SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management Review
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management is a PPM tool built for large enterprises that need to align project investments with strategic priorities across complex, multi-portfolio environments. I'd consider it specifically if your organization already runs on SAP, as the native integration with SAP S/4HANA and SAP Financials gives you financial governance and resource visibility that a standalone tool like Planview requires significant configuration to replicate.
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management Evaluation Summary
- Pricing upon request
Why You Can Trust Us
We’ve been testing and reviewing project management software since 2012. As project managers ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software.
We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different project management use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our software review methodology.
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management Overview
In my opinion, SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management is best for large organizations that manage complex projects and resources. It works well with other SAP systems to give you a complete view of project data. While it may not feel as intuitive as newer tools, it’s a strong fit for companies in industries like manufacturing and technology that already rely on SAP.
pros
-
It integrates well with existing SAP systems to provide a unified project management experience.
-
You get comprehensive project tracking and resource allocation functionality that suit complex projects.
-
It's ideal for large enterprises in industries like manufacturing and technology where detailed project oversight is essential.
cons
-
The user interface can be less intuitive than newer tools, making it harder to navigate.
-
Onboarding can be challenging, particularly for teams not already familiar with SAP systems.
-
It may not suit smaller organizations or teams that need a more lightweight solution.
Are You a Good Fit for SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management?
Who Would Be a Good Fit for SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management?
Large enterprises in industries like manufacturing and technology will get the most value from SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management. If your team handles complex projects that demand detailed oversight and resource planning, its integration with SAP systems gives you a centralized view of all project data.
-
Manufacturing industry
Your team can efficiently manage production schedules and resources with the project tracking features.
-
Technology companies
You can streamline your software development projects with precise resource allocation and progress tracking.
-
Large enterprises
Your organization will benefit from the comprehensive data integration with existing SAP systems for a unified project view.
-
Project management offices
Your PMO can gain full oversight of multiple projects, which helps keep work aligned with corporate objectives.
-
Resource management teams
Your team can effectively allocate and manage resources across various projects with SAP’s detailed tracking capabilities.
-
Cross-departmental projects
Your projects that span multiple departments can achieve better coordination and data sharing through SAP’s integrated platform.
Who Would Be a Bad Fit for SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management?
Small businesses and startups may find SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management too complex and costly for their needs. Without SAP systems experience, your team could face a lengthy and challenging onboarding process. If you don’t need advanced project tracking or resource management, the tool’s features may feel excessive and unsuitable for your workflow.
-
Small startups
Your startup likely doesn’t need the extensive features and high costs associated with SAP’s enterprise-level tools.
-
Freelancers
As an individual, you probably won’t benefit from the complex project management capabilities designed for large teams.
-
Non-technical teams
Without the technical expertise, your team might struggle with SAP’s detailed system and face a steep learning curve.
-
Single-project teams
If your team focuses on a single project at a time, SAP’s multi-project tracking might be unnecessary and overly complex.
-
Short-term projects
For projects with short timelines, the time spent on onboarding and setup might outweigh the benefits.
-
Budget-conscious organizations
If your organization prioritizes cost-effective solutions, SAP’s comprehensive features might not justify the investment.
Our Review Methodology
How We Test & Score Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final scoring)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final scoring)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Resource Management: SAP Portfolio and Project Management helps you optimize resource allocation and tracking across multiple projects to ensure your team is being deployed efficiently. It improves visibility into resource availability and workload distribution, to help you prevent over-commitment.
Procurement Management: SAP PPM improves project-based procurement and helps manage planning, orders, supplier negotiations, and contracts. It also helps with procurement visibility so you can make sure materials are delivered on time and manage suppliers effectively.
Budgeting: SAP Portfolio and Project Management supports detailed financial planning and monitoring with features for setting budgets and tracking expenditures. Its ability to integrate financial data across projects helps you maintain fiscal discipline and avoid budget overruns.
Risk Management: Identify potential risks early with its risk assessment tools. This helps your team plan contingencies and manage uncertainties effectively.
Agile Resource Management: SAP PPM lets you dynamically allocate human and financial resources and adjust workloads based on agile iterations and project needs. This gives you more visibility into resource availability and utilization for better planning.
Issues and Change Management: SAP PPM lets you track project issues and change requests throughout the project life cycle. It offers visibility into financial impacts and supports multi-level approvals to provide oversight and allow for controlled implementation.
Standout Features
Strategic Alignment: This feature allows businesses to align projects with overarching strategic goals so you can make sure all initiatives contribute to the company's mission. It provides a framework for evaluating project proposals against strategic objectives, which makes it easier to prioritize resources.
Advanced Analytics: SAP EPPM offers advanced data analytics capabilities that provide deep insights into project performance and resource allocation. This feature includes predictive analytics, which help you anticipate trends and make informed decisions.
Ease of Use
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management can be complex and less user-friendly than other tools. If your team isn’t familiar with SAP systems, expect a steep learning curve. The interface may be hard to navigate, especially for those new to project portfolio management.
However, once set up, its detailed features and data views can significantly improve how you manage projects.
Onboarding
Onboarding with SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management can be challenging, especially if your team isn’t already using SAP systems. It may take significant time and effort before you start seeing real value. While SAP provides extensive documentation and support, navigating these resources can be overwhelming.
Training is often necessary to fully understand and use the platform, which makes the early learning stages demanding but worthwhile.
Customer Support
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management provides reliable customer support, though it may not always be the quickest. You’ll have access to detailed documentation and a knowledgeable support team for complex issues.
Response times can vary, which might be frustrating if you need urgent help. Still, the support team is well-equipped to handle in-depth questions and guide your team through resolving problems effectively.
Value for Money
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management pricing might seem high at first, but it delivers significant value through its comprehensive features and integration with other SAP products. If your team requires advanced project management capabilities and already uses SAP solutions, the investment can be justified.
- Standard Plan: For users like team members and stakeholders; includes core project and portfolio management tools.
- Professional Plan: For project managers and resource managers; offers full project life cycle features.
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management Specs
- API
- Batch Permissions & Access
- Budgeting
- Calendar Management
- Collaboration Support
- Contact Management
- Contact Sharing
- Customer Management
- Dashboard
- Dashboards
- Data Export
- Data Import
- Data Visualization
- Dependency Tracking
- Document Sharing
- Expense Tracking
- External Integrations
- File Sharing
- Gantt Charts
- Kanban Boards
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Project Management
- Resource Management
- Scheduling
- Task Scheduling/Tracking
- Third-Party Plugins/Add-Ons
- Time Management
- Travel Management
- Workflow Management
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management FAQs
How does SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management handle data security?
Is SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management scalable for growing teams?
Can you customize workflows in SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management?
What type of support can you expect during implementation?
How does SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management support remote teams?
What kind of reporting capabilities are available?
How does SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management handle project risk management?
Is training required to effectively use SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management?
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management Company Overview & History
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management (SAP EPPM) is a solution by SAP SE, a global enterprise software provider based in Walldorf, Germany.
SAP SE was founded in 1972 by former IBM engineers Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, Claus Wellenreuther, and Hans-Werner Hector. Initially focused on real-time data processing software, SAP expanded its offerings to serve various business needs across industries.
As businesses sought integrated tools for managing complex projects, SAP developed project and portfolio management solutions, leading to the launch of SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management.
SAP Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management Major Milestones
- 2015: Launch of SAP S/4HANA, SAP's next-generation business suite
- 2022: Improvements made to the OData API
What's Next?
Want to connect with other digital project managers to share resources and best practices? Join our membership community and get access to 100+ templates, samples, and examples and connect with 100s of other digital project managers in Slack.