Coupa vs. SAP Ariba Procurement

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Coupa
Score 7.3 out of 10
N/A
Coupa’s cloud-native Business Spend Management (BSM) platform provides end-to-end processes that helps drive collaboration across for every business leader from supply chain, procurement, finance, treasury, compliance, and IT and supply chain leaders to help their companies to get the visibility and control they need to spend smarter, mitigate risk, and improve resilience. A unified platform approach frees up IT from complex integrations to help leaders deliver on these goals.N/A
SAP Ariba Procurement
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
SAP Ariba's Procurement capabilities are to provide innovations in guided buying and spot buy, plus supplier and catalog enablement, and integration with Ariba Network – which the vendor states is more than 4.6 million connected companies strong and growing.N/A
Pricing
CoupaSAP Ariba Procurement
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CoupaSAP Ariba Procurement
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoYes
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptional
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CoupaSAP Ariba Procurement
Considered Both Products
Coupa
Chose Coupa
Coupa has more modern web user interface portal pages and is easier to use than Ariba.
Chose Coupa
Submitting invoices to existing customers' purchase orders is easy. Connecting with new customers is somewhat difficult and confusing.
Chose Coupa
Coupa does well compared to its competitors. Coupa has an easy to use interface. It's an all cloud based, SaaS. Reporting in Coupa is also above the competition. Coupa also requires less maintenance, upgrades are automatic and we don't need to worry about being on the latest …
SAP Ariba Procurement
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
For Oil & Gas Industry Ariba is more developed compared with Coupa.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
As a supplier we are driven by the platform that our clients are using for electronic transactions, SAP Ariba by far is our largest footprint of clients on the platform and therefore the one we have most experience on. Coupa and Tradeshift have beautifully modern interfaces …
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
I have and still use Coupa. Coupa is much less robust in comparison to Ariba. SAP Ariba Procurement has the ability to see what transactions have been sent, the ability to resend cXML Purchase Orders, see a history of what has happened with transactions, much more robust …
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
SAP Ariba is more complex. Coupa is easier to manage locally. Coupa seems more intuitive.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
Coupa is more for small volumes and SAP Ariba Procurement is the perfect solution fo larger enterprises.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
SAP Ariba offers native integration into SAP backend so was a preferred procurement solution for us
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
Initial user experience seems to be simpler.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
SAP Ariba does similar, guided buying is a nice touch from the other software.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
a. User Experience b. Supplier Network c. Integration capabilities d. Innovations and roadmap
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
SAP Ariba Procurement is very user friendly compared to many other products and provides easy views of invoices submitted and POs available. It also is very easy for us to add a new PO and be able to invoice against it immediately. There is no turnaround time and that makes our …
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
The supplier portal and the constant support by SAP Expert is a definite advantage
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
As a supplier, we work with a wide range of providers as the decision is guided by the client. In my experience, SAP Ariba is the best to deal with based on the level of support they give.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
SAP Ariba has products for source through contract scenarios which have been very useful and the experience using those modules, including SAP Ariba Procurement, has been very good.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
One stop shopping (combined with SAP ERP) with great support if required.
Chose SAP Ariba Procurement
A huge deciding factor is ease of use for end users. SAP Ariba Procurement far exceeds other offerings. Another factor is ability to process services spend. SAP Ariba offers multiple ways to process all types of spend needed based on how it is being purchased.
Top Pros
Top Cons
TrustRadius Insights
CoupaSAP Ariba Procurement
Highlights

TrustRadius
Research Team Insight
Published

Coupa and SAP Ariba are both business spending management platforms that help businesses track payments and spending across the procurement lifecycle. Though the products offer very similar functionality, SAP Ariba focuses more on process improvement while Coupa focuses more on responsible spend management and visibility (though each solution addresses both of these problems). On TrustRadius, both Ariba and Coupa tend to be preferred by midsize businesses and enterprise organizations. 

Features

There are several reasons large businesses rely on Coupa or SAP Ariba to manage their procurement processes. However, each product offers a few unique features as well. 

According to end-users on TrustRadius, Coupa’s employee expense and invoice tracking are well-liked and produce clear results, mirroring the company’s goal of creating expense transparency and oversight. When used for procurement, Coupa makes it easy to create requisitions and place orders. Users also report Coupa is easy to integrate with third-party business systems like ERP platforms.

Reviewers on TrustRadius like SAP Ariba for its customizable purchase order workflow, with status updates and reminders to create process visibility. SAP Ariba also provides robust, customizable reporting. Users especially value the platform’s ability to handle complex or manufacturing-related procurement needs and environments where things could otherwise get out of hand.

Limitations

Before deciding to purchase either solution, consider the limitations associated with each product. 

SAP Ariba users report that the product is not the most appropriate choice if the business only needs to process orders simply and directly, in real-time. Even users that like SAP Ariba overall note that it can be complex and difficult for new users to set up. Relatedly, SAP Ariba’s documentation is lacking in detail and does not provide new users with much assistance.  

On the other hand, Coupa users on TrustRadius report that the platform’s mobile application is not very user-friendly. The mobile app’s expense management functionality is also quite limited, users can snapshot receipts but not much else. Overall Coupa’s users state its desktop (or laptop) experience is better than the mobile experience. Some users have commented that Coupa’s overall user interface is not visually appealing. 

Pricing

Both SAP Ariba and Coupa are enterprise-level platforms that are designed to provide control, oversight, and process efficiency in complex procurement environments. As such, they have an expensive price tag. Because of this, these platforms are not ideal for smaller businesses that are budget conscious. Neither SAP nor Coupa publicly disclose pricing information on their websites but will provide a quote upon request. 

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User Ratings
CoupaSAP Ariba Procurement
Likelihood to Recommend
5.5
(25 ratings)
7.7
(150 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
8.3
(3 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
7.2
(108 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(19 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
CoupaSAP Ariba Procurement
Likelihood to Recommend
Coupa Software
I am new to customer-supplier portals in my career. I use several different ones in my current role, including Ariba and Tipalti. To be honest, I don't really enjoy the user experience of any of them. I can see how larger companies may benefit from their services but for my current role submitting invoices on them and filling out vendor information requests seems somewhat clunky to me. When I'm in Coupa, the easiest, most non-clunky process for me is when I'm successfully connected with a customer who has successfully created their purchase order and I can easily upload my invoice to said PO. To me, emailing customer invoices directly to the customer from our invoicing system seems like the easier route of delivering an invoice. I suppose it is helpful and reassuring to know that an invoice has been successfully uploaded into a company's system rather than waiting to find out if your emailed invoice made it to the correct department for payment processing.
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SAP
Industries with stringent regulatory compliance requirements, such as healthcare and finance, benefit from SAP Ariba's robust features for maintaining compliance throughout the procurement process. The platform helps organizations adhere to industry-specific regulations and standards.Organizations seeking an end-to-end source-to-pay solution find SAP Ariba suitable. Its seamless integration of procurement processes, from sourcing to invoicing, simplifies workflows and improves overall operational efficiency.
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Pros
Coupa Software
  • Coupa is easy to use, however, we had to teach our end users about procurement. They are not used to conducting an RFP, onboarding a supplier, or preparing a PO. This is the change management that our employees had to be prepared to understand. The Shelby Group helped us with the implementation.
  • The hardest part was the integration between NetSuite and Coupa. We wanted to have a dynamic tight integration between the two solutions. If we adjusted the chart of accounts or added a new supplier we wanted it to be able to done in both systems and be available immediately in both systems. We used a partner called SuiteSkies to accomplish this dynamic integration.
  • We’ve been able to manage the implementation and maintenance with a very lean IT group.
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SAP
  • Its data driven user solution helps in gaining visibility into the landscape and thus helps in informed decision making
  • End to end procurement process under single platform and integration makes it easier
  • We have always experienced cost reduction using SAP ariba
Read full review
Cons
Coupa Software
  • Support Team - A little slow in responding. I think the tool is so configurable that they struggle with figuring out what is causing certain issues that are being submitted on the portal.
  • I'd love for the Sourcing Module to be able to support larger events. There seems to be a limit on the number of lines each event can support and as a growing retailer, our store count dictates we have room to grow and that each store is represented in the bid process.
  • Would like to see the ability to issue multiple POs for a single item to multiple locations. The tool may do this but I know I can't and it may be due to how we interface with our ERP.
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SAP
  • User Interface Complexity:
  • Some users find the user interface to be complex, particularly for new users. Simplifying the interface and providing more user-friendly navigation could enhance the overall user experience.
  • Customization Challenges:
  • Customizing certain aspects of the system, such as reports or templates, can be challenging. A more intuitive customization process would empower users to tailor the system to their specific needs more easily.
  • Learning Curve:
  • The platform has a steeper learning curve for some users, especially those less familiar with advanced procurement tools. Improved onboarding resources and training materials could help users get up to speed more quickly.
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Likelihood to Renew
Coupa Software
No answers on this topic
SAP
Established product and we are now using it as a mean for our procurement transformation
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Usability
Coupa Software
No answers on this topic
SAP
UI is good from tech perspective Customisations and personalisations are very intuitive and allows user to make the maximum usaage of the dashboard. Integrations with existing systems matters a lot for large enterprises. Training and support is very crucial. Mobile availability enhances the overall customer experience. Feedback is underrated but comapnies take it very seriously now a days.
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Support Rating
Coupa Software
No answers on this topic
SAP
Customer support has always been top notch. From small configuration changes to overall process changes, support has the teammates in place with excellent knowledge and is able to provide solutions based on business challenges quickly. Their customer support through their Account teams continues to be hands on and very responsive to needs in a timely fashion.
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Alternatives Considered
Coupa Software
Concur was a lot easier and more user friendly for employees doing expense reports on their phone. That is not the case with Coupa. You must use your laptop to do expenses and our managers don't always have enough time to do that while out in the field working. This has caused some issues.
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SAP
It improves over all vendor management system of an organization by providing less costly ways of procurement and making business simple. AribaSAP Ariba digitally transforms your supply chain, procurement and contract management process. acts as supply chain, procurement service to do business globally In today’s world, there is a need to control your supply chain and to collaborate with your suppliers in an efficient way. To enable healthy supply chain, you need to have suppliers with visibility to every part of procurement process so that they can maintain an efficient supply chain and help organizations to grow their and own business..
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Return on Investment
Coupa Software
  • It has allowed for proper processing of expenses tied directly to the proper LOB and GL Codes
  • Has taken the guesswork away and allowed for the proper budgets to be hit and reconciled
  • Ease of use has led to mass adoption and more prompt processing of expenses
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SAP
  • We saved nearly 10% of planned costs due to the large database of vendors we created within the company as a whole.
  • Saving in time due to shortening of procurement cycles. Procurement activities were never on the critical path and were accomplished with less Supply Chain resources than originally planned.
  • In the process we created a huge database of Vendors and Pricing which well be beneficial in our future projects.
  • It is an excellent tool and just what are business required and could afford.
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ScreenShots

Coupa Screenshots

Screenshot of Transform your company’s supply chain planning from running one-off projects to a consistent and repeatable process.Screenshot of Efficiently capture data for apples-to-apples comparisons of suppliers across business requirements, risk factors, ESG, and costs to find the best solution.Screenshot of Understand supplier relationships, ensure that the right mitigation is in place, and onboard suppliers. Use trusted data services, Community.ai, and performance feedback to spot risk and optimize relationships over time.Screenshot of Bring the results of sourcing events and risk vetting together to quickly formalize agreements without costly omissions or delays.Screenshot of Give users an easy experience for all types of goods, services, and contingent worker needs while bubbling up ESG and other favored suppliers. Streamline budget checks and approvals simple emails to get move spend pre-approved, on-contract, and under control.Screenshot of Give suppliers a variety of options for submitting e-invoices — all without fees and in compliance with VAT and global regulations. Boost supplier adoption of e-invoicing by giving visibility into status of invoice approval and digital payments.