How legacy is SAP?

Six signals

0 = built for now, 4 = fully the old way. Each is the average of five judgments, from SAP’s own website; the score uses the unrounded averages.

1. Fixed screens How do people use it? 3/4

   Most products are accessed through SAP's own interfaces, with demo videos and product tours as the main way to see features.

   “Choose from a range of short demo videos to showcase the SAP Solution(s) features and benefits.” sap.com/products/try-sap.html

   “Product tours: Click your way through a step-by-step experience to learn how SAP solutions can help you run your business for efficiency and profitability.” sap.com/products/try-sap.html warning not found word for word

2. Workflows set in stone How long until it works? 4/4

   Inferred

   Implementation typically involves guided trials, demos, and often requires setup projects; immediate self-serve use is limited to restricted trials.

   “Basic trials: Get hands-on with our software and walk through key workflows and features in a guided manner with restricted administrative rights and sample data.” sap.com/products/try-sap.html warning not found word for word

   “Advanced trials: Use our test environment to experience SAP solutions firsthand, with access to features and capabilities for a defined period with the option to experiment with your own data” sap.com/products/try-sap.html warning not found word for word

3. Owns your data Who holds the data? 3/4

   SAP is positioned as the system of record for business data, with proprietary solutions and limited mention of open data portability.

   “With a unified, AI‑driven system that’s grounded in process knowledge and industry context and built to adapt in real time.” sap.com/about/company.html

4. Manual work behind it Who does the work? 3/4

   Customers are encouraged to connect with SAP user groups, partners, and experts for implementation and ongoing use.

   “Maximize the return on your investment in SAP software by connecting with local customers and industry and technology experts.” sap.com/about/company.html

5. Seat and licence pricing How is it sold? 4/4

   Pricing is not public; purchases are typically through quotes, demos, or the SAP Store, with no clear per-user or usage-based pricing.

   “Request a demo” sap.com/products/try-sap.html

   “Ready to buy? SAP Store: The online marketplace where customers around the world can discover, try, buy, and renew solutions from SAP and our trusted partners.” sap.com/products/try-sap.html warning not found word for word

6. Built for another era When was it built? 4/4

   SAP was founded in 1972 and highlights its 50-year history and legacy in enterprise software.

   “Explore our long history of business innovation, starting with five entrepreneurial programmers who founded SAP in 1972.” sap.com/about/company.html

Where a newcomer could start

1. getting up and running with business software

   Today Customers start with restricted trials, demos, or guided tours, often needing expert help to implement.

   Instead Let users connect their data and go live the same day, without a consultant or demo.

2. buying business software

   Today Customers must request a demo or quote, with no public pricing or instant checkout for most products.

   Instead Show public pricing and let customers buy and start using the product instantly online.

3. adopting new business technology

   Today Customers are offered legacy products with a 50-year history and traditional enterprise onboarding.

   Instead Ship a cloud-native product that updates weekly and requires no legacy onboarding steps.