A recent AI analysis of thousands of social media comments revealed something shocking—but not surprising for those deep in the ERP world: only 30% of people have anything positive to say about SAP, specifically its flagship S/4HANA platform. Another 30% spoke negatively, while the remaining 40% remained neutral.
This net approval score of zero might seem damning, but believe it or not, it’s one of the higher approval ratings in the software vendor landscape. So what’s behind the dissatisfaction? Let’s dig in.
The Root of SAP’s Reputation Problem
At Third Stage Consulting, we help organizations across the globe navigate digital transformation—many of whom are either implementing or migrating from SAP systems. We asked AI to analyze all the feedback we’ve received across platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The result? A clear picture of what users actually think, based on real experiences.
Here are the top reasons customers are unhappy with SAP:
1. High Cost and Complexity
S/4HANA isn’t just a simple upgrade. It’s a complete re-implementation—expensive, time-consuming, and complex.
Many organizations struggle to justify the ROI. Between licensing costs, implementation partners, internal resource strain, and long timelines, the S/4HANA journey often leads to cost overruns and executive frustration. Compared to other ERP platforms, SAP’s pricing and complexity continue to be sticking points.
2. Forced Migrations by 2030
SAP’s decision to end support for legacy platforms by 2030 is one of the most widely criticized moves in recent years. Organizations feel cornered—migrate or lose support.
What SAP doesn’t often mention is that third-party support options are available. Still, the lack of flexibility and the pressure to adopt S/4HANA has eroded goodwill among legacy customers, many of whom are now reevaluating their ERP strategy entirely.
3. Confusion Around Cloud vs. On-Premise
Despite SAP’s aggressive push for cloud adoption, most users still favor on-premise S/4HANA. Why? Control, flexibility, and familiarity.
While SAP is investing heavily in cloud-exclusive features, the perceived value isn’t resonating with customers—especially when the main selling point seems to be a UI change (Fiori) rather than tangible business benefits. Customers are asking: Why should we move to the cloud when the value proposition is unclear?
4. The Rise of RISE (and Its Costs)
SAP’s RISE program—its bundled offering to support cloud transitions—sounds promising on paper. But in practice, it’s raised eyebrows.
Some clients are now double-paying—maintaining legacy systems while investing in RISE. And while RISE may extend support beyond 2030, customers are questioning the fairness and transparency of the offer. Is it innovative? Maybe. But many view it as a clever sales tactic rather than a true value-add.
5. Implementation Chaos and Operational Risk
Regardless of whether organizations choose cloud or on-premise, the implementation journey is painful. Data migration challenges, disruption to day-to-day operations, and the need for organizational change management make S/4HANA a difficult path—one that not all businesses are ready for.
SAP Is Losing Touch
Based on years of consulting experience, I believe SAP is out of touch with its customers. Their strategy feels more like arrogance than innovation.
History has shown us what happens to once-dominant companies that ignore customer sentiment—Blackberry, Blockbuster, Nokia. SAP risks falling into that same category if it doesn’t reconnect with the needs of its user base.
Their stock might be rising now, but if they continue down this path, they may eventually face a harsh market correction driven by failed projects and customer attrition.
What Should You Do?
If you’re navigating an S/4HANA implementation or still evaluating your digital roadmap, we’ve created two resources that can help:
- The S/4HANA Implementation Guide – a tech-agnostic, independent playbook for getting it right
- 2025 Digital Transformation Report – an annual breakdown of industry trends, vendor rankings, and best practices
Both resources are free to download and packed with practical insights.
The Bottom Line
SAP still has a loyal base of customers, but the cracks are growing. Forced migrations, confusing cloud strategies, and high implementation risks have left many customers disillusioned.
If SAP wants to stay relevant, it must shift from dominance to customer obsession. Otherwise, it may join the growing list of legacy giants who failed to adapt.
Have thoughts or experiences to share? Drop a comment or connect with us—we’d love to hear from you.
