on cross-functional testing (as they might not be as deep functionally with each application in the architecture). So their availability can’t be the bottleneck, similar to other cross-functional roles mentioned below.

7. ERP Technical Consultants

ERP technical consultants are the technical experts of specific applications. Each product may have its own technical specialist. For example, technical consultants who focus on NetSuite might not have experience with Oracle Fusion Cloud. Or vice versa. The technical consultants are also extremely weak in their functional knowledge. And they can’t act as a functional consultant due to their limited knowledge. Their educational background is in software engineering, while the ERP functional consultants are likely to have an accounting, industrial engineering, supply chain, or mechanical engineering degree. 

+

ERP Optimization And Integration Architecture Development

Learn how Work Sharp fixed their broken ERP implementation that caused customer service issues and improved Supply Chain planning.

Even among technical consultants, there might be several skill sets, such as a report writer, form designer, DBA, or data migration consultants. They each have different expertise and skill sets. Depending upon the customizations expected, the need for technical consultants might vary. Heavier customization would typically require a higher allocation of technical consultants. However, technical consultants might not be required for the entire duration of the project. Their need would be more critical during the development phase. Once the customizations stabilize, the functional consultants should be able to handle the project – without their help.

6. ERP Functional Consultants

ERP functional consultants specialize in specific functional areas. The larger the products, the more complex the functional processes are likely to be. And the more consultants you are likely to need. For example, Smaller systems such as NetSuite or Acumatica may require only one functional consultant. Systems such as SAP S/4 HANA, Oracle ERP Cloud, and Microsoft Dynamics F&O, on the other hand, may require several functional consultants with a specialization in each functional area, such as accounting, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, etc.

Depending upon the complexity of your project, you might need full-time or part-time functional consultants – to test the configurations and resolve functional issues. Their role will also be to assist the principal functional/technical consultant (and project manager) with research and recommendations. Their role would be relevant during the implementation phase, with minimal involvement during the pre-selection phase.

Top 15 Digital Transformation Trends - Download

5. Vendor- and Solution-agnostic ERP Consultant/Enterprise Architect/Principal Functional Consultant

Just like you need architecture for your home or kitchen, you also need for your software and IT applications. Architecture is a blueprint that clearly describes the boundaries of each system and its role in enterprise architecture. It also describes the interaction flows, with a clear agreement between data producers and custodians. Finally, it defines the model for reconciliation between different systems – should there be a conflict among systems.

Most teams and vendors are likely to create architecture from their perspective. And this often results in application silos, duplication of efforts, overengineering of components, and data issues. This one is perhaps among the most critical digital transformation roles for your project. Some independent ERP consultants might be able to include this role along with their change management expertise. However, an external consultant is recommended for this role. Depending upon the complexity of your architecture, you might need at least a part-time resource who acts as the advisor or oversees the overall process. This role is the longest-serving role of the ERP project, starting from the beginning of the project to the post-implementation phase.

4. Internal Subject Matter Experts

These subject matter experts should be the focus of your implementations. Why? Because they need to drive the training and evangelize the change for their internal teams. It’s critical that they appreciate and embrace the new platform. These are your internal operational users (such as supply chain managers, ops managers, and sales managers) who have the most depth in the business processes. They provide crucial details that strategic business process owners need to make key decisions. 

You need to allocate at least 10-20% of their time for the entire project. And involve them during the selection, process re-engineering, solution design, UAT, and training. 

3. Internal Business Process Owners

These are your business processes executives such as VP of Sales, VP of Ops, VP of Engineering, VP of Supply Chain, and VP of Finance who are responsible for making crucial decisions for their respective functions. 

They work in conjunction with subject matter experts and make decisions with a strategic perspective in mind. You will need their few hours allocated every week to be part of weekly demos and monthly steering committee meetings, along with any detailed meetings that may require their input for the to-be state.

2. ERP Project Manager

The ERP project manager is perhaps the second most critical role in your transformation. And ideally must be served by controllers, VP of Finance, CFOs, and sometimes by the CEOs for smaller organizations. They might hire a project coordinator to hand off some of the operational responsibilities if they are too busy with their day jobs. 

+

ECommerce Supply Chain Transformation

Learn how LockNLube transformed its inventory and supply chain challenges by consolidating over 20 systems.

This person is responsible for driving the project and keeping the project under budget and on time. This person must be comfortable negotiating with business process owners in the event of a conflict among different functions. Depending upon the size of the organization, allocate either full-time or 50% to ensure he/she is not the bottleneck for the project.

1. ERP Sponsor

The ERP sponsor is either the CFO, COO, or CEO, depending upon the size of the organization. The role of the sponsor is to set the vision for the project, provide resources, set KPIs to measure success, and help business process owners make key strategic decisions. 

Their role is not to make decisions for them. But to ensure that the decisions are consistent with the original vision and the interests of all functions are equally represented in the architecture. The ERP sponsor must participate in the monthly steering committee meetings and will need a few hours of their time each month. 

Final Words

Building an ERP project team is an art and science, with the expertise to be able to foresee showstoppers before it’s too late. The issues could be related to the team or technology. They each impact the cost and scheduling of the project.

While you will get better with your team-building expertise and experience, don’t underestimate the importance of any of the roles mentioned on this list. The primary reason why most organizations struggle with digital transformation initiatives is that they underestimate the effort involved with these initiatives – and try to “outsmart” the process, which fires back more often than not. So be really informed with each of your decisions – as you build your core project team that is capable of delivering on your vision.

FAQs

Top 10 Recommendations for Digital Transformation in 2023

Top 10 Recommendations for Digital Transformation

Who would not like to find the “secret” recommendations for digital transformation? Unfortunately, with enterprise-wide transformation projects, there is no checklist that can be followed. These projects require careful preparation and alignment of several areas. And they all, collectively, drive the success of your digital transformation projects. 

Also, with enterprise transformation projects, technology alone can’t solve business issues for you. You will need to align the compensation structure along with KPIs and enterprise architecture. Also, even if you have invested in substantial efforts with your pre-selection and business process reengineering, things might fall off during the implementation phase unless you have controls in place for code, master data, and architecture review (and compliance).

Top 10 Recommendations For Digital Transformation - List

Finally, most departments typically try to pull the architecture in their direction. This often results in the “loudest” departments being more represented in the architecture. Implications? Both overengineering and under-engineering issues will cause a disjointed experience for users. And they might end up with siloed applications or spreadsheets – defeating the overarching purpose of transformation initiatives. Following these recommendations for digital transformation will set you up for a successful transformation project.



The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

1. Reassess Your Current Architecture and Systems

People often forget that your architecture is more important with enterprise-grade transformations than the technologies used. While it might appear promising at the surface, new software very rarely would solve your business problems. But why? Because unless there is a clear alignment in current gaps and process changes, the new system might not be as effective. It might even cause disruptions to your current operational processes if not planned well. 

Your chances of success will be higher if you redefine a vendor-agnostic architecture tailored to current operational limitations. First, improvement opportunities with the current architecture were identified. Then, only if it makes sense, replace a system where it’s a clear misfit based on your business model and growth ambitions. Assessing your architecture requires deep subject matter expertise with your systems, processes, and data – in order to perform an informed assessment. This assessment helps understand if the changes would make sense for your architecture (and at the stage of your business).

2. Centralized Transformation, Change, and Budget Management

Due to the lack of perceived short-term benefits (and risks for business process leaders), enterprise transformation initiatives typically take the backseat. So what’s the solution? Form a centralized digital transformation team and allocate a corporate budget for enterprise-wide transformation. 

What else? Identify change opportunities that impact your current systems and processes. Manage them centrally. And Define the blueprint for each changeset and assess its impact. Anything else? Yes, prioritize them and design phases including release strategy, And then execute them based on feasibility. Recommendations for digital transformation such as this help your vision take the front seat and resolve conflicts easily.

3. Compensation and KPI design

Have KPIs that are not only departmental. However, they should be aligned with the strategic priorities as well. Most corporations focus on short-term results. And that comes at the expense of the lack of interest in long-term strategic investment and initiatives such as enterprise-wide transformation

Impact of the short-term mindset? It results in duplicated efforts across departments and information silos. These silos are typically counterproductive for the overall success and financial health of the organization.

4. Don’t Ask Your Technology Vendors to Define Your Enterprise Architecture

Your enterprise architecture is essentially your business model. While technology vendors such as SAP or Oracle and their resellers might provide great technical capabilities, they are experts at tools in their portfolio. Their role should be limited to defining system architecture once the other architecture has been well-defined. 

So, what are these other architectural pieces? Business, process, and data architecture. And they all must be designed in a technology- and vendor-agnostic fashion. Who can help with this design? Qualified consultants with multi-system and multi-ERP expertise are better positioned to offer recommendations for digital transformation architectural components and their interactions.

5. Invest in Pre-selection Phase

The software development lifecycle requires you to go through the four critical phases of software implementation. Namely, requirement, design, test, and implementation. While buying enterprise software can save you a ton of effort and risk, these phases are equally relevant even for enterprise software implementation. Sometimes, even more so. 

+

ECommerce Supply Chain Transformation

Learn how LockNLube transformed its inventory and supply chain challenges by consolidating over 20 systems.

The pre-selection phase identifies requirements and process states. It also provides visibility into the as-is and to-be workflows for each department. Then it helps focus on the right critical success factors along with identifying gaps and development efforts required.

6. Get help from Independent ERP and Digital Transformation Consultants

Most executives go through 3-5 digital transformation initiatives in their careers. So designing the state of the system and processes based on this limited experience would not provide enough data and sample size to learn the architectural best practices. And forecast the possibility of each decision. 

The independent ERP and digital transformation consultants work with many different businesses. And they have already seen the mistakes that you are likely to make with your next transformation. Are consultants too expensive? Hire them at least to vet your plans and mentorship if you are on a tight budget.

7. Don’t Let Developers/IT Managers or Functional Subject Matter Experts Design the Architecture

Designing an enterprise system is similar to engineering functions in manufacturing. How so? The skill set that might be good with operational execution might not be the best for strategic and engineering design. Also, the developers and IT managers typically don’t have the visibility and business background to be able to negotiate process changes with functional stakeholders. 

+

Omnichannel ECommerce Customer Experience Transformation

Learn how fashion retailer AKIRA built a digital roadmap and managed stakeholder expectations to transform its processes and systems.

The same applies to functional leaders. While they might know a lot from the business perspective, the technical perspective is equally important in assessing performance and process issues due to poorly coded and integrated processes. You need someone who has a deep background in designing enterprise-grade systems, along with deep business expertise and education

8. Try to Reduce the Amount of Code You Own

With custom software, you might own 100% of the code, whereas with an ERP implementation, you might own roughly 30%. This might include any customizations, home-grown integrations, or proprietary systems. While software development might appear cheaper on its surface, owning and maintaining code over time requires economies of scale. So unless the custom code is part of your commercial offering, owning it will always be more expensive. 

So are there any components that are better suited for internal ownership? Yes, the components that change frequently such as EDI integration. Or the ones that may require substantial manual inputs from business users during the processing of transactions. The rest of the components can easily be bought at a much cheaper price from enterprise software vendors.

9. Invest in Master Data Governance

Most organizations end up reimplementing the same ERP system at least 2-3 times even within 5-10 years of the upgrade cycle. Most times it’s the mismanagement of master data that is the culprit. Poor master data management often leads to ad-hoc processes, adoption issues, and the need for external systems. 

The successful management of master data requires clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each system. And functions controlling the data and its interaction flow. It also requires forming a centralized function responsible for designing and maintaining master data compliance. 

10. Be ready to “Kill Your Darlings”

Fragmented and siloed operations often result in proprietary applications. These applications might make sense in a siloed and fragmented architecture. But not in the context of enterprise architecture

+

ERP Optimization And Integration Architecture Development

Learn how Work Sharp fixed their broken ERP implementation that caused customer service issues and improved Supply Chain planning.

The legacy and proprietary applications might drive the customizations and additional unnecessary integration flows to accommodate their shortcomings. It might be cheaper to replace these proprietary systems and use components that might be pre-integrated with the new solution.

Final Words

There are no secrets to digital transformation. It’s the structured approach along with the alignment that makes or breaks ERP implementation. With the increased number of channels driven by customer experience, the importance of architecture can’t be underestimated.

The digital transformation initiatives were never meant to be this difficult. But they do require expertise and thoughtful execution. Also, cultural and process changes have a direct impact on digital transformation initiatives. By following these recommendations, you will be set up for success with your digital transformation initiatives.

FAQs

Top 15 Reasons For Digital Transformation Failure

Top 15 Reasons for Digital Transformation Failure

Most executives are afraid of digital transformation. And I don’t blame them–with the amount of undertaking required for such projects. Not to mention that it took a long time for companies to understand – that digital transformation projects are not meant to be technology projects (The initiatives that developers can code in their backyard. The ones that can provide a crystal ball that can solve all your business performance issues). In reality, digital transformation failure typically has more impact on your businesses than most other disruptions (Unless it’s a full nuclear war). So why are some projects more successful than others?

There are millions of variables that could be responsible for failure. Team. Technologies. Vendors. Project managers. Change Management. Also, with so many variables involved, everyone is likely to have their own theories. There is no clear consensus, which makes it confusing for first-time buyers. While it’s much harder to find why a specific digital transformation project may have failed, it’s much easier to analyze the successful ones. One thing that successful teams do differently is that they don’t underestimate the efforts involved with these projects. 

Top 15 Reasons for Digital Transformation Failure - Light

That’s probably the reason why the larger companies with multiple ERP implementations under their belt are likely to be more successful than the smaller companies. There are smaller companies that are likely to be successful as well. However, in their case, the executives must have experience leading multiple ERP implementations at larger companies. While this is one factor, there are more layers to what makes them successful (as per our study done with more than 200 executives suggests). Excited to review the results?

1. Misalignement in scope 

Misalignment in scope is perhaps the #1 reason for digital transformation project failure. Some people might blame the “invisibility” aspect of software development – to claim that there will always be surprises with software implementation. Also, there is a common misconception that there is no point in planning if there are going to be surprises anyway. Following this approach is an “extreme” thinking mindset where you don’t prepare for an exam – just because there might be a chance of failure.

+

ERP Implementation Failure Recovery

Learn how Frederick Wildman struggled with Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP implementation failure even after spending over $5M and what options they had for recovery.

Software implementation projects require the same amount of engineering processes. As much as manufacturing or construction. Sure, there have been advancements in methodologies – such as agile – to uncover risks earlier. However, the fundamentals of software engineering still apply. They require careful analysis and design by qualified ERP consultants (the consultants that regularly implement for various industries and business processes).

Also, unfortunately, analyzing at “100K-foot” levels (the mindset that going too deep into technical analysis may be a waste of time) approaches aren’t good enough to be successful with these projects. It’s a careful balance of high and low-level needs. A balance that will help you find the scope with an iterative process and a scope that will likely not have any misalignments. Or surprises (Don’t we like surprises?).

2. Unrealistic Expectations

The only reason why unrealistic expectations lead to ERP implementation failure is to underestimate the amount of effort required. In fact, unrealistic expectations and misalignment in scope are so interdependent that they could be each other’s cause (Wait, what? Have I confused you enough yet?).

The root cause for unrealistic expectations is the “mindset” that maybe there is an easier way. Maybe the “consulting companies” are in the business of overcharging their customers. Maybe consultants have a tendency to overcomplicate things so they can make more money. While, as with any profession, there might be some bad apples out there, the issue is typically with the companies who don’t have enough experience under their belt in leading digital transformation initiatives.

The best way to mitigate such issues is to be patient with the process and do as much research as possible to understand the core issues. Also, recommended is not ignoring the advice of your consultants. The more implementation you have under your belt, the more conservative you will be with these projects. And the higher chances you will have of success with such projects. The only way to succeed is to be realistic (and extremely conservative) with these projects.



The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

3. Inability to re-engineer processes (aligned with the capabilities of new system architecture)

Constructing a house based on how your old house appears today is likely to result in the same “old” house – with not much improvement (Isn’t that what we all want? The constructive ways of wasting our money? For all practical purposes, no!). Constructing an improved house requires you to have a deep reflection on the old house as well as the root cause of each issue you had in the old house. Along with the “mental model” (I prefer a blueprint on a piece of paper) of the new house based on your new needs. This task is way harder than you would think. 

+

ERP Optimization And Integration Architecture Development

Learn how Work Sharp fixed their broken ERP implementation that caused customer service issues and improved Supply Chain planning.

Being successful with it would require a solid knowledge of several different ERP systems and implementation experience in several industries. So, you have enough data points to identify the right model that will be successful, given the constraints of this new house. Without business process reengineering, companies mistakenly assume “old and broken” processes as their needs. And hand it over as requirements to the technical teams. 

Given the constraints, the technical team might spend months customizing these needs. And even after successful technical implementation, they might never work for users as they might deviate from the system’s optimal state. Skipping the crucial step of business process reengineering results in ERP implementation failure. Along with adoption and change management issues due to the limited understanding of the rationale for change.

4. Over-customization of the software

Most companies with limited experience with ERP implementation have a tendency to underestimate the effort involved in customizing software. The customization not only results in the core system’s sub-optimal performance. But it also causes user adoption issues due to the alteration of systems’ natural state.

Also, most organizations that may have promoted their developers to IT operations managers too early to a CIO role are likely to customize the software heavily (Also, they hate dollar conversations, which is perhaps the bread and butter for a CFO) The business rules in ERP are so nested that even if you implemented a feature successfully (for your own use case), it’s likely to break for other departments.

So, customization of software will always have a much higher chance of implementation failure. The best strategy to save an ERP implementation because of over-customization is to perform a thorough gap analysis during the selection and get recommendations from implementation architects in terms of the effort involved – in implementing each gap. If the effort seems too high, most likely, you have selected the wrong software. Or your process needs to be simplified further (You also have the option to pray. They always work with digital transformation). Thorough scrutiny and deep probing of each gap will help you understand that you are customizing only when it’s absolutely essential.

5. Usage of too many poorly written bolt-ons (impacting operational performance)

Most systems’ design assumes their natural state for optimal performance. While they all might allow customization, the system may have never been tested with the overlapping boundaries of add-ons. The add-ons might also be poorly written – and might cause performance implications.

There is also a misconception that no-code technologies can help you integrate anything and everything. Yes, that is true. But when it comes to mapping data flows and identifying sources of authority, the fewer variables you have in your model, the higher chances you would have with your digital transformation initiatives. (You want one thief to steal your money. So you kind of know who stole what)

Using too many add-ons is a major factor in digital transformation failure. This is due to the increased number of variables that are controlled by multiple vendors, their technologies, and release cycles. Having too many add-ons is a clear red flag that there might be better options out there. And a factor that you should watch closely while signing your software contract.

 6. Organizational change management

Underestimating the importance of change management results in digital transformation failure. But change management is typically the first symptom (Like a fever is an expression of inner rage) that you might notice regardless of the underlying issues that might be driving poor adoption. For example, change management issues could be a result of poor training, suboptimal system design, and workflows – or misfit technical systems. 

“Business consultants” with very little background in formal software engineering have a tendency to believe that you can solve all change management issues with superior training. Well, it’s almost like saying that you can solve all sales performance issues with the right “mindset.” Can you?

Sure, “mindset” and “training” play a huge role in change management. But it’s not just the training that is responsible for the success of digital transformation initiatives. It’s the synergy of systems, technologies, design, processes, and motivations that make digital transformation initiatives successful. But the most important factor for effective change management would always be the ability of change management consultants to work with the technical teams – to ensure that there is no misalignment in strategy and execution.

 7. Lack of maturity of enterprise architecture

The lack of maturity in enterprise architecture is a leading cause of digital transformation failure. Most SMB companies don’t even understand the number of components that might be included as part of the software contract. Just like manufacturing, a critical part can halt your product line, and a weak component of your “software BOM” could lead to digital transformation failure.

Irrespective of whether you buy or build – or how many ever add-ons you have in your architecture – enterprise architecture is extremely critical. The enterprise architecture encompasses four different perspectives: 1) business architecture 2) process architecture 3) data architecture 4) system architecture. 

When most companies think of enterprise architecture, they see it as a “technical” concept. But just like an org chart is to people, enterprise architecture is to systems. And the success of your enterprise architecture relies on having clear boundaries of systems and processes. Because they each play a role in defining cross-functional processes So not having a clearly defined enterprise architecture is the surefire way of failing your digital transformation initiatives.

 8. Poor governance of master data

Master data forms the foundation of your enterprise architecture. Without having a clear interaction model of each dataset, the systems are likely to have duplicated data in multiple systems. The inefficiencies caused by duplicate data and data silos lead to more fragmented systems. Ultimately causing even more data silos. Tracing data dependencies in your enterprise architecture might feel like a confused mouse in a maze.

Even developers and technical architects struggle to understand the concept of sources of truth. The most common misconception is about the multiple sources of truth. Some people believe that multiple sources of truth mean keeping duplicate data in multiple systems. Sure, are there any systems that can be implemented by completely decoupling data dependencies? Yes. But is that architecture going to be appropriate for every single dataset? Probably not. And most certainly not for the architecture containing financial systems and processes.

Implementing event-driven architecture with completely decoupled datasets works when the reliability of data is not as important a concern. Think of social media messages or error logs published by remote devices. What’s a big deal if we might lose an error or social media message? No big deal right? But with financial data where the books need to be reconciled to pennies, the reliability of data is extremely critical. And the data architecture that allows you a high degree of relatability and traceability is a crucial requirement.

 9. System selection gone wrong

Selecting appropriate systems requires you to have updated knowledge of architectural patterns – and several enterprise software categories, including ERP, HCM, CRM, and eCommerce. The software systems available in the market have extremely overlapping boundaries – with substantial duplication in code bases. And this is only going to get worse! Also, it is equally critical to have profound expertise and advanced knowledge of your industry and business model.

Without a comprehensive knowledge of systems and processes, your gap analysis is likely to miss critical gaps that command the highest amount of dollars — and lead to ERP implementation failure. Also, prior to investing in technology, you need to invest in defining the other three legs of the stool: 1) business architecture 2) process architecture 3) data architecture. Selecting a poorly fit system will lead to over-bloating of processes and systems, resulting in serious adoption issues. Don’t sign a software contract without performing an exhaustive search of all systems available in the market.

 10. Past results = Future success (With digital transformation initiatives)

You might never be proud of the first home that you bought. As you develop deeper recognition of your own needs, you are likely to do a lot more planning and “sketching” with your next purchase. The same principles apply to digital transformation. First-time executives are likely to be most optimistic about finding “cheaper” and “smarter” approaches to digital transformation (unfortunately, poker strategies don’t work very well with digital transformation initiatives). 

As you implement more systems, the deeper will be your analysis. And more conservative will be your approach. The conservative approach to system design and planning leads to digital transformation success. So make sure you don’t cut corners in hiring the right expertise to lead your digital transformation initiatives.

 11. Ability to work with technology vendors

Just like an engineer must be able to connect and relate with your shop floor workers, your ERP core team must be able to connect and relate with your developers and technical consultants. This relatability requires you to speak their language in the format they understand (and with digital transformation implementation, God will not translate for you). 

Not listening to their concerns or ignoring their advice with the attitude of “too much into weeds” will lead to ignoring critical issues that might have disastrous consequences on your enterprise architecture. They also require translating business vision and priorities into technical architectural components that will help them connect the dots. Several years of experience working with technology vendors helps in building the right rapport with technical teams – and leads to digital transformation success. 

 12. Poorly written test scripts (and the missing framework for test compliance)

Writing good test scripts takes years of practice. With ERP systems, it’s even harder. Because you need to segment the functionality that is pre-tested and provided by OEMs – from your custom configurations and customizations. To do this, you need to have a deep understanding of the core ERP functionality. And The more lines of code you own – the more testing you need (like the more money you own, the more stress you will have).

The main issues with enterprise-grade systems are data dependencies and the length of enterprise transactions. That makes documenting and tracking test cases and results much more difficult. It takes years of practice for ERP testers to identify the right test scripts. That will help uncover critical issues early in the process. And avoid showstoppers later in the release cycle. The showstoppers that typically lead to digital transformation nightmares.

 13. Uncontrollable issues

Because of the “invisibility” issue of software implementations, you will always find uncontrollable issues. However, it is the thorough planning and early detection of critical technical and process issues that help minimize uncontrollable issues. It is also the research that has gone into each issue to minimize the impact on time and budget.

But sometimes, finding a fine balance between the time required to perform research and the budgetary implications of showstoppers is key. Investing too much time in issues that might never surface may be a pure waste of time and resources. This is why consultants who have deep experience in executing large programs are better equipped to identify these issues much earlier in the process – and save digital transformation nightmares.

 14. Not having a dedicated internal skilled project manager

The most challenging part of a digital transformation project is the missing cross-functional link. Typically, in SMB organizations, the CEO has the most cross-functional understanding. And the only person who is qualified to negotiate with each department in executing or organization’s vision. The problem may be more difficult with organizations with multiple subsidiaries. 

And unfortunately, the CEO very rarely has time to get into the “weeds” of the project (who cares for a neglected weed anyways?). Or mediate conversations when there is a conflict among functional or BU leaders. This is where the project mangers’ role is absolutely critical for the success of the project. 

The project manager must have several ERP implementations under his/her belt and have a formal educational background in business or supply chain. Also, one of the most critical skills of a project manager is to be unbiased (except when it comes to preference for their coffee) and spend time working closely with executive teams. Hiring an intern or a “generalist” project manager with no formal background in Supply Chain and software engineering is a sure recipe for disaster.

 15. Treating digital transformation projects as a technical implementation

While the major component of digital transformation initiatives is technology, it alone can’t solve all your problems (with solitude, it’s independence; with digital transformation, it’s interdependence). It has to be the synergy of processes, data, organizational structure, compensation plans, and systems. 

+

Omnichannel ECommerce Customer Experience Transformation

Learn how fashion retailer AKIRA built a digital roadmap and managed stakeholder expectations to transform its processes and systems.

Treating your digital transformation project as a technical project typically leads to over-customization of workflows, overengineering of processes, and data siloes. They all lead to poor adoption – and, ultimately, digital transformation failure. Involving your business users from day one through the process of business process re-engineering will help them understand the technical challenges and articulate their needs in a technically feasible manner. This will also help forecast the challenges they might expect when they are live on a system.

Final Words

There are several factors that could lead to digital transformation failure. It’s never one vendor. Or a system. But one surefire way to fail your digital transformation would be – to underestimate the amount of effort involved with digital transformation and ignore the pre-selection phase. This sets the tone for how badly the digital transformation initiative will fire back. Because they always fire back unless carefully planned.

Digital transformation initiatives are like going for heart surgery. The first time will always be the most painful. As you get used to surgeries — and how to mentally prepare for the surprises with each one – hopefully, you won’t be as afraid with your next surgery.

FAQs

Top 15 Digital Transformation Trends in 2025

Top 15 Digital Transformation Trends in 2025

2024 turned out to be another slower year, following the trend of previous years. While there were hopes for a boost in the second half of the year, most companies remained cautious. They were cautious due to uncertainties surrounding the U.S. elections, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, and macroeconomic challenges. Despite some optimism that the new administration would be more business-friendly, the uncertainty will persist through 2025. Uncertainty is primarily due to tariff disputes and geopolitical tensions. With this outlook, most CFOs will be conservative with budgets for initiatives with uncertain short-term returns.

One promising factor expected to drive the economy is the ongoing investment in AI technologies. Many tech companies have significantly increased their spending on AI in hopes of boosting product prices and maintaining market share. These advancements, as a result, will transform interaction models for enterprise applications, improving lead and cycle times for most commercial transactions. The improved lead and cycle times, consequently, would offer a significant competitive edge for companies. Ultimately, this trend is likely to accelerate the replacement of legacy systems, making them AI-ready and driving digital transformation initiatives.

While AI’s broader influence is set to greatly impact the enterprise software market, policy changes associated with the potential implications of AI technologies may lead to stricter reporting requirements. These reporting requirements would affect not only tech providers but also other industries. This could result in higher financial and compliance costs, presenting opportunities for enterprise software vendors. Despite these challenges, expect a positive shift in 2025 if market conditions improve in the second half of the year. On the other hand, with the uncertainty surrounding tariffs and policy decisions, 2025 may be just as slow as 2024. Regardless of the outcome, these trends are likely to shape digital transformation initiatives and the enterprise software market.



The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

1. AI-Augmented Agents and AI Governance Platforms

Throughout 2025, enterprise software companies will face mounting pressure to justify their pricing. The most immediate opportunities for value creation and revenue generation will likely surface from AI agents integrated into various software categories. These agents will power use cases such as customer service and “generative insights” for complex systems.

As AI agents become increasingly proficient at specialized tasks, how will businesses leverage agent-to-agent orchestration engines to enable smooth collaboration between AI and humans? What impact will the rise of fully autonomous workflows have on business operations, and how can organizations ensure they remain ahead of these advancements? Moreover, with evolving policies and regulations, how will new AI governance platforms emerge, and how can businesses navigate these changes? To gain insights into how AI is shaping the future of business, download the full top 15 digital transformation trends for 2025 report now.

2. Chat-GPT Induced Revised Search Patterns and Consumer Behavior

ChatGPT could give rise to a new wave of search engines with multi-modal capabilities, posing a threat to Google’s market dominance. As these emerging competitors gain traction, Google would be compelled to integrate generative AI into its search workflows. This shift would also disrupt paid media as search engines explore new monetization strategies centered around ChatGPT-driven interactions.

As consumer behavior evolves with the rise of AI-driven search engines, how should businesses adjust their content strategies to balance both organic and paid visibility? What role will these shifts play in transforming business processes and influencing the future of enterprise software? To uncover more about how these changes will impact your organization in 2025, download the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends now.

3. Continued Consolidation of the Enterprise Software Industry

The consolidation of enterprise software categories accelerated in 2024 and is expected to continue in 2025. This consolidation would lead to broader, more overlapping product offerings. More confusion! A trend that will drive significant pricing and architectural shifts for customers. Depending on the acquirer’s strategy, certain features may be phased out, or entire products may be discontinued.

With the ongoing changes in the enterprise software landscape, how can businesses prepare for unexpected pricing adjustments that might trigger unplanned upgrade projects? Think surprise bills! What steps should organizations take to mitigate potential disruptions and ensure smooth transitions? To stay ahead of these trends and better navigate the challenges of 2025, download the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends now.

4. Cloud/Saas Expense Reduction and Saas Licensing Price Pressure

As businesses grapple with cash constraints, many will look to cut costs by optimizing their SaaS spending. They would also reduce costs by eliminating unused software. Shelfware! In response to these cost-cutting measures—and amid a challenging purchasing environment—software vendors are likely to raise prices. We’ve already seen this trend with platforms like Smartsheet and ActiveCampaign, where small pricing adjustments significantly increase overall customer costs.

As private equity acquisitions continue to influence the market, how should businesses prepare for ongoing pricing shifts that are expected to persist into 2025? What strategies can organizations implement to manage these changes and maintain budget control? To learn more about the trends shaping pricing strategies and digital transformation in 2025, download the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends now.

5. Surge in M&A Activities and Deal Flow

With interest rate cuts and changes in the U.S. administration, M&A activity is expected to accelerate in 2025. Since M&A trends closely align with ERP and digital transformation initiatives, the digital transformation sector is likely to see increased deal activity.

With a slightly improved outlook for 2025, how will software vendors allocate resources to R&D and innovation to stay competitive in an evolving market? What impact will this shift have on the development of new solutions and the digital transformation landscape? To gain a deeper understanding of these trends and their potential effects, download the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 now.

6. Continued Reallocation of Skill Sets and Their Impact on Business Processes

AI is rendering several skill sets obsolete, a trend that will persist in 2025 as its effectiveness across various use cases becomes clearer. At the same time, the rise of AI governance platforms and AI agents will create demand for new skills.

How will the ongoing shifts in technology and business strategies reshape traditional business processes, requiring the reconfiguration of business process software and driving architectural changes? What new software categories are likely to emerge as a result of these transformations? To explore these insights and stay ahead of the curve, download the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 now.

7. Geopolitical Impact on Business Processes

With the risk of new conflicts and the escalation of existing ones, geopolitical tensions are expected to persist in 2025. As global economies struggle, the cost of living remains high, and real estate markets reach unsustainable levels, new and unexpected supply chain disruptions are likely to emerge.

As governments respond to evolving global challenges, how will new regulatory measures and policy changes aimed at controlling information, currency, and monetary flows impact business processes, reporting requirements, and enterprise architecture? To better understand these developments and how they may affect your organization, download the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 now.

8. More Disruptions Caused by Software Supply Chain and Cybersecurity Issues

Recent disruptions, such as the CrowdStrike incident, have highlighted the risks posed by software supply chain vulnerabilities. This has prompted companies and governments to reassess their impact. As AI enhances the ability of malicious actors to identify and exploit these weaknesses, policy changes around software supply chain security are inevitable.

How will new regulations introduce accountability measures for open-source software impact pricing models and software architectures in the coming years? To explore how these regulatory changes will shape the future of enterprise software, download the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 now.

9. Collaborative Partnerships and Continued Acquisition of Networks Producing Data

As data remains the key driver of AI effectiveness, 2024 saw partnerships forming even between competitors, such as the collaboration between Salesforce and Workday.

How will the continued trend of acquiring and integrating data-generating networks, such as Blue Yonder’s acquisition of One Network Enterprises, affect the future of enterprise software and digital transformation? Find out more about this evolving trend and other top digital transformation insights by downloading the full report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 today.

10. (No More) Breakup of Large Corporations and Antitrust Laws Blocking Large Deals

The incoming U.S. administration is expected to take a less stringent approach to scrutinizing mega-mergers compared to the current one. Deals like Google’s acquisition of HubSpot are likely to proceed, and the idea of breaking up large corporations, such as Google, will likely be off the table. Had such breakups occurred, they would have significantly impacted both front-end and enterprise processes for many organizations.

How will this shift lead to the acceleration of consolidation among large enterprise software companies, resulting in an even greater overlap of capabilities? To learn more about this and other emerging trends that are shaping the future of digital transformation, download the report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 today.

11. Continued Digital Transformation Failures and Focus on Enterprise Architecture

The consolidation-driven overlap will result in duplicated capabilities across enterprise software categories. This would create significant challenges for executives managing transformation initiatives. Companies like SAP have already begun focusing heavily on enterprise architecture. Smaller vendors are expected to adopt similar approaches.

How will this trend drive acquisitions in key areas like process mining, digital adoption platforms, and enterprise architecture visibility tools? To uncover more insights on this and other transformative trends, be sure to download the report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 today.

12. Energy-Efficient Algorithms and Computing

AI capabilities are currently constrained by infrastructure and energy limitations. As a result, significant investment will be directed toward data center energy technologies and energy-efficient algorithms.

How might this trend lead to the development of new models that surpass current ones, offering even more advanced and powerful capabilities? To explore this and other emerging trends shaping the future of digital transformation, download the report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 today.

13. Revised Processes for Sustainability and E-Invoicing

ESG and sustainability will remain key priorities for both governments and consumers. Policy changes in these areas will lead to new reporting requirements, which many software vendors will prioritize to capitalize on emerging trends.

As the ESG sector continues to evolve, with solutions competing for market share and overlapping capabilities, how will these developments influence business strategies? Additionally, with governments pushing for more efficient tax revenue collection through the evolution of e-invoicing processes, what impact will this have on reporting requirements and system architecture? To stay ahead of these trends, download the report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 now.

14. Omnichannel, Collaborative Experience, and Operational Intelligence Platforms

Companies excelling in omnichannel solutions, collaborative platforms, and operational intelligence will keep growing. The MACH ecosystem and real-time experiences are becoming mainstream. Tools like SmartSheet, Monday.com, Airtable, ClickUp, and Notion are redefining collaboration. Palantir is shaping operational intelligence. As these trends evolve, market leaders will gain more traction.

As emerging technologies continue to reshape the business landscape, how will legacy companies like Atlassian, Snowflake, and traditional commerce vendors adapt to stay competitive? Will they successfully catch up with the latest advancements or face challenges in their efforts? To explore how these shifts will impact the digital transformation journey, download the report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 today.

15. Race to Quantum Technologies

AI is driving demand for advanced infrastructure and computing power. This accelerates quantum technology development. Despite risks like q-day and post-quantum cryptography, investment in quantum is likely to grow, as seen before.

Could the advancements in quantum technology lead to the emergence of entirely new technologies and software categories? What potential breakthroughs can businesses expect in the near future as quantum developments accelerate? To dive deeper into this and other key trends shaping the digital landscape, download the report on the top 15 digital transformation trends in 2025 today.

Final Words

The year 2025 is expected to carry a level of uncertainty similar to that of 2024, resulting in a cautious approach for most CFOs. A potential catalyst for advancing the enterprise software market could be innovations powered by AI. Nevertheless, translating AI initiatives into tangible business outcomes may require time for companies to grasp fully.

For those contemplating digital transformation initiatives in 2024, allocate resources to a strategy aimed at mitigating financial and technical risks. Doing so will not only enhance your chances of securing the trust of financial executives but also guard against unforeseen challenges that may arise in the absence of such a plan.

Top 10 Digital Commerce Platforms In 2025

Top 10 ECommerce Platforms in 2025

Many people still associate digital eCommerce platforms primarily with online coupons and discounts, but the scope of digital commerce goes far beyond that. Even if your business doesn’t process transactions online, elements like a website’s contact form play a vital role in digital commerce by serving as key tools for lead generation. To achieve complete visibility into customer behavior, robust digital commerce capabilities are essential, highlighting their broader strategic value.

Although understanding what eCommerce is may seem simple, selecting and implementing the right platform to support your digital goals can be complex. Critical factors include integrating payment and shipping providers, optimizing site speed, and reducing bounce rates to better attract and convert web traffic. As digital channels multiply, evaluating platforms for their pre-built integration capabilities becomes increasingly important to avoid unexpected implementation costs. Rising transaction volumes also demand advanced, enterprise-grade features such as digital asset management, approval workflows, and a comprehensive digital experience management solution. For businesses operating in regulated industries, compliance requirements add another layer of complexity that can directly impact digital transactions.

eCommerce platforms frequently overlap with systems like POS, ERP, OMS, and supply chain management solutions. Clearly defining the platform’s scope is crucial, particularly when determining how inventory is managed across systems and where pricing and discount strategies will be controlled. The role and functionality of an eCommerce platform can vary significantly depending on the industry. For example, industrial manufacturing and distribution often require more sophisticated digital workflows, whereas B2C platforms are generally more streamlined, though even they may demand capabilities that overlap with customer data platforms and loyalty systems. To address these challenges, begin by shortlisting a few of the top-performing eCommerce platforms from the list below.

10. WooCommerce

WooCommerce remains a popular choice among startups and content-centric businesses looking to add eCommerce functionality to their existing WordPress websites. Its open-source nature, affordability, and tight integration with WordPress make it especially attractive to entrepreneurs and small teams operating under lean budgets. The platform excels in content management and provides access to a vast ecosystem of plugins and developers, making it a compelling entry point for digital commerce. However, its strengths are most impactful for companies with limited eCommerce complexity, particularly those under the $5–10 million revenue threshold.

As businesses grow and their digital commerce needs evolve, WooCommerce can begin to show its limitations. Issues such as plugin conflicts, a weak data model, and insufficient security architecture for transactional reliability become increasingly problematic. These challenges are especially pronounced in B2B or enterprise-grade scenarios requiring advanced user permissions, workflow support, and seamless scalability. So, is WooCommerce the right long-term platform for your growth trajectory? Or is it time to explore more scalable alternatives? To answer these questions, download our definitive guide: Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025.

Top 15 Retail Digital Transformation Trends in 2025

9. Kibo Commerce

Kibo Commerce is a modern, API-first, microservices-based eCommerce platform designed to help enterprises deliver omnichannel experiences without relying heavily on custom development. Its architecture allows for flexible scaling and modular deployment, making it ideal for businesses looking to support high transaction volumes and dynamic customer experiences. With integrated Order Management System (OMS), eCommerce, and subscription commerce capabilities, Kibo provides a unified foundation that streamlines operations and reduces time to market, especially for brands aiming to offer subscription-based models and seamless cross-channel fulfillment.

However, despite its strong front-end capabilities and integrated OMS, Kibo faces tough competition from platforms like Manhattan and IBM Sterling Commerce, which offer deeper supply chain integration with WMS and TMS solutions. Additionally, Kibo’s backend integration can be a hurdle, particularly for businesses requiring tight financial and operational alignment. Its relatively limited consulting ecosystem and higher cost may also make it less attractive for mid-market players. So, is Kibo the best fit for your enterprise’s growth strategy, or would a more comprehensive or cost-effective platform serve you better? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to explore how Kibo stacks up against the leading platforms.

8. SAP Hybris Commerce

SAP Hybris Commerce is designed for large enterprises with complex requirements, particularly those already embedded within the broader SAP ecosystem. Its key strength lies in seamless integration with other SAP products, making it a strategic fit for businesses seeking a single-vendor solution across ERP, CRM, and commerce. The platform also offers deployment flexibility and strong CI/CD capabilities, giving IT teams the infrastructure control and governance needed for compliance-heavy industries. For companies prioritizing audit readiness and process control, SAP Hybris provides a solid, if somewhat traditional, foundation for enterprise commerce.

However, the eCommerce landscape has shifted rapidly, especially after Oracle Commerce’s expected discontinuation in 2023, raising concerns about the long-term viability of legacy platforms like SAP Hybris. While SAP has taken steps to modernize Hybris through improvements in its headless architecture, it still lags in usability, partner ecosystem, and cutting-edge features like integrated digital asset management. Is SAP Hybris still the right fit for your business in 2025? Or is it time to consider platforms with stronger native headless capabilities and broader partner ecosystems? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to see how SAP Hybris compares to emerging leaders.

Top-10-CRM-Software

7. HCL Commerce

HCL Commerce, the evolved version of IBM Commerce, brings a modernized approach to enterprise eCommerce while retaining the robust capabilities of its predecessor. By offering full API access to commerce layers—including search, cart, and digital asset management—HCL empowers businesses to build scalable, headless experiences. Its React-based composable storefront capabilities make it especially appealing to B2C brands looking to support omnichannel strategies and regional customization. With decades of enterprise-grade performance backing it, HCL Commerce offers a reliable solution for teams already familiar with IBM’s data structures and workflows.

That said, the platform still carries the weight of its legacy architecture, relying on Java and Spring frameworks that may present a steep learning curve for modern web developers. While its B2C capabilities are solid, companies with industrial B2B needs or ambitions for advanced personalization may find the platform limiting without significant custom development. Are you looking for a modern commerce solution with enterprise muscle, or is your business better served by a platform with more robust B2B and CDP features out of the box? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to evaluate how HCL Commerce compares to the top contenders.



The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

6. Episerver Digital Commerce

Episerver Digital Commerce—now branded as Optimizely—caters specifically to mid-to-large B2B companies looking for a unified platform that delivers both content management and commerce capabilities without relying on costly third-party add-ons. Its integrated approach makes it especially valuable for industrial businesses with complex product catalogs, partner relationships, and rule-based promotional structures. Unlike many SMB-focused platforms, Episerver embeds digital experimentation and A/B testing directly into its core suite, enabling marketers and developers to collaborate on experience optimization with full traceability across channels.

However, while Episerver shines in flexibility and B2B depth, it may not be the ideal choice for smaller brands or large enterprises requiring enterprise-grade scalability and integration depth. Its ecosystem is also more limited compared to platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, potentially leading to higher implementation costs and slower onboarding. So, is Optimizely the right fit for your B2B strategy, or do your needs align more with a lighter or more scalable platform? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to discover how Episerver stacks up.

5. Commercetools

commercetools, a rising star in the digital commerce space with backing from Accel and a valuation north of $2 billion, has made significant strides among top-tier B2C brands—especially in the automotive industry. With its commitment to the MACH principles (Microservices, API-first, Composable, and Headless), it delivers a flexible, future-ready architecture well-suited for organizations that demand highly tailored digital experiences. Its proven performance with multi-brand, high-traffic deployments has helped commercetools win clients that once relied on legacy giants like Oracle ATG and SAP Hybris.

Still, commercetools isn’t for everyone. It lacks bundled enterprise features, which can be a deal-breaker for companies looking for all-in-one solutions. Additionally, while its B2C capabilities are robust, businesses with complex B2B needs may find the platform less suitable without significant custom development. Does your organization prioritize flexibility and customization over turnkey solutions? Are you ready to build a best-of-breed tech stack around a MACH-native core? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to see where commercetools ranks.

4. Salesforce Commerce

Salesforce Commerce Cloud continues to be a go-to choice for large enterprises seeking sophisticated, scalable eCommerce workflows—particularly those already embedded within the Salesforce ecosystem through tools like CRM and Pardot. With equally strong support for both B2B and B2C models, Salesforce stands out for its deep merchandising capabilities, robust AI-driven product recommendations, and active involvement in the React and headless commerce communities. This comprehensive functionality, paired with a strong developer ecosystem, cements its position as one of the most enterprise-ready platforms available.

However, this depth comes with a tradeoff. Salesforce’s pricing model—broken out across multiple products—can be cost-prohibitive for SMBs. And while headless capabilities are available, they may feel less native compared to MACH-first platforms. Is your organization prepared to invest in a premium ecosystem to access advanced B2B and B2C functionality? Are you already leveraging other Salesforce tools and looking to unify your digital stack? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to see where Salesforce Commerce ranks.

LinkedIn - Salesforce vs Oracle Cloud CX

3. Adobe Commerce/Magento

Adobe Commerce, formerly Magento, remains a strong contender for mid-to-large enterprises with intricate eCommerce workflows across both B2B and B2C channels. Its rich data model and enterprise-grade capabilities—such as support for millions of daily site visitors, complex pricing rules, and advanced promotional workflows—make it a top choice for organizations that require scalability and flexibility. While the open-source version provides a great starting point, most serious implementations lean on the enterprise edition to unlock critical features like Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) and granular promotion permissions. Backed by Adobe’s broader digital experience suite, Adobe Commerce continues to deliver value to organizations invested in content-rich, customizable commerce.

However, Adobe Commerce isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Smaller businesses may struggle with its technical complexity, and even larger enterprises may find the rigid data model challenging during customization. Is your team prepared to navigate a more prescriptive architecture for long-term stability? Does your commerce strategy demand the level of scale and flexibility that only Adobe Commerce can offer? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to explore how Adobe Commerce stacks up against the competition.

2. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is purpose-built for B2B SMBs that require robust eCommerce functionality without the burden of heavy internal IT investment. Its strong data model accommodates complex product catalogs, variant logic, and pricing structures, all essential for industrial distributors and manufacturers transitioning to digital. Unlike many SMB-focused platforms, BigCommerce provides a more scalable and user-friendly approach to B2B, with pre-baked integrations for ERP and POS systems that simplify initial setup. For B2C companies with similar operational complexities, it can also offer an alternative to more enterprise-heavy solutions without overwhelming business users.

However, as companies grow and demand more advanced features—like personalization engines, DAMs, and native experimentation tools—BigCommerce may require an increasing number of third-party add-ons. This can complicate architecture and introduce long-term maintenance challenges, especially for those pursuing an omnichannel or headless strategy. Are you looking for a platform that meets your B2B needs without requiring extensive customization? Or are you outgrowing the limitations of simpler systems and need a stepping stone before full enterprise migration? Download the Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now to find out whether BigCommerce is the right fit for your digital commerce journey.

1. Shopify

Shopify is a leading choice for B2C SMBs seeking a straightforward, scalable platform to power their omnichannel and direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategies. Its intuitive data model and seamless integration with various payment and shipping providers make it ideal for brands that want to focus on growth without heavy IT overhead. Shopify’s built-in POS system ensures inventory and sales data sync effortlessly across online and physical stores, delivering a smooth omnichannel experience. Additionally, its vibrant developer ecosystem, particularly around the Hydrogen on Oxygen headless platform, offers flexibility and innovation for brands looking to customize their digital storefronts.

Yet, Shopify’s appeal comes with some trade-offs. Transaction fees and reliance on add-ons for advanced B2C and B2B capabilities can increase costs and complexity, especially for companies with more intricate needs like industrial distributors. Are you prioritizing ease of use and a vast app ecosystem, or do you require robust out-of-the-box enterprise features? How critical are transaction fees and native B2B support in your platform choice? To navigate these questions and discover which platform best fits your business needs, download the ultimate Top eCommerce Platforms in 2025 report now and get the insights you need to make the right decision.

Conclusion

Choosing the right eCommerce platform can be challenging. It requires a deep understanding of financials to accurately assess total cost of ownership, along with the insight of independent eCommerce consultants to evaluate the effort needed for custom features. Moreover, this choice influences the overall system architecture and operational efficiency, making a thorough and strategic approach to platform selection essential.

Download the Full Report

FAQs

Top 10 CRM Software In 2024

Top 10 CRM Systems in 2025

Sales and marketing teams have traditionally relied on ad-hoc tools like spreadsheets or standalone software to manage their workflows. However, the growing complexity of modern sales and marketing operations now requires more advanced, integrated systems. CRM workflows are not only more intricate but also vary widely across industries and business models. To deliver a seamless and intuitive user experience, your CRM must be tailored to the specific data structures relevant to your sector. The true value of a CRM lies in its ability to consolidate high-quality data from multiple sources and make it easily accessible to sales teams—something that becomes difficult when the CRM’s data model doesn’t align with your customer hierarchies or transactional frameworks.

Additionally, the lines between CRM, CMS, call center platforms, e-commerce solutions, and ERP systems are increasingly blurred. Today’s CRMs often incorporate features once exclusive to ERP or e-commerce platforms, and overlap with CMS systems designed to handle industry-specific, customer-centric workflows, especially for organizations focused on tracking digital engagements. This convergence underscores the importance of clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of each system. Without a well-structured strategy, organizations risk poor user adoption and compromised data integrity.

CRMs built primarily for marketing automation may lack the robust data models required for downstream sales workflows, while those focused on sales processes might not support seamless integration with digital channels or content-driven engagement. Although some CRM platforms claim cross-industry flexibility, very few truly meet the unique demands of every business model. As a result, selecting the right CRM requires a deep understanding of your organization’s architecture and a careful evaluation of your options.

10. Oracle CX Cloud

Oracle Cloud CX stands out for its comprehensive suite of CRM tools, covering everything from sales and service to marketing, content, and advertising management. Built with large B2C enterprises in mind—particularly those in communications, media, and financial services—it offers powerful features like ad spend tracking, centralized asset management, and deep CPQ integrations tailored to complex subscription-based models. However, the discontinuation of Oracle Commerce signals a strategic shift that may limit the platform’s broader industry appeal. While it remains highly customizable, this flexibility often comes with a steep learning curve and the need for significant IT resources.

For enterprises with mature IT teams and a need for complex workflows, Oracle Cloud CX continues to deliver a solid CRM foundation. Yet, questions remain about its long-term direction and alignment with evolving market needs. Is Oracle committed to advancing CX Cloud amid its pivot toward healthcare and analytics? Can it keep up with competitors offering more agile, low-code platforms? And how sustainable is its customization-heavy model for fast-moving industries? Find out where Oracle Cloud CX stands among the top solutions this year—download the Top CRM Systems in 2025 report now.

LinkedIn - Salesforce vs Oracle Cloud CX

9. SAP C/4 HANA

SAP C/4HANA, as part of the broader S/4HANA ecosystem, delivers a robust and deeply integrated CRM platform tailored for large enterprises with complex regulatory and operational needs. Its strengths lie in its seamless integration with other SAP products, making it especially valuable in highly regulated industries like utilities, finance, and the public sector. With advanced capabilities in identity management, consent tracking, and cross-channel personalization, SAP C/4HANA is particularly effective in supporting compliance-heavy environments. Its alignment with the Hybris product suite and SAP Configurator also makes it a strong fit for product-centric businesses requiring enterprise-grade quoting, territory, and compensation management tools.

Despite its deep functionality, SAP C/4HANA’s steep learning curve and complex customization requirements may deter mid-sized companies or those lacking strong IT resources. The platform’s limited flexibility and less intuitive marketing automation tools also raise questions about its adaptability to fast-changing sales and marketing landscapes. Is SAP doing enough to modernize its CRM experience for business users? Can it remain competitive in a market increasingly driven by low-code platforms and user-centric design? For a full comparison and insights into how SAP C/4HANA ranks among this year’s top CRM systems, download the Top CRM Systems in 2025 report now.

Salesforce vs SAP C/4 HANA CRM

8. Zendesk Sell

Zendesk Sell is a lightweight CRM solution designed with simplicity in mind, making it an attractive option for small businesses already using Zendesk for customer support. Its origins in the Base CRM acquisition laid the foundation for a platform that supports essential sales functions like lead and opportunity tracking, calling, and emailing—features that startups with under 15 employees will find intuitive and accessible. The seamless transition for existing Zendesk users adds to its appeal, providing a familiar interface and easy integration for basic workflows.

However, Zendesk Sell’s streamlined approach comes with limitations. Larger organizations or those with more complex sales operations may quickly outgrow its capabilities. The lack of tight integration with Zendesk Support, weak marketing automation, and limited advanced features such as revenue planning and robust reporting raise important questions. Can Zendesk evolve to meet the growing demands of scaling businesses? How does it stack up against other entry-level CRMs that offer better integration and flexibility? To explore how Zendesk Sell compares to the leading CRM platforms this year, download the Top CRM Systems in 2025 report now.

Salesforce vs Zendesk, Comparison Report

7. Monday.Com

Monday.com has gained popularity among small businesses and teams already using it for project management, especially those looking to build custom CRM workflows tailored to unique operational needs. Its appeal lies in its flexibility—users can quickly set up automations, approval flows, and integrations without deep technical expertise. This makes it particularly useful for industries like real estate and non-profits, where standard CRM solutions may fall short. However, Monday.com still functions primarily as a project management platform, meaning teams must build out core CRM capabilities from scratch, which can increase complexity over time.

For organizations adopting Monday.com as a CRM, maintaining governance becomes crucial. Without proper oversight, teams may over-engineer workflows, resulting in inefficiencies, technical debt, and unpredictable costs. Additionally, the platform’s lack of built-in data integrity controls and advanced CRM features can be problematic as businesses scale. Is Monday.com truly sustainable as a long-term CRM solution for growing companies? Can it compete with out-of-the-box platforms that offer mature CRM functionality from day one? Download the Top CRM Systems in 2025 report now to see how Monday.com compares to other leading solutions.

zoho vs monday.com crm

6. SugarCRM

SugarCRM is a data-driven, sales-focused CRM platform designed to meet the needs of industrial businesses requiring strong ERP integration and complex quoting workflows. Its industry-specific CPQ capabilities make it especially effective for organizations dealing with product configurations, bills of materials, and subscription-based offerings. With built-in tools for ad creation and collaboration between sales and project management teams, SugarCRM streamlines operations for cost-sensitive companies—particularly those with in-house development resources and a preference for on-premises deployment through its community edition.

That said, SugarCRM may not be the best fit for organizations with fast-evolving or highly varied business models. The platform’s clunky interface, limited reporting, and hidden operational costs in the community edition could become barriers to growth. Additionally, while updates have been made, they haven’t significantly changed its position in this year’s rankings. Is SugarCRM evolving quickly enough to stay competitive in the modern CRM landscape? How much internal investment does it truly take to make the most of its features? Download the Top CRM Systems in 2025 report now to see how SugarCRM compares against today’s leading platforms.

Zoho vs SugarCRM

5. Pipedrive CRM

Pipedrive CRM is a budget-friendly, user-friendly solution crafted for small businesses that need efficient sales tools without the complexity of enterprise-grade platforms. Its built-in CPQ functionality and document-centric workflows make it ideal for service-based or digital product companies, such as those selling online courses or subscriptions. Notably, Pipedrive offers strong support for the Asian market, setting it apart from many competitors by addressing international taxation and regulatory requirements—an often overlooked need in CPQ-enabled CRMs.

While recent enhancements, such as native workflow automation and improved data reporting via strategic acquisitions, improve usability for businesses with limited IT resources, Pipedrive still lacks the customization depth and scalability found in platforms like HubSpot. Is Pipedrive evolving quickly enough to stay competitive as small businesses scale and demand more complex features? Can it truly support B2B firms with layered organizational structures and larger sales teams? To see how Pipedrive stacks up against the competition, download the Top CRM Systems in 2025 report now.

4. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a go-to platform for smaller, content-driven B2B companies that want a streamlined, user-friendly solution encompassing sales, service, CMS, and marketing automation. It offers a fast setup, intuitive interface, and robust tools for omnichannel tracking and marketing automation. Its strength lies in its ability to unify digital marketing and sales operations—particularly valuable for teams focused on lead generation and nurturing. The recent integration of Clearbit adds significant value by enriching CRM records with actionable data, allowing teams to personalize outreach and improve segmentation without leaving the platform.

However, HubSpot’s flexibility comes with trade-offs. As companies scale and face more complex sales structures or compliance-heavy operations, they may encounter limitations in HubSpot’s lean data model and lack of support for advanced workflows such as CPQ, territory management, or field service. Is your business ready to work around these limitations with custom development, or would a more configurable platform be a better fit? Are you prepared for how HubSpot’s evolving pricing tiers might impact your long-term budget? Download the Top CRM Software in 2025 report now to explore how HubSpot stacks up against the competition.



The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

3. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM has matured from a small business tool into a comprehensive platform capable of supporting large-scale service organizations. Its standout feature is the breadth of its application suite—offering everything from CRM to custom app development under a single flat-rate model. This approach makes it especially appealing to service-centric companies that don’t require deep financial integrations, as they can build and automate key business processes entirely within Zoho. The inclusion of Zoho Creator provides even more flexibility, enabling technical teams to rapidly deploy tailored applications and workflows without relying heavily on third-party tools.

That said, Zoho CRM does face limitations, particularly for multinational enterprises that require seamless global data handling or complex territory-based sales structures. Does your organization operate across multiple regions with strict data governance needs? Are you willing to invest in custom development to overcome Zoho’s narrower integration capabilities beyond its ecosystem? Download the Top CRM Software in 2025 report now to see whether Zoho CRM is the right fit—or if another platform offers a better balance of flexibility, scalability, and compliance readiness for your business.

2. Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM continues to be a top choice for enterprises requiring a high degree of customization and scalability. Its strength lies in the ability to build robust, industry-specific workflows across sales, marketing, and service functions, supported by a deeply integrated Microsoft ecosystem. With advanced features like complex business object support and territory management, it’s well-suited for regulated industries and global organizations. However, deploying and maintaining multiple Microsoft apps within the platform demands architectural discipline, especially when these apps override core CRM objects and limit flexibility at the platform level.

Organizations with evolving CRM requirements must also weigh the trade-offs between customization freedom and long-term maintainability. Will your internal team be able to manage these complexities, or will you become overly dependent on third-party developers? Can your IT team handle the tighter object dependencies and integration constraints across apps and modules? Download the Top CRM Software in 2025 report now to see how Microsoft Dynamics 365 compares to other platforms.

Zoho CRM vs Microsoft Dynamics

1. Salesforce CRM

Salesforce remains the gold standard for enterprises seeking a deeply customizable and future-ready CRM platform. Its extensive data model supports a wide array of industries and business models, while its rich ecosystem offers pre-built solutions that simplify implementation and integration. Salesforce’s leadership in AI-driven automation and agentic capabilities sets it apart, empowering organizations to harness advanced analytics and predictive workflows. This robust product portfolio, combined with strong specialized capabilities—especially in telecom, media, and medical devices—helps Salesforce maintain its position as the top CRM platform in this year’s rankings.

However, the platform’s power comes with complexity and cost. Are you prepared to manage Salesforce’s sometimes challenging customization process and potentially steep learning curve? How will the investment in licensing and implementation balance against your organization’s CRM needs and budget? For sectors requiring close ERP collaboration, is Salesforce the best fit, or might another platform serve you better? Find answers to these questions and more by downloading the Top CRM Software in 2025 report now, and explore how Salesforce stacks up against the competition.

Final Words

As customer experience becomes increasingly critical to winning business, sales and marketing teams need more advanced CRM capabilities than ever before. A robust CRM system is vital for maintaining a unified view of customers throughout their entire journey, whether in pre-sales or post-sales stages. Without a centralized platform to manage workflows and interactions, staying competitive in today’s market can be a major challenge.

The CRM you choose has a direct impact on your overall enterprise architecture. That’s why it’s crucial to select a CRM that aligns well with your business model and supports your digital transformation goals. If you’re in the process of evaluating CRM solutions, be sure to weigh the factors mentioned here alongside insights from independent CRM experts. This guide is designed to help you narrow down the best options tailored to your organization’s needs.

Download the Full Report

FAQs

Top 10 Systems for Your Enterprise Architecture

Top 10 Systems for Your Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise architecture is more than a technical concept. But what is enterprise architecture? Think of enterprise architecture as the connected business systems that drive your operational processes with four primary perspectives. 1) business architecture, 2) process architecture, 3) data/information architecture, and 4) system architecture. Generally, most industries have two choices when building their architecture. They can either buy a system or build it themselves. But regardless of whether you buy or build, your enterprise architecture is equally important.

Top 10 Systems For Your Enterprise Architecture - List

Also, some people might feel that ERP might be the answer to all of their system issues. They might also feel that enterprise architecture is only relevant for larger companies. However, even ERP systems require a well-defined architecture around them. So, regardless of the organization’s size, the lack of architecture results in ERP implementation failure. As well as poor adoption of digital initiatives and unforeseeable business disruptions. Understanding the enterprise architecture and each system’s role is crucial for your digital journey. In this article, we have covered major systems that your architecture might need as you grow.


10. Project Management

  • Which companies need to include PM as part of their enterprise architecture? In general, your enterprise architecture may not require project management software unless you execute these projects for your core business operations. For example, the ad-hoc engineering projects executed to improve processes or a CapEx building would not be part of your enterprise architecture. In other words, they can remain siloed. As far as the scope of enterprise architecture goes, these projects are applicable to businesses that sell them as their core offerings. These businesses include marketing agencies, defense contractors, sign manufacturers, or construction supply manufacturers.
  • Why do you need project management software? Generally, most project-centric organizations seem to be human-resources-driven. And these projects need to be estimated accurately and monitored throughout the process to avoid financial loss. So this is the core reason why PM software is critical for these organizations. 
  • Who needs to interact with project management software? Most commonly, these projects typically serve many different stakeholders. It could include the subject matter experts or individual contributors. It could also include project managers, estimators, and financial executives interested in the financial health of the project. 
  • Which capabilities do you need in the project management software? Typically, the capabilities crucial in project management software include resource scheduling, project governance, procurement, and timesheet management. You might also choose to go for packages such as timesheet software vs. project collaboration software.
  • What are the different options for project management software? Generally, there are two choices for project management software. For example, it can be standalone software or integrated with financials. In the startup phase, you might be OK with keeping it standalone. But as your project volume and scheduling complexity grow, you might need an option natively integrated with your financials.

9. Data Warehouse/Data Lake

  • Which companies need to include data warehouses as part of their enterprise architecture? Generally, most SMB companies might not include a data warehouse in their architecture. Because the operational systems crucial for their workflow take priority. However, once you have multiple systems in your architecture and struggle to get 360 degrees of your business due to the disparate data sources, you might need to include it in your architecture.
  • Why do you need data warehouse software? Typically, companies require a data warehouse when they need to consolidate insights from multiple systems, external or internal. Moreover, the drivers for data warehouses could be regulatory or forecasting. As well as for enabling decision support systems. It can also help them with historical data that is unavailable through their operational systems. Historical data typically gets lost when operational systems are replaced.
  • Who needs to interact with data warehouse software? In general, there are several stakeholders for data warehouse software. But the primary consumer would either be a BI tool. Or data scientists who might further augment the data and feed it back to the BI tool.
  • Which capabilities do you need in the data warehouse software? Depending upon the use case, several technologies are available to build a data warehouse or lake. But the most basic ones would be a separate data store. As well as ETL technology to move data nightly. The ETL technology helps avoid the impact on the operational performance due to the overhead exerted by the ETL pull.
  • What are the different options for data warehouse software? Generally, there are numerous technologies available to build data warehouses. But the easiest one would be to rent data warehouse capabilities, available through major cloud providers such as Azure, AWS, or GCP.

8. Business Intelligence (BI, S&OP, CPM, and ODP)

  • Which companies need to include business intelligence as part of their enterprise architecture? Typically, companies need business intelligence systems such as S&OP, CPM, and operational data platforms. They need it when they might have business performance issues such as inventory, cash flow, or waste in the manufacturing process. However, these systems are often siloed in SMB organizations unless offered pre-integrated with the ERP, etc. But as the complexity of your architecture and systems increase, you might need to integrate them.
  • Why do you need business intelligence software? Mostly, these analytical systems have pre-built workflows. These workflows can augment your datasets or allow additional dimensions such as seasonality to be added. They might also provide you with insights that might be harder with operational systems. It might be harder due to the rigidness of their data structure and impact on operations. In general, the role of business intelligence is to provide interactive analytics from data that you may have in your data warehouse.
  • Who needs to interact with business intelligence software? The consumers of business intelligence software are typically business users who need additional insights and KPIs for their workflow.
  • Which capabilities do you need in the business intelligence software? Generally, the main capabilities required in business intelligence software would be interactive analytics. And the analytical workflows to facilitate collaboration among business users.
  • What are the different options for business intelligence software? Typically, several options are available, with some offering their internal data store for the temporary storage of interim datasets. And the options could also be function specific. For example, a separate tool might be available for S&OP. Or the tool may offer connected planning as part of the suite.

7. Integration Technologies

  • Which companies need to include integration technologies as part of their enterprise architecture? Unless you have siloed systems or maintain everything in one system without additional channels, you may require an iPaaS. On the other hand, workflow collaboration would be an additional layer on top of the core operational architecture. You need it to enable master data control and ad-hoc workflows. Generally, Workflow collaboration tools don’t impact the enterprise architecture as much unless they are overused or overengineered.
  • Why do you need integration technologies? Essentially, integration technologies allow you to keep all your integration code in one place. Without an iPaaS, your choice would be to keep the integration code inside the source or destination system. And due to the additional overhead required, this choice may be more expensive to maintain over time. They might also be prone to bugs as the source and destination systems upgrade their interfaces. Additionally, the integration technologies allow safeguards if systems operate at different speeds.
  • Who needs to interact with integration technologies? Mainly, the integration technologies are used by developers or admins who need to ensure that integration flows work as expected.
  • Which capabilities do you need in the integration technologies? In general, the integration technologies must support various integration patterns such as HTTP, FTP, or Queue-based. It must also allow building an orchestration layer to transform and massage data in different formats.
  • What are the different options for integration technologies? Generally, there are several options available depending on the budget and capabilities. For example, if the company doesn’t want to utilize an iPaaS, they might host integration code in their existing data center or write it inside the source or destination system.

6. Manufacturing Software/MES

  • Which companies need to include manufacturing software as part of their enterprise architecture? Typically, These systems are applicable to manufacturing companies. They might use a separate MES system or a collection of tools that might serve a similar function as an MES. They also need a MES system if they have real-time integration with machines. We also need to collect and process operational data to optimize shop floor workflow. On the other hand, CAD, engineering, and R&D software typically have minimum impact on the enterprise architecture. The only cases where they might have an impact are when they need to be integrated with the operational flow to minimize data entry.
  • Why do you need manufacturing software? Since the shop floor is the primary cost driver for manufacturing companies, they need different tools to improve shop floor productivity. As the maturity of the shop floor and the order volume increase, they might need to integrate their shop floor technologies more.
  • Who needs to interact with manufacturing software? Typically, the primary stakeholders are plant floor users, supervisors, and manufacturing executives who need them for their operational workflow. 
  • Which capabilities do you need in the manufacturing software? In general, the shop floor capabilities might include scheduling and in-process inspections. As well as real-time integration and control of the machines, and engineering and R&D workflows.
  • What are the different options for manufacturing software? Mostly, the options could be siloed manufacturing software if your accounting function is completely siloed and disconnected from operations. It could also include an MES in conjunction. With an ERP, or a standalone manufacturing ERP (depending upon the company’s operational complexity).

5. Supply Chain Software (P2P, WMS, and TMS)

  • Which companies need supply chain software? It would depend upon your business model. If you have an extremely busy warehouse, WMS might be the first system you might introduce even before an ERP system. As the complexity of your business grows and order volume increases, you will be adding several specialized systems to your enterprise architecture, including TMS and P2P. Generally, systems such as strategic sourcing may not have as much impact on the enterprise architecture and can remain siloed.
  • Why do you need supply chain software? Most ERP systems may not be as efficient for warehouse or transportation operations. For example, suppose the out-of-the-box processes of ERP aren’t sufficient to meet the desired efficiency. Or integration requirements with warehouse equipment. In that case, you might need a specialized warehouse or transportation system.
  • Who needs to interact with supply chain software? Generally, the primary consumer of the supply chain systems would be warehouse operators and supervisors, logistics managers, and operations executives.
  • Which capabilities do you need in the supply chain software? The capabilities could be as simple as barcode scanning, rate shopping, or full-blown supply chain control tower capabilities to monitor the entire supply chain.
  • What are the different options for supply chain software? You have several options for supply chain management, with some software offering end-to-end traceability, including any exceptions as goods move through the supply chain. However, as the system complexity increases, you might need to select a specialized system for each area of the supply chain where you might have the most issues in your processes.

4. Human Capital Management

  • Which companies need to include human capital management as part of their enterprise architecture? Most companies start with essential payroll software that might be clubbed with an accounting system. However, as the number of employees grows in the organization and depending upon the criticality of human resources and compliance needs, you might need a specialized HCM system. The HR and HCM systems can remain siloed for SMBs as they don’t impact the enterprise architecture much. However, the integration may be required if you have HCM processes embedded as part of your operation flow, such as sales comp calculation.
  • Why do you need human capital management software? They need a specialized HCM system to meet each state and country’s compliance and reporting requirements. Generally, HR managers have one of the most complex recruiting, onboarding, and learning workflows, which drives the need for a specialized HCM system.
  • Who needs to interact with human capital management software? The primary consumers of the HCM systems are employees, HR managers, and finance executives. 
  • Which capabilities do you need in the human capital management software? The capabilities of an HCM system could include onboarding, training, skill development, performance management, and recruiting.
  • What are the different options for human capital management software? The options for HR and HCM could include simple payroll software or a full-blown HCM system to manage the needs of the entire HR department.


The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

3. E-commerce and POS Platforms

  • Which companies need to include digital commerce as part of their enterprise architecture? Most companies selling products or services through retail locations or virtually would require several tools to enable their sales process. For example, if the order volume is too low, they might process the orders directly in the ERP or accounting software. 
  • Why do you need digital commerce software? If digital is your primary customer acquisition channel, you need tools designed to be efficient for the channel. For example, a POS system is designed for faster processing at retail locations. eCommerce platforms, on the other hand, have several capabilities tailored to the needs of digitally-savvy customers.
  • Who needs to interact with digital commerce software? These tools are primarily used by the sales and marketing teams to interact with and find customers.
  • Which capabilities do you need in digital commerce software? At a minimum, you need a content and commerce management system that allows you to build a decent web presence and optimize the site for search engines. Then, you might have more robust needs, such as digital asset management and a digital experience platform. It will also provide a product information management system to support experiences such as buy-online-pickup-in-store and omnichannel.
  • What are the different options for digital commerce software? There are several options available depending upon the digital maturity of the organization. As you grow your digital presence and revenue, you will be including specialized software such as product information management or digital experience management.

2. ERP and Accounting Software

  • Which companies need to include ERP as part of their enterprise architecture? The companies need an ERP system when siloed systems become a bottleneck to their growth and require substantial admin efforts to enter data in multiple systems. Companies that might be below $10 million in revenue might be able to manage without a fully integrated ERP
  • Why do you need ERP software? The ERP systems are designed for a cross-departmental operational workflow where the alignment of multiple functions such as sales, finance, procurement, and operations is necessary to deliver goods and services timely. And the ERP systems offer cross-departmental insights and KPIs that would be inaccurate and require substantial efforts with siloed systems.
  • Who needs to interact with ERP software? Everyone who touches the operational core, including sales, operations, finance, and procurement, might interact with an ERP system. 
  • Which capabilities do you need in the ERP software? At a minimum, an ERP system could include sales order processing, AR, AP, GL, purchase order processing, cost accounting, manufacturing, and project management. ERP systems typically don’t have operational capabilities for HR, marketers, and sales. Instead, they might use specialized software that integrates with ERP, such as HCM or CRM, for their operational workflow.
  • What are the different options for ERP software? There are several options available as the maturity of an organization grows, starting from essential accounting software to full-blown ERP systems. These systems might be able to manage most operational workflows where departments might overlap financially.

1. Customer Relationship Management

  • Which companies need to include CRM as part of their enterprise architecture? The smaller companies start with a standalone CRM system to manage their customer interactions until the point of order processing. Then, as the order volume grows, the CRM must be integrated with the ERP and eCommerce systems
  • Why do you need CRM software? CRM systems manage the entire workflow for sales and marketers during the pre-sales process. It starts with marketing automation, lead follow-up, and opportunity tracking. As well as quoting, customer journey builder, and marketing spend tracking. And finally, sales planning and forecasting, as well as territory management, are important.
  • Who needs to interact with CRM software? The primary consumer of CRM software is sales and marketing teams.
  • Which capabilities do you need in the CRM software? When you start, a small CRM with primary lead distribution and account tracking capabilities may be sufficient. But as you grow, you need more advanced marketing automation, territory planning, and quote management capabilities.
  • What are the different options for CRM software? Several options are available, starting from standalone software for CRM and marketing automation. But as you grow, you will need at least the entire sales and marketing function to be integrated with at least light integration with the ERP system. 

Conclusion

With these systems, you are touching the surface of the complexity of enterprise architecture. As the technologies mature and operational complexity increases with ever-growing customer expectations, the enterprise architecture will likely play a more significant role in the enterprise system design.

So when you are looking at a new system next time, think about how the system might fit in the architecture. And what you need to do to ensure that the data integrity across your enterprise architecture is maintained. And hopefully, this post has given you some insights into how each system fits into the digital architecture.

FAQs

Top 10 Aerospace And Defense ERP Systems In 2024

Top 10 Aerospace and Defense ERP Systems in 2024

Aerospace and defense industries face unique challenges due to stringent quality and regulatory requirements. Unlike consumer-driven automotive sectors, A&D operates with long sales cycles and uncertainties, making supply chain planning intricate. The custom nature of A&D products, coupled with formal revision tracking, adds complexity, necessitating ERP systems with unique BOM structures. While collaboration with local suppliers has its own challenges, international supplier collaboration dictates trade compliance requirements at another level because of national security and geopolitical issues.

Equally challenging are manufacturing processes that vary per business model, requiring solutions tailored to each. While some ERP systems suit plastic manufacturers serving A&D OEMs, others offer versatility for diverse global business models. Despite looser margin requirements in A&D compared to automotive, stringent quality standards can impact margins. Highly engineered aerospace parts demand precise vendor collaboration and time sensitivity to avoid supply chain disruptions.

A&D companies engage in extensive pre-sales processes, involving multiple stakeholders and proofs-of-concept during R&D. This uniqueness underscores the need for ERP systems with built-in engineering and pre-sales workflows to support contract requirements. Some business models might require access to proprietary databases, integration with industry systems, and compliance requirements related to the upkeep of processes. Choosing an ERP system for the A&D industry requires a deeper study of business models and transactions, as generic solutions may necessitate significant investments in longer implementation cycles, which might be out of the range of most SMB companies. Find out which ERP systems are designed to meet the distinctive needs of the A&D sector.



ERP Selection: The Ultimate Guide

This is an in-depth guide with over 80 pages and covers every topic as it pertains to ERP selection in sufficient detail to help you make an informed decision.

Criteria

  1. Definition of an aerospace and defense company. These are the companies in the A&D ecosystem, including OEMs, manufacturers, and distributors. The list considers companies of all sizes in this ecosystem.
  2. Overall market share/# of customers. Higher market share among aerospace and defense companies ranks higher on our list.
  3. Ownership/funding. The more committed the management to the product roadmap for the A&D companies, the higher it ranks on our list.
  4. Quality of development: More cloud-native capabilities rank higher on our list.
  5. Community/Ecosystem. The larger the community with a heavy presence from aerospace and defense companies, the higher it ranks on our list.
  6. Depth of native functionality for specific industries. Deeper publisher-owned out-of-the-box functionality ranks higher on our list.
  7. Quality of publicly available product documentation. Poorer product documentation ranks lower on our list. 
  8. A&D company market share. The higher the focus on aerospace and defense companies, the higher the ERP system ranks on our list.
  9. Ability to natively support diversified business models. The more diverse the product, the higher it ranks on our list.
  10. The acquisition strategy is aligned with aerospace and defense companies. The more aligned the acquisitions are with the aerospace and defense companies, the higher it ranks on our list.
  11. User Reviews. The deeper the reviews from aerospace and defense companies, the higher the score for a specific product.
  12. Must be an ERP product. It can’t be an edge product such as QuickBooks, Freshbooks, Xero, Zendesk, HubSpot, or Salesforce. It also can’t be an add-on owned by ISVs or VARs that sits on top of other accounting platforms.


The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

10. IQMS/DELMIAWorks

IQMS, tailored for plastics-centric operations in the aerospace and defense ecosystem, stands out with last-mile capabilities and depth in aerospace compliance. Well-suited for A&D firms supplying plastic components to tier 1 and tier 2, it may not address the intricacies of operations in OEMs or tier 1 companies. The native support for ITAR certifications adds to its appeal. However, its weaknesses become apparent when considering larger A&D companies engaged in complex aerospace projects, contributing to its placement at #10 on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Great for plastic manufacturers supplying to aerospace. While limited in its suite, capabilities for plastic-centric industries outshine when it comes to unique scheduling requirements.
  2. Best for aerospace and defense companies on SolidWorks. With the same company as SolidWorks owning it, tighter and seamless integration of both products, which are built and maintained by the same vendor, is a huge plus.
  3. Technology – This is probably the most legacy solution of all on this list, with no announcement if they plan to modernize the technology.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus might be a challenge for aerospace and defense companies diversifying their operations and being active with M&A cycles. 
  2. Limited ecosystem. The consulting base is extremely limited with most resellers being CAD resellers, with limited experience in ERP implementation and cross-functional processes.
  3. It is not the right fit for holding and private equity companies as a corporate ledger. While a great subsidiary solution and a solution for pure-play plastic-centric manufacturers for SMB aerospace and defense companies, it’s not the best fit for diverse A&D companies as their main ERP solution.

9. Deltek

Deltek, tailored for government contractors in the A&D sector, excels in project-centric organizations. It suits A&D companies that are heavily reliant on government revenue. However, its narrow focus poses challenges for firms equally involved in commercial and government sectors or those with diverse business models like field service and manufacturing.

Despite strengths, Deltek exhibits weaknesses in CRM capabilities, limiting suitability for organizations with extended sales cycles and collaboration needs. Manufacturers or distributors targeting government sectors may find their manufacturing and distribution capabilities lacking. Nonetheless, Deltek maintains its prominence for project-driven government A&D contractors, securing the #9 rank on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Last-mile capabilities for GovCon for A&D contractors. The GovCon functionality is intricate, requiring subject matter expertise and driving longer implementation time without Deltek’s pre-baked functionality. 
  2. Access to the databases and networks relevant to these industries. Deltek has access to quoting databases and industry data, making it a very strong ERP system for companies in the A&D sector.
  3. Multi-entity capabilities. Their multi-entity capabilities are rich, making them suitable for upper mid-market and lower enterprise companies to host all of their entities in one database.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus of the solution might be a challenge for enterprise companies active with M&A cycles, especially for business models outside of Deltek’s expertise. 
  2. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. As of today, their ecosystem and consulting base is significantly limited.
  3. Not as complete ERP capabilities as part of the suite. Most of the ERP products in Deltek portfolio are not as complete as other solutions on this list, requiring integration and external systems for missing capabilities.

8. Rootstock

Rootstock caters to engineer-to-order centric SMBs in the A&D sector, offering robust mobile-native capabilities atop the Salesforce platform. Particularly fit for smaller A&D companies with heavy usage of the Salesforce platform for their CRM and field service solutions, it might also fit as a subsidiary solution for some entities that might be heavier users of Salesforce and might prefer a unified user experience across the enterprise. Given these considerations, Rootstock ranks at #8 on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Native integration with other salesforce products. Its strength Includes native integration with other Salesforce products such as Salesforce CRM and Field Service. This is especially beneficial for A&D companies with longer sales cycles with multiple stakeholders and parties collaborating during the pre-sales phase.
  2. Cloud-native mobile capabilities.  Inheriting native mobile capabilities from the Salesforce platform, it is strong with native cloud mobile capabilities.
  3. WBS-centric manufacturing capabilities. While Rootstock might not be as strong with all modes of manufacturing as some of the other solutions on this list, it is especially strong in project-centric manufacturing with detailed WBS and milestones spanning over months.
Weaknesses
  1. Finance and Accounting. Rootstock started as the MRP solution and relied on other accounting solutions. Their accounting capabilities are not as layered and scalable, requiring ad-hoc arrangements.
  2. Reliance on Third-part Quality Module. With quality processes embedded at each step, using a third-party quality module might not provide as immersive an experience as products that have quality baked into their processes.
  3. Smaller Ecosystem. The ecosystem is relatively small for rootstock, with less than 500 installations. This could pose a risk in finding talent for future support and customizations.

7. Infor CloudSuite Industrial

Infor CloudSuite Industrial caters to SMB A&D manufacturers with short-run jobs and deep layers of sub-assemblies, with or without formal product management or engineering processes.

Its embedded quality processes are especially friendly for A&D companies since centralized quality management across processes, including procurement, production, and customer services, is required for traceability and reporting. Limited operational WBS support and BOMs without dates may pose challenges for A&D companies with extended lead times. Despite these considerations, Infor CloudSuite Industrial maintains its #7 rank on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Support for both informal and formal BOMs and engineering processes. Infor CSI BOMs don’t mandate revision numbers, making it easier for A&D companies without formal products to implement their BOMs. 
  2. Deep Costing Layers. Compared to other products with patchy experience, the costing layers follow superior rational structure and scale well, where tracking costs for large programs such as A&D might be critical. 
  3. Field service integration with core manufacturing processes.  Especially critical for A&D suppliers that collaborate with their OEMs in the post-sales phase, with multiple parties involved for servicing, internal or external, containing complex commission structures.
Weaknesses
  1. Not fit for diverse A&D manufacturers. A&D manufacturers that might also be heavy in process-centric operations might struggle with it.
  2. Not for A&D manufacturers but also heavy in distribution. Infor CSI suits pure-play manufacturing organizations with limited support for distribution planning and operations.
  3. Not strong for WBS-centric manufacturing. Long-standing programs spanning multiple months require detailed WBS-centric capabilities to support both operational and financial activities as part of the project, critically important A&D OEMs. 

6. Oracle Cloud ERP

Targeting large global A&D companies, Oracle Cloud ERP offers diverse solutions for complex business models. Ideal fit for large A&D companies as a corporate financial ledger while using focused solutions such as Infor LN, IFS, or Deltek at the subsidiary level. Using it as the main ERP and building last-mile A&D companies might require substantially longer implementation cycles, rendering them cost-prohibitive for SMB companies. Given these considerations, Oracle ERP Cloud maintains its #6 rank on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Ideal solution for publicly traded large global A&D companies. Oracle Cloud ERP is an ideal solution as the corporate financial ledger for A&D companies with multiple layers of financial hierarchies operating in multiple countries. 
  2. Proven solution with large workloads. Large A&D companies may process millions of GL entries per hour. The workload Oracle Cloud ERP is designed to handle.
  3. Ecosystem.  It has an ecosystem of experienced consultants who have the capabilities to handle the design and architecture of such complex enterprises.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited last-mile capabilities. The last mile capabilities for specific A&D verticals, such as integration with GovCon processes and database may require solutions from third party or custom integration, making the implementation overly expensive.
  2. Limited pre-integrated capabilities with A&D-specific ancillary systems. Integration with A&D-specific PLMs, configurators, and CPQ systems is not out-of-the-box, increasing the implementation time and costs. 
  3. Overwhelming for SMB A&D companies. It is not a fit for SMB A&D companies because the over-bloated financial layers are only relevant for large A&D companies.

5. SAP S/4 HANA

SAP S/4 HANA supports complex business models and global entities in the same database, providing end-to-end traceability for large global A&D companies. Ideal fit for large A&D companies as a corporate financial ledger while using focused solutions such as Infor LN, IFS, or Deltek at the subsidiary level. Using it as the main ERP and building last-mile A&D companies might require substantially longer implementation cycles, rendering them cost-prohibitive for SMB companies. Given these considerations, SAP S/4 HANA maintains its #6 rank on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Ideal solution for publicly traded large global A&D companies. SAP S/4 HANA is an ideal solution as the corporate financial ledger for A&D companies with multiple layers of financial hierarchies operating in multiple countries. 
  2. Proven solution with large workloads. Large A&D companies may process millions of GL entries per hour. The workload and MRP workloads SAP S/4 HANA is designed to handle.
  3. Financial and transactional traceability embedded for globally complex A&D companies. SAP S/4 HANA has transactional maps embedded as part of the product, providing the traceability that globally complex A&D OEMs with large programs need. 
Weaknesses
  1. Limited last-mile capabilities. The last-mile capabilities for specific A&D verticals, such as integration with GovCon processes and databases, may require solutions from third parties or custom integration, making the implementation overly expensive.
  2. Limited pre-integrated capabilities with A&D-specific ancillary systems. Integration with A&D-specific PLMs, configurators, and CPQ systems is not out-of-the-box, increasing the implementation time and costs.
  3. Overwhelming for SMB A&D companies. It is not a fit for SMB A&D companies because the over-bloated financial layers are only relevant for large A&D companies.

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

MS Dynamics 365 F&O caters to global A&D companies in the upper mid-market and lower enterprise space, supporting complex business models, including support for discrete, process, and distribution-based planning. It is especially strong with WBS-centric processes covering operational and financial schedules equally well. The challenge with MS Dynamics 365 F&O would be the best-of-breed ancillary systems critical for A&D systems, which are not owned and maintained by Microsoft, requiring third-party add-ons. Given these considerations, MS Dynamics 365 F&O maintains its position at #4 on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Ideal solution as a corporate financial ledger for publicly traded large global A&D companies. In conjunction with A&D-focused ERP systems at the subsidiary level. 
  2. Ideal solution for upper mid-market or lower enterprise A&D companies looking for one solution to host their diverse business models, including discrete and process manufacturing, distribution, MRO, and A&D-specific consulting services
  3. Ecosystem. The largest marketplace with solutions to augment most A&D business models not supported by the core product.
Weaknesses
  1. Not proven solution with large workloads. While MS Dynamics may have been used as a financial ledger for the workload of Fortune 1000, it is not as proven for the global MRP workload in one solution.
  2. Limited last-mile capabilities. The last-mile capabilities for specific A&D verticals, such as integration with GovCon processes and databases, may require solutions from third parties or custom integration, making the implementation overly expensive.
  3. Limited pre-integrated capabilities with A&D-specific ancillary systems. Integration with A&D-specific PLMs, configurators, and CPQ systems is not out-of-the-box, increasing the implementation time and costs.

3. IFS

Targeting larger field service and MRO organizations, IFS is a great solution for larger A&D companies looking for best-of-breed field service and EAM capabilities atop corporate financial ledgers such as SAP or Oracle. It might also be a great fit for upper mid-market and lower enterprise companies primarily focusing on managing large A&D programs. Despite these considerations, IFS maintains its rank at #3 on our list of top aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Unique program architecture tailored to track the costs of large A&D programs. Unlike smaller ERP systems with a 1:1 relationship between a sales order and a project, IFS is designed to handle large programs where consolidated visibility would be critical without ad-hoc arrangements.
  2. Enterprise-grade field service and asset management capabilities. Especially suitable for A&D companies because of their need to maintain expensive assets with complex workflows and scheduling requirements for field services.
  3. Unique financial workflows to support complex A&D programs. Expensive MRO operations require unique workflows, such as closing transactions financially at the line level, which might not be possible with ERP systems not designed to handle such transactions.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus might be a challenge for A&D companies active with M&A cycles. 
  2. Limited ecosystem. Its presence and install base are still limited in North America compared to other solutions on this list.
  3. It is not the right fit for holding and private equity companies as a corporate ledger. While IFS can provide the best-of-breed capabilities in a tier-two architecture or can act as one solution, IFS might not be the best fit to be used just as the corporate ledger for large A&D enterprises.

2. Epicor Kinetic

Highly effective for SMB A&D companies, Epicor Kinetic’s BOMs align seamlessly with A&D firms employing formal engineering processes, emphasizing critical traceability in change control. Specifically tailored for metal-centric industries supplying aerospace, its inventory model accommodates vital processes like nesting and includes attributes in MRP runs. Planning processes cater to complex A&D manufacturing companies with extensive distribution business models. Its WBS-centric processes adeptly handle large programs and short-run jobs. With these considerations, Epicor Kinetic secures the #2 position on our list of top Aerospace and Defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Great for formal manufacturing organizations. The manufacturing organizations with formal engineering processes with revision numbers would relate to the product more.
  2. MRP runs are designed to support complex inventory. MRP runs support product attributes for planning, which is critical for business models such as metal parts manufacturers supplying to aerospace OEMs
  3. WBS-centric process to handle large programs. Detailed WBS structure containing operational and financial schedules along with large programs requiring a 1:N relationship between a sales quote/order and a project.
Weaknesses
  1. Not a great fit for A&D companies with more than three layers of financial hierarchies. Requires ad-hoc arrangements for larger mid-market companies with more than three financial hierarchies.
  2. Limited focus. Private equity and holding companies looking for support outside of Epicor’s core expertise might struggle with it.
  3. Limited support for field service, process manufacturing, and scalable customer masters. The acquired field service solution is not as seamlessly integrated as today, as well as struggling with process-heavy A&D companies, such as a plastic manufacturer supplying to A&D OEMs. The customer master layers are not as detailed as with other solutions, requiring ad-hoc arrangements for consolidated insights.

1. Infor CloudSuite LN

Infor LN caters to the upper mid-market and lower enterprise A&D manufacturing companies, serving as their primary ERP, provided their business model aligns with Infor LN’s capabilities. It also excels as a subsidiary solution for large enterprises with independently operating subsidiaries. Unlike smaller manufacturing ERPs with limitations in detailed WBS processes or supporting consolidated views of large programs, Infor LN equally supports diverse A&D international business models, with companies heavily focused on process operations being the only exception. With these strengths, Infor LN retains its top position on our list of aerospace and defense ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Last-mile capabilities for most A&D business models. Capabilities such as contract flow-down clauses and government audit support require intertwined business objects. They might not work as seamlessly with systems not naturally designed to support these processes.
  2. WBS-centric large programs with mixed-mode manufacturing support. Native support for large programs with superior 1:N relationships among projects, quotes, sales orders, and contracts. 
  3. A&D-centric PLM with embedded processes and configurator. PLM-ERP integration requires bi-directional data exchange. Using an external system that is not OEM-owned and maintained is technically and financially risky.
Weaknesses
  1. Not the best fit as a corporate ledger. Private equity and holding companies requiring global solutions with a tier-2 solution at the subsidiary level might not be the best use of Infor LN’s strengths.
  2. Limited focus. The limited focus on certain business models poses the risk of requiring other ERP systems to support complex and diverse business operations such as process manufacturing or metal-centric A&D companies.
  3. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. The consulting base is highly limited, primarily relying on very few Infor resellers for consulting and support.

Conclusion

Navigating complex operations and rigorous regulations, aerospace and defense companies demand meticulous process control. Meeting regulatory obligations often brings substantial administrative overhead, affecting profit margins.

Opt for an ERP system tailored to A&D processes, steering clear of generic solutions that may require risky customizations and add-ons, elevating the risk of ERP implementation failure. Ensure your choice aligns with aerospace and defense requirements, utilizing this list as a guide to narrow down options. Seeking assistance from independent ERP consultants is a prudent step toward ensuring success.

FAQs

Top 10 Large Company ERP In 2024

Top 10 Large Company ERP in 2024

For large companies, selecting an ERP system is no longer about meeting functional specifications. Instead, it’s about their ability to handle the transactional capacity and cross-functional process throughput. Evaluating software-enabled processes’ throughput mirrors physical or human resources planning, commencing with the desired state and identifying necessary resources. Contrary to the misconception of infinite capacity in software systems, meticulous capacity planning is indispensable.

The critical determinant in cross-functional process throughput boils down to the choice between isolated and tightly integrated processes. Amidst variables like human resources interactions, reconciliation overhead, and the switchover effect, pinpointing the most financially efficient approach proves challenging. Consequently, companies adopt varied ERP implementation strategies—some favoring tightly integrated methods, others leaning towards slightly more best-of-breed approaches. Additional factors include the generation of journal entries per user interaction, driving system overhead, and the cycle time for cross-functional processes. Advocates for real-time to batch conversion exist, yet even in batch mode, time considerations take precedence. For example, an MRP run exceeding 5 hours could fracture SQL connections and disrupt planning schedules, underscoring the need for meticulous analysis and ERP selection aligned with these considerations.

Top 10 Large Company ERP in 2024 - Quadrant

While throughput assessment may seem scientific, persuading every department to use the same ERP system can cause political resistance and power struggles. Evolving desired states and extended implementation horizons are other challenges large organizations face, forcing them to treat ERP as the corporate financial ledger while allowing their subsidiaries to choose their systems. So, which systems prove optimal at this stage regardless of their choice of architecture? Let’s delve in.



ERP Selection: The Ultimate Guide

This is an in-depth guide with over 80 pages and covers every topic as it pertains to ERP selection in sufficient detail to help you make an informed decision.

Criteria

  1. Definition of a large company. More than $1B in revenue or more than 1000 employees. Might be publicly listed. Financial controls are a must for SOX compliance and public reporting. Finance takes over operational needs. Might be present in more than ten countries.
  2. Overall market share/# of customers. Higher market share among the large companies ranks higher.
  3. Ownership/funding. The more committed the management to the product roadmap for large companies, the higher it ranks on our list.
  4. Quality of development. The more cloud-native capabilities, the higher it ranks on our list.
  5. Community/Ecosystem. The larger the community with large companies, the higher it ranks on our list.
  6. Depth of native functionality for specific industries. The deeper the publisher-owned out-of-the-box functionality, the higher it ranks on our list.
  7. Quality of publicly available product documentation. The poorer the product documentation, the lower it ranks on our list. 
  8. Larger company market share. The higher the focus on large companies, the higher the ERP system ranks on our list.
  9. Ability to natively support diversified business models. The more diverse the product, the higher it ranks on our list.
  10. Acquisition strategy aligned with large companies. The more aligned the acquisitions are with the large companies, the higher it ranks on our list.
  11. User Reviews. The deeper the reviews from large companies, the higher the score for a specific product.
  12. Must be an ERP product. It can’t be an edge product such as QuickBooks, Freshbooks, Xero, Zendesk, HubSpot, or Salesforce. It also can’t be an add-on owned by ISVs or VARs that sits on top of other accounting platforms.


The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

10. Workday/Certinia

Workday, initially tailored as an HCM solution for Fortune 1,000 accounts, finds its niche in industries with sizable white-collar workforces. While Workday serves well as a comprehensive ERP for large enterprises in sectors like tech, media, telecom, banks, retail, and financial services, its suitability diminishes for product-centric industries requiring deeper transactional depth in inventory, costing, and MRP processes. However, it can excel in product-centric scenarios in a best-of-breed architecture sitting atop a corporate financial ledger. 

Historically, Certinia served as an alternative for finance before Workday developed its financial module. Depending on architectural preferences, both Workday and Certinia would be fit for best-of-breed architecture in some industries or function as complete ERPs in others. Despite a lower market share as ERP, their unique presence secures the #10 position on this list.

Strengths
  1. Enterprise-grade best-of-breed capabilities. Workday and FinancialForce excel in HCM and PSA, respectively, in their target industries, sitting atop the corporate financial ledger such as SAP or Oracle.
  2. Proven for enterprise workloads. Both solutions have been proven for enterprise workloads where the Fortune 100 may process millions of journal entries per hour, only possible with the disconnected architecture. 
  3. Cloud-native. Both solutions are cloud-native, a huge plus for large enterprises aiming for superior cross-functional throughput.
Weaknesses
  1. Requires internal IT maturity. The executives with limited experience in building complex architecture might struggle to hire skilled experts.
  2. Requires discipline with master data governance. The inability to build cross-functional with master data governance and cross-functional integration workflows might be counterproductive.
  3. Expensive. While operationally efficient, best-of-breed architecture is likely to be the most expensive of all, with substantial integration and maintenance costs in the long term.

9. QAD

QAD, a supply chain-focused manufacturing solution, caters to large automotive, F&B, and high-tech companies. Ideal as a subsidiary-level solution or as a corporate ERP for lower enterprise markets, it suits firms seeking robust functionality in supplier collaboration and international trade. Although a legacy solution, QAD has announced its plans to rearchitect the solution on a modern tech stack. However, its smaller size may pose challenges with transactional processing for larger accounts, and its niche nature could be limiting for enterprises with diverse operational models. Considering these factors, QAD secures the #6 rank among large company ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Pre-integrated best-of-breed suite tailored for specific micro-verticals. QAD shines in specific micro-verticals where the generalized BOMs and recipes of vanilla solutions might struggle, especially beneficial as a subsidiary solution of large enterprises.
  2. ERP + Supply Chain Suite. QAD is perhaps the only suite that combines the capabilities of both suites, especially beneficial in architecture with disconnected supply chain planning at the plant level.
  3. Multi-entity Support. QAD would be a great fit for enterprises that want to consolidate some entities relevant to supply chain planning while keeping the remaining integrated through the corporate financial ledger.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus might be a challenge for enterprises planning to host all of their entities in one solution, requiring an upgrade to a more diverse solution. 
  2. Limited ecosystem. QAD’s ecosystem is substantially limited, causing issues with global rollout in countries with limited local talent.
  3. Technology. While QAD plans to redesign its entire platform, moving away from legacy technologies such as RPG, it might take a few years before it fully stabilizes.

8. Sage X3

Sage X3 is suitable for enterprises in the agriculture, F&B, and process manufacturing industries as a subsidiary-level best-of-breed solution, sitting atop SAP or Oracle– or, as a corporate solution for lower enterprises. With one of the strongest security and financial traceability, it could be a great fit for publicly traded or audit-ready companies in the lower enterprise market. However, it’s not proven with the upper enterprise market, particularly those necessitating millions of journal entries per hour. Despite these considerations, it secures the #8 spot among large company ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Great for enterprise pharma and agriculture companies. Last mile capabilities for pharma, agriculture, and process-centric companies as a subsidiary solution atop a corporate financial ledger such as SAP or Oracle.
  2. Deep ERP layers for audit-ready and public companies. Ideal as a complete ERP solution, especially in the process-centric companies in the lower enterprise market.
  3. Great ecosystem of consultants for pharma validation. The ecosystem includes consulting companies with deep expertise in the Sage X3 product and validation procedures.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus of the solution might be a challenge for enterprises active with the M&A cycle and using it as a corporate solution with the desire to host all of their entities in one solution. 
  2. Not proven for the larger enterprise market. While great for the lower enterprise market and as a subsidiary solution, it’s not a great fit as a corporate solution for the upper enterprise market.
  3. Limited best-of-breed capabilities. Enterprise companies looking for pre-integrated best-of-breed options may struggle to find those options with Sage X3.

7. Unit4

Unit4, a robust ERP system, specifically targets large educational institutions and public-sector entities. Its forte lies in people-centric functionality augmented by enterprise-grade ERP capabilities. Noteworthy is Unit4’s unique standing, offering enterprise-grade functionalities for student information and teacher workflow management, setting it apart in the market. Proven in handling substantial workloads, Unit4 boasts successful implementations in some of the largest universities and public sector organizations, traditionally domains of Oracle Cloud ERP, Workday, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O. Despite being rearchitected for a cloud-native experience, Unit4 remains a legacy product.

While primarily a European solution, Unit4 ensures localization and globalization for numerous countries. However, its challenge lies in accommodating diverse business models, making it less suitable for companies acquiring entities with varied business models, securing the #7 position on our list of large company ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Enterprise-grade capabilities for universities and non-profits. Perhaps the only solution in this space that has depth in the public sector space, requiring substantial consulting efforts atop vanilla solutions.
  2. Cloud capabilities. While the solution is legacy, they have made substantial progress with their cloud capabilities. 
  3. Pre-integrated HCM and procurement processes tailored for service-centric industries. Solutions such as Workday that offer best-of-breed HCM and indirect procurement capabilities might be technically and financially risky.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus of the solution might be a challenge for enterprise companies active with M&A cycles, especially for business models outside of Unit4’s expertise. 
  2. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. As of today, their North American presence and consulting base is significantly limited.
  3. Limited best-of-breed capabilities. Enterprise companies opting to build best-of-breed architecture might not find as many pre-baked integration options, requiring substantial consulting efforts.

6. Deltek

Deltek caters to major government contractors, AE, and construction companies, serving as an ideal subsidiary solution for large enterprises or as a corporate solution for lower enterprise segment planning to host all of their global entities in one database. Tailored for these industries, Deltek offers unique capabilities, leveraging industry-specific databases and integrations, which is particularly crucial for processes like CPQ. While excelling in deep capabilities for certain industries, Deltek is not as complete as an ERP as other solutions on this list, necessitating additional integrations. Despite its focused scope, recent developments have influenced its ranking, securing the #6 position among large company ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Last-mile capabilities for GovCon and construction-centric verticals. Deltek has last-mile capabilities in the construction and GovCon space, making it an ideal subsidiary solution for large enterprises.
  2. Access to the databases and networks relevant to these industries. Deltek has several products in its portfolio with industry databases and networks that would be much harder to build atop vanilla solutions because of the subject matter expertise required in these industries.
  3. Multi-entity capabilities. Their multi-entity capabilities are rich, making them suitable for lower enterprise companies seeking a corporate solution to host all of their entities in one database.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus of the solution might be a challenge for enterprise companies active with M&A cycles, especially for business models outside of Deltek’s expertise. 
  2. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. As of today, their ecosystem and consulting base is significantly limited.
  3. Not proven for the larger enterprise market. While great for the lower enterprise market and as a subsidiary solution, it’s not a great fit as a corporate solution for the upper enterprise market.

5. Infor CloudSuite M3/LN

Infor LN and M3, distinct products bundled into CloudSuite offerings, share our list’s ranking due to their non-overlapping target markets. While Infor CloudSuite LN focuses on discrete-centric verticals like aerospace and automotive, Infor M3 caters to industries such as apparel and food and beverage. Both offer comprehensive manufacturing solutions for global organizations with diversified manufacturing business models, including essential components like PLM and industry-specific quality features. Positioned as subsidiary solutions for the upper enterprise market or corporate solutions for the lower enterprise market, they secure the #5 spot among large ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Great for lower enterprise companies as pureplay manufacturing business models. Ideal for lower enterprise companies as a corporate solution or as a subsidiary solution for upper enterprise, publicly traded, private equity-owned, or holding companies.
  2. Most comprehensive manufacturing capabilities. Both can support the most complex manufacturing business models for global companies exploring operational synergies across global entities. 
  3. Enterprise-grade capabilities for lower enterprise companies. While most smaller solutions might require ad-hoc arrangements for global financial operations, both have them natively built.
Weaknesses
  1. Not the best fit as a corporate ledger. Large enterprises, private equity, or holding companies requiring global solutions while using a tier-2 solution at the subsidiary level might not find the most value with both.
  2. Limited focus. The limited focus on certain business models poses the risk of requiring other ERP systems to support complex and diverse business operations.
  3. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. The consulting base is highly limited, primarily relying on very few Infor resellers for consulting and support.

4. IFS

IFS focuses on large enterprises in the airline, MRO, construction, oil and gas, and heavy equipment field service sectors, offering strong ERP, EAM, field service, and enterprise project management capabilities. Suited for large enterprises seeking best-of-breed solutions, IFS can sit atop financial ledgers like SAP or Oracle or serve as a subsidiary solution. Despite notable progress in North America, its install base is comparatively limited. With recent growth in enterprise adoption, IFS secures the #4 position on our list.

Strengths
  1. Enterprise-grade field service and asset management capabilities. This is especially suitable for upper enterprise companies seeking best-of-breed capabilities with field service and asset management.
  2. The data model is aligned with companies with large programs. Industries such as MRO, Oil, and Gas follow very different project structures and BOMs. And IFS’s data model allows them to manage complex programs without any ad-hoc arrangements.This is especially beneficial for lower enterprise companies looking for last-mile capabilities pre-baked with the solution. 
  3. Technology – While a legacy solution, IFS technology has been rearchitected and modernized using cloud-native SaaS technologies.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus might be a challenge for enterprise companies active with M&A cycles. 
  2. Limited ecosystem. Its presence and install base are still limited in North America compared to other solutions on this list.
  3. Not proven for the larger enterprise market. While great as a best-of-breed solution for field service or EAM, it’s not proven for the workload of Fortune 1000 companies.

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O is perhaps the most diverse solution accommodating several global business models in one database, making it an ideal solution for lower enterprise companies seeking a corporate solution to host all of their entities in one database. While a great fit as a corporate ledger for large enterprises, it’s not as proven as other leading solutions in the enterprise market with workloads as high as millions of journal entries per hour that Fortune 1000 companies might demand. Given these considerations, it secures the #3 spot on our large company ERP systems list.

Strengths
  1. Diverse capabilities.Supports global operations and business models and pre-baked integration for the best-of-breed CRM and field service solutions.
  2. Ecosystem. This is especially beneficial for private equity and holding companies trying to streamline all of their entities on one solution. They can find add-ons if the core solution doesn’t meet their needs for last-mile industry capabilities.
  3. Global capabilities. Global capabilities would help enterprise companies in countries with its limited presence or support, making it a truly global solution compared to other platforms on this list.
Weaknesses
  1. The channel is not as regulated. Microsoft channel is very complex, without any direct support for its resellers and partners, making navigating the Microsoft channel extremely hard.
  2. Limited best-of-breed capabilities directly through OEM. While Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O has a vibrant marketplace to augment its core capabilities, crucial capabilities such as PLM, etc, might not be owned and pre-integrated by Microsoft.
  3. Limited last-mile capabilities. The last-mile capabilities required in specific micro-verticals such as dairy, plastic, building supplies, or metal might require add-ons or expensive development on top of the core platform.

2. Oracle Cloud ERP 

Ideal for large enterprises in service industries, Oracle Cloud ERP stands out as a top choice as a corporate financial ledger within best-of-breed architectures, whether for publicly traded or privately owned entities. While excelling as a financial ledger, its suitability as a subsidiary solution in best-of-breed setups is limited due to over-bloated global capabilities and leaner last-mile functionalities compared to other solutions on the list. Given these considerations, Oracle Cloud ERP claims the #2 spot among large company ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Robust finance capabilities for large, global enterprises. Capabilities include having five layers of GL restrictions, multiple layers of sub-ledgers, and book closing requirements across divisions, making an ideal corporate ledger for complex global enterprises.
  2. Proven solution as a corporate ledger with Fortune 1000 workloads. It can handle the workload of large enterprises processing millions of GL entries per hour. 
  3. Ecosystem.  Oracle Cloud ERP has an ecosystem of experienced consultants capable of handling the architecture of such complex enterprises.
Weaknesses
  1. Global transactional and financial traceability are not as intuitive. While functionally capable, transactional and financial traceability might not be as intuitive for large, complex enterprises.
  2. It may not be the best fit for large enterprises with complex transactions or Fortune 1000 global MRP workloads. While great as a financial ledger, complex products with serialized structures or large enterprises with very complex BOMs with operational and financial synergies among entities might struggle with the solution because of the workload requirements at this scale.
  3. Not the best fit as a subsidiary solution. There are better solutions on this list that can offer much deeper operational capabilities at the subsidiary level without the overloaded complex financial layers of Oracle Cloud ERP.

1. SAP S/4 HANA

SAP S/4 HANA is among the few solutions with capabilities to handle the workload expectations of most complex products with global MRP runs, making it ideal as a corporate ledger for most enterprise companies, publicly or privately owned, or as a corporate ERP for globally integrated product-centric industries, regardless of their design including shared services. Despite its enterprise-grade capabilities, it is not as suitable for enterprises seeking deeper operational capabilities at the subsidiary level. Given these considerations, it secures the #1 rank among large ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Robust finance capabilities for large, global enterprises. Capabilities include several financial hierarchies to support complex, global organizations without requiring ad-hoc arrangements for global traceability or consolidations.
  2. Proven solution with the most detailed enterprise-grade MRP strategy for global planning. Globally connected enterprises with shared product models and dependencies among entities, SAP S/4 HANA, can handle most complex planning configurations without the requirement of decoupling the transactions.
  3. Intuitive global transactional and financial traceability. It is one of the most intuitive ERP products for such complex operations with its transactional maps capabilities built with the products, making debugging complex financial enterprises easier.
Weaknesses
  1. Behind in cloud ERP capabilities. Despite advanced financial traceability and technical capabilities, the functional capabilities are not as rich as with its on-prem version.
  2. Not the best fit as a subsidiary solution. There are better solutions on this list that can offer much deeper operational capabilities at the subsidiary level without the over-bloated complex financial and enterprise layers.
  3. Limited last-mile capabilities. In industries where it might not be the most frequently installed as an operational solution, the other solutions are likely to have deeper last-mile capabilities.

Conclusion

Transitioning into the $1B club brings unique challenges like navigating multiple country regulations, cash flow intricacies, currency hedging, and international supply chain complexities—issues less prevalent in mid-market companies

Deploying systems designed for smaller enterprises may lead to financial control shortcomings. Large companies should avoid squeezing into ill-fitting solutions and explore options tailored to their specific needs. Let this list guide you in narrowing down suitable ERP choices for your enterprise with the help of independent ERP consultants.

FAQs

FREE RESOURCE

2025 Digital Transformation Report

This digital transformation report summarizes our annual research on ERP and digital transformation trends and forecasts for the year 2025. 

Send this to a friend