Why we chose SAP Business ByDesign
Software Version
1508
Modules Used
- crm
Overall Satisfaction with SAP Business ByDesign
We are using SAP ByDesign across our whole business. We needed a product that was fully integrated, from its CRM functions to project management, timesheeting, invoicing and reporting.
Previously we were using a separate accounting system (MYOB), a CRM (Zoho), a timesheeting application (Timepro), a project management solution (Smartsheet). These caused massive data consistency issues with replication, invalid data and problems with billable time falling between the cracks. With SAP ByDesign we can get awesome reporting from the solution that is real-time. The value this represents is massive now that the company has more that 30 consultants.
Previously we were using a separate accounting system (MYOB), a CRM (Zoho), a timesheeting application (Timepro), a project management solution (Smartsheet). These caused massive data consistency issues with replication, invalid data and problems with billable time falling between the cracks. With SAP ByDesign we can get awesome reporting from the solution that is real-time. The value this represents is massive now that the company has more that 30 consultants.
- Reporting is fantastic and is based on SAP's Business Objects design allowing a drag and drop UI for creating the fields you're interested in with the right views and filters
- The Project Management controls are perfectly integrated into the solution allowing tight controls and easy set-up of projects. Everything flows smoothly from creating tasks in a gantt style control to being able to be entered into a timesheet. A PM can see project health from a cockpit view and make necessary decisions.
- I am waiting for ByD to fully move away from the Silverlight dependance to being full on HTML5. Apparently this will happen over the next year.
- There are many areas requiring multiple clicks to navigate that can be simplified. For example drilling down on expense claims; if you would like to navigate from a description to viewing a image of a receipt there could be around 8 clicks of navigation to move between the two (this is the worst case example btw)
- Positive - Access to the real-time reporting allowing for faster decision making especially when fixed price projects are heading into an over budget position.
- Positive - Complex KPI can now be tracked and as a consequence intensive plans can be made to capitalise on this level of reporting. Staff also have clear visibility over their own performance.
- Negative - We are a bit on the small side at 30 employees for a ByD solution so it was relatively expensive for us. It would be a much better value preposition above 50 employees.
- Netsuie and Microsoft Dynamics AX
As far as cloud ERP is concerned SAP Business ByDesign was the best in terms of what it had on offer for a professional services company managing projects and service requests. Also, I liked the SAP migration path and the move to running the whole system on the in memory HANA system. An ERP system is a very stick platform and I have confidence a company as large as SAP will continue to invest heavily in it in the future. I don't want to be shopping around in a few years for a new platform.