Every company that buys SAP S/4HANA gets the same software. What they don’t get is the same result. The difference almost always comes down to one decision made before the project starts: who you choose to implement it.
- Judge partners on people, method and scope, not presentations.
- Ask for proof on your exact S/4HANA edition and industry.
- A quote that’s much cheaper is usually missing something.
- Use the scorecard below to compare up to three partners.
Why your partner matters more than the software
S/4HANA gives you best-practice processes, real-time data and SAP Business AI. But software doesn’t design your processes, clean your data, train your people or stay with you after go-live. Your partner does.
The 10 questions to ask every SAP partner
Group them into four stages. For each, here’s what a strong answer sounds like, and the warning sign to listen for.
What is your SAP partner status?
SAP certifies partners at levels such as Silver, Gold and Platinum, based on certified consultants, customer success and ongoing review.
Have you implemented this exact solution before?
GROW with SAP, RISE with SAP, SAP BTP and SuccessFactors are different skill sets.
Do you know our industry?
A partner who knows manufacturing understands production planning and batch management. One who doesn’t learns on your budget.
Who will actually work on our project?
The senior people in the sales meeting aren’t always the ones who show up.
What methodology do you follow?
Most partners use SAP Activate: prepare, explore, realise, deploy, run.
How do you handle data migration?
Data problems cause more delays than any other issue.
The best SAP partners don’t promise you everything. They tell you exactly what’s in scope, and what isn’t.
What exactly is in your quote?
Vague scope today means change requests tomorrow.
How will you keep our core clean?
A clean core keeps upgrades fast and affordable, and keeps you ready for SAP Business AI.
What happens after go-live?
Go-live is the start of value, not the end of the project.
Can we speak to your customers?
References from similar companies are the strongest signal you’ll get.
Compare partners with this scorecard
Score each partner from 1 (weak) to 5 (excellent). Weights reflect what matters most; change them to suit you. Totals update as you type.
| Criterion | Weight | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted score (out of 100) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red flags that should stop you
A price far below other quotes, with no clear reason why.
Promises that every current customisation can be kept.
No named team, or heavy reliance on unnamed subcontractors.
No clear plan for testing, training or change management.
Global integrator or specialist partner?
| Large global integrator | Specialist SAP partner | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Very large, multi-country programmes | Mid-size and growing companies, focused programmes |
| Senior attention | Spread across many large accounts | Senior consultants closely involved |
| Decision speed | More layers of approval | Faster, more flexible |
| Local knowledge | Varies by delivery centre | Strong on local tax, GST and business practice |
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a large global integrator or a specialist SAP partner?
Large integrators bring scale for very large, multi-country programmes. Specialist partners often give mid-size companies more senior attention, faster decisions and better value.
Does SAP partner location matter?
For Indian businesses, a local partner understands GST, e-invoicing and local business practice, and can work on-site when needed.
How many SAP partners should I shortlist?
Three is usually enough: a fair comparison without turning evaluation into a project of its own.
Put us through the same 10 questions.
We’d rather earn your trust with straight answers than with a sales deck. Ask us anything on this list, and we’ll show you the proof.