What AI said about ERP software
in August 2026

As of August 2026, if you want ERP products that are both credible and widely used, I’d start with this shortlist rather than chasing obscure “best ERP” lists. Gartner’s 2024 ERP market data named SAP, Workday, Oracle, UKG, and Sage among the leading providers, and Gartner’s cloud ERP evaluations include the big product-centric vendors: SAP, Oracle Fusion, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft, Infor, Epicor, IFS, Plex, Priority, and others. (gartner.com)

Best ERP software to consider

My practical recommendations by company size

If you’re a large enterprise: shortlist SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, Workday, Infor CloudSuite, and possibly Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain. Independent ERP Research’s 2026 ranking places SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, SAP private cloud, Dynamics 365, Oracle ERP Cloud, Workday, and Acumatica in the top group. (erpresearch.com)

If you’re mid-market: start with NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or Finance & Supply Chain, Acumatica, Sage Intacct/X3, and SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition. NetSuite, Dynamics, SAP, Workday, and Acumatica show up repeatedly across current ERP rankings and buyer guides. (erpresearch.com)

If you’re a small business: look at Odoo, ERPNext, QuickBooks Enterprise, Sage Intacct, Dynamics 365 Business Central, or NetSuite if you’re growing fast. Forbes’ small-business ERP comparison highlights Odoo, ERPNext, QuickBooks Enterprise, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Workday, and other SMB/mid-market tools. (forbes.com)

Short answer: safest shortlist

If I had to name the top ERP brands people actually use, I’d say:

1. SAP — S/4HANA / SAP Cloud ERP
2. Oracle — Fusion Cloud ERP and NetSuite
3. Microsoft — Dynamics 365 Business Central / Finance & Supply Chain
4. Workday — finance + HCM-centered ERP
5. Infor — industry-specific ERP
6. Sage — Intacct / X3
7. Acumatica — mid-market cloud ERP
8. Epicor / IFS — manufacturing, industrial, field-service-heavy businesses
9. Odoo / ERPNext — smaller, cost-sensitive, modular/open-source-friendly teams

Rule of thumb: choose SAP or Oracle for maximum enterprise depth, NetSuite or Dynamics 365 for most mid-market companies, Workday for services/HCM-heavy organizations, Infor/Epicor/IFS for industrial depth, and Odoo/ERPNext when budget and flexibility matter most.

Based on current market analysis, here's a breakdown of the top ERP software people actually use, organized by business size and need:

Enterprise-Level (Large Companies)

SAP S/4HANA — The heavyweight for large enterprises. SAP S/4HANA leads in enterprise manufacturing depth and multi-GAAP. For mid-market, SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud is a top overall pick, followed by NetSuite and S/4HANA Private Cloud, and it uses a Fit-to-Standard implementation model that drives 3-6 month go-lives at a fraction of the on-premises SAP cost base, with quarterly auto-upgrades.

Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP / NetSuite — Oracle has strong offerings across segments. For enterprise finance, Oracle Fusion ERP Cloud and Workday lead, while Oracle NetSuite leads in cloud-native mid-market.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 — Extremely popular due to ecosystem lock-in with other Microsoft tools. Microsoft Dynamics 365 leads in ecosystem integration and market share.

Workday — Strong specifically for finance and HR. For enterprise finance, Oracle Fusion ERP Cloud and Workday lead.

Mid-Market

Acumatica — Popular for growing companies wanting flexibility. Like Epicor and Infor, Acumatica also offers industry-specific solutions, including specialized packages for businesses in agriculture, communications, distribution, and professional services, and supports a high degree of customization across all its solutions. Reviews frequently mention Acumatica's no-code and low-code development tools that can help modify workflows without relying on developers, and users highlight the platform's strong integrations with third-party systems.

Epicor Kinetic — Widely used in manufacturing-heavy industries as one of the leading cloud-based ERP solutions in 2026 include Oracle NetSuite, Epicor Kinetic, Acumatica Cloud ERP, and Oracle Fusion Cloud.

Infor CloudSuite & Sage Intacct — Rounding out the mid-market/industry-specific leaders alongside the above names, per broader market-share rankings: SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle Cloud ERP (Fusion), Oracle NetSuite, Infor CloudSuite, Epicor Kinetic, Workday, Sage Intacct, Acumatica, and Odoo.

Budget-Friendly / Small Business

Odoo — The standout open-source option. Odoo offers a modular open-source ERP solution with an extensive app ecosystem covering everything from manufacturing and inventory to marketing and e-commerce, appealing to businesses seeking flexibility and cost control. Its advantages include an open-source foundation that enables unlimited customization and development, an extensive app marketplace with thousands of modules and integrations, attractive pricing especially for smaller deployments, and an active community providing support.

The Honest Truth

There isn't a single "best" ERP — it depends heavily on your business. As one source bluntly puts it: There is no single 'best' ERP. SAP S/4HANA leads in enterprise manufacturing depth and

Because an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system manages everything from accounting and HR to supply chain and manufacturing, there is no single "best" software for every business. A massive global pharmaceutical company has completely different needs than a fast-growing 50-person e-commerce brand.

To help you find the brands that people actually use, the leading ERP systems are categorized below by business size, market share, and specific strengths.

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Tier 1: Large Enterprise & Global Corporations

These systems are designed for companies with revenues starting at $250 million to well over $1 billion. They can handle complex multi-entity consolidation, global compliance, and massive supply chains.

1. SAP S/4HANA

• Who uses it: Fortune 500 companies, global manufacturers, and massive retail networks.
• The Vibe: The undisputed heavyweight of the enterprise world.
• Why it’s popular: SAP is incredibly powerful. It is the gold standard for global compliance, multi-currency operations, and heavy manufacturing. If you have a highly complex, multi-national supply chain, SAP is usually the default choice.
• The Catch: It is famously expensive, highly complex to implement, and requires a dedicated IT team to maintain.
• Key Feature: SAP's AI copilot, Joule, is heavily integrated into the platform to help automate routine workflows and analyze data.

2. Oracle Cloud ERP

• Who uses it: Large enterprises, financial institutions, and service-oriented global businesses.
• The Vibe: The premium, finance-first alternative to SAP.
• Why it’s popular: Oracle is widely regarded as having the most robust financial consolidation and accounting modules on the market. It’s highly scalable and handles massive volumes of transactions with ease.
• The Catch: Like SAP, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is high, and implementations take a long time.
• Key Feature: Oracle has embedded "Agentic AI" across its platform, meaning autonomous AI agents can handle tasks like invoice matching and predictive forecasting without manual intervention.

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O)

• Who uses it: Large-to-mid enterprise companies looking for deep customization and Microsoft ecosystem integration.
• The Vibe: The most flexible and modern "big" ERP.
• Why it’s popular: Dynamics 365 F&O offers enterprise-grade capabilities (like advanced warehouse management and global financials) but integrates seamlessly with Office 365, Teams, and Power BI.
• The Catch: It is sold as separate modular apps, which can make licensing complex.

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Tier 2: Mid-Market & Growing Businesses

These systems are the sweet spot for companies with $10M to $250M in revenue. They are cloud-native, faster to deploy, and easier to use than Tier 1 systems.

4. Oracle NetSuite

• Who uses it: Fast-scaling startups, mid-sized distributors, e-commerce brands, and service companies.
• The Vibe: The most popular cloud-native ERP in the world.
• Why it’s popular: NetSuite was built for the cloud from day one. Its OneWorld module is fantastic for companies that are expanding internationally, allowing them to easily manage multiple subsidiaries and currencies in one dashboard.
• The Catch: Annual licensing costs can jump significantly during renewal periods, and it requires paid add-ons (SuiteApps) for highly specialized functions.
• Key Feature: NetSuite’s "Autonomous Close" feature uses AI to reconcile books and find errors, helping accounting teams close their monthly books up to 30% faster.

5. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

• Who uses it: Small-to-mid market businesses (SMBs) that want a professional ERP without enterprise-level complexity.
• The Vibe: The "go-to" ERP for Microsoft-centric companies.
• Why it’s popular: It is highly affordable compared to NetSuite, starting at around $80–$110 per user/month. Because it looks and feels like Microsoft Excel and Outlook, employee adoption is incredibly high.
• The Catch: It relies heavily on third-party integrations (add-ons) for specialized industry needs like advanced manufacturing.

6. Acumatica

• Who uses it: Mid-market construction, distribution, and manufacturing companies.
• The Vibe: The challenger brand with high customer satisfaction.
• Why it’s popular: Acumatica stands out because of its unique licensing model: they charge based on transaction volume, not per-user. This means you can give every single employee, customer, and vendor access to the system without paying extra licensing fees.
• The Catch: If your transaction volume spikes massively, your costs will scale with it.

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Tier 3: Small Business & Specialized ERPs

For companies under $10M in revenue, or companies with very specific, niche operational needs.

7. Odoo

• Who uses it: Small businesses, startups, and highly unique businesses that want customized workflows.
• The Vibe: The ultimate open-source Lego set of ERPs.
• Why it’s popular: Odoo uses an app-based modular system. You can start by using just their CRM and Invoicing modules for cheap (or even free), and slowly add apps (Inventory, Manufacturing, HR) as your business grows. It is incredibly customizable and has a huge global developer community.
• The Catch: Because it’s open-source and highly customizable, it’s easy to over-engineer it, which can lead to bugs and messy implementations.

8. Sage Intacct

• Who uses it: Professional services, healthcare, non-profits, and finance-heavy businesses.
• The Vibe: The accountant’s dream ERP.
• Why it’s popular: Sage Intacct isn't a full-suite operational ERP, but it is one of the absolute best financial ERPs on the market. If you are a service-based business that doesn't need to track physical inventory, Sage Intacct offers unparalleled accounting and billing depth.
• The Catch: Poorly suited for companies that require heavy warehouse, supply chain, or manufacturing logistics.

9. Epicor Kinetic / Infor CloudSuite

• Who uses it: Heavy manufacturers, industrial distributors, and automotive suppliers.
• The Vibe: Built-for-purpose blue-collar ERPs.
• Why they’re popular: These systems don't try to be everything to everyone. They are built specifically for industrial shop floors, tracking raw materials, machine run times, and complex bills of materials (BOMs) right out of the box.
• The Catch: The user interfaces can feel somewhat dated and rigid compared to modern cloud software like NetSuite or Business Central.

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Summary: Which one should you actually look at?

• If you are a giant global company: Look at SAP S/4HANA or Oracle Cloud ERP.
• If you are a rapidly growing mid-market business: Look at Oracle NetSuite (best for international growth) or Microsoft Business Central (best value and Microsoft integration).
• If you want unlimited users on a budget: Look at Acumatica.
• If you are a smaller business or want open-source flexibility: Look at Odoo.

There is no single best ERP for every company, but the most widely recommended and commonly used products are SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, Workday, Acumatica, Infor CloudSuite, SAP Business One, Epicor Kinetic, and Odoo.

If you want the top brands/products people actually use, these are the strongest mainstream picks by segment:

• Best overall for mid-market cloud ERP: SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud.
• Best for growing, multi-subsidiary, or global businesses: Oracle NetSuite.
• Best if your company already uses Microsoft tools: Microsoft Dynamics 365 / Business Central.
• Best for large enterprise finance: Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP.
• Best for finance and HR at larger organizations: Workday.
• Best flexible value option for SMBs/mid-market: Acumatica and Odoo.
• Best for manufacturing and shop-floor operations: Epicor Kinetic, Infor CloudSuite, and SAP Business One.

A practical short list most buyers compare is:

If you want the simplest recommendation:

• Choose NetSuite if you want the safest “popular cloud ERP” default for a growing company.
• Choose Dynamics 365 if you are already deep in Microsoft.
• Choose SAP S/4HANA if you are larger or more complex operationally.
• Choose Odoo if budget and flexibility matter most.

If you want, I can also give you a top 5 ERP list by company size or a best ERP by industry list.

There’s no single “best” ERP — the right choice depends on your company size, industry, budget, and deployment preference. That said, these are the most widely used and well-regarded ERP platforms in the real world:

Enterprise Level (Large Companies)

These are the heavyweights with deep functionality, global support, and serious price tags.

• SAP S/4HANA – The most widely used enterprise ERP globally. Strong in manufacturing, supply chain, finance, and process industries. Best for large, complex, multinational organizations.
• Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP – Cloud-native, strong in financials, procurement, and project management. Popular with large enterprises, especially those already using Oracle databases or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 – Combines ERP and CRM, tight integration with Microsoft 365 and Power Platform. Good choice for companies that live in the Microsoft ecosystem and need flexibility.

Mid-Market / Growth Companies

These balance power, cost, and ease of implementation.

• Oracle NetSuite – One of the most popular cloud ERPs for mid-sized and fast-growing companies. Especially strong for services, software, and ecommerce businesses with global needs.
• Infor CloudSuite – Industry-specific ERPs (manufacturing, healthcare, distribution, etc.). Very strong in specialized manufacturing and process industries.
• Workday – Best known for HR/finance, often used as a financial management ERP for service-based and people-heavy organizations. Not a full manufacturing or inventory ERP.
• Sage X3 – Strong for mid-market manufacturers and distributors, with excellent financial control and localized tax compliance.
• Epicor Kinetic – Focused on manufacturing, distribution, and retail, especially for “make-to-order” and mixed-mode manufacturing.

Small Business / Entry-Level

Simpler, faster to deploy, and much cheaper.

• Odoo – Open-source ERP with modular apps (CRM, inventory, accounting, MRP). Very cost-effective and highly customizable, but requires implementation effort.
• Sage Intacct – Cloud financial management/ERP for small to mid-size business. Excellent for finance-first companies that don’t need complex manufacturing.
• Acumatica – Cloud ERP with flexible licensing, good for small-mid businesses in manufacturing, distribution, and services.
• QuickBooks Enterprise – Not a full ERP, but many small businesses use it as their “ERP” for accounting + inventory + billing.

Industry-Specific / Niche

• IFS Cloud – Strong for field service, asset management, and project-based companies.
• Unit4 ERP – Popular in non-profits, public sector, and professional services.
• SYSPRO – Focused on manufacturing and distribution, particularly in food, electronics, and industrial sectors.

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Quick Recommendations

If you tell me your industry, company size, and what pain points you’re trying to fix, I can narrow it down further.

There is no single “best” ERP software—the right choice depends on company size, industry (e.g., manufacturing vs. services), complexity, budget, deployment preference (cloud/on-prem/hybrid), and specific needs like finance, supply chain, HCM, or manufacturing execution.

That said, the systems and brands that people and companies actually use most (based on market share/customer counts, revenue, analyst recognition like Gartner Magic Quadrants, enterprise adoption including Fortune 500, and popularity rankings) are dominated by a handful of major players, with strong mid-market and specialized options.

Top Enterprise / Large-Scale ERPs (Most Used by Big Companies)

These power complex, global operations and appear frequently among Fortune 500 and large enterprises:

1. SAP (especially SAP S/4HANA and SAP ERP)
   Long-time leader for large, product-centric, and complex global organizations (manufacturing, supply chain, logistics). High adoption among Fortune 500; strong real-time analytics, AI (Joule copilot), and industry depth. Cloud migration (to S/4HANA) is a major ongoing trend. Often cited for handling massive scale and transaction volumes.

2. Oracle (Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP + NetSuite)
   Revenue leader in some analyses. Fusion Cloud ERP for large enterprises (finance, procurement, supply chain, with strong AI/agents); NetSuite for mid-market/growing firms. Dual offering covers a wide range. Excellent cloud infrastructure, database strength, and AI embedding. Widely used across industries.

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Finance & Operations / Finance + Supply Chain, and Business Central)
   Extremely high customer counts in some trackers (often leading by number of companies). Seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Azure, Power BI, and Copilot AI. Strong for organizations already in the Microsoft ecosystem. Business Central is popular for mid-market; full D365 for larger ops. Leader in multiple Gartner Cloud ERP Magic Quadrants.

4. Workday
   Cloud-native leader especially for service-centric enterprises, focusing on HCM (human capital management), finance, and accounting. High customer counts; unified data model and targeted AI approach. Popular with large organizations for people and financials.

Strong Mid-Market and Growing Business Favorites

These are widely adopted by mid-sized companies and scale-ups:

• Oracle NetSuite ERP — Leading pure cloud ERP for mid-market. Comprehensive (finance, inventory, CRM, e-commerce, etc.), highly scalable, real-time visibility. Frequently tops “best of” lists and has strong customer numbers.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central — User-friendly, cost-effective for SMBs/mid-market, excellent Microsoft integration.
• Acumatica Cloud ERP — Flexible, consumption-based pricing, strong for manufacturing/distribution, highly rated for usability and customization.
• Infor CloudSuite (including industry-specific versions like Industrial/SyteLine) — Strong vertical focus (manufacturing, healthcare, etc.), Gartner Leader recognition.
• Epicor Kinetic — Excellent for manufacturing; flexible deployment.
• Sage (Intacct, X3, Business Cloud) — Popular for finance-focused mid-market and certain regions/industries; solid accounting strength.

Other Notable / Specialized Options People Use

• IFS — Strong in asset-intensive industries, field service, and manufacturing; rising with AI focus.
• QAD Adaptive — Manufacturing-focused.
• Intuit (QuickBooks Online / Enterprise Suite) — Extremely widespread for small businesses (more accounting/ERP-light); growing into mid-market. High revenue share due to volume.
• Odoo — Open-source/modular, popular for cost-conscious or customizable needs (especially SMBs and internationally).
• Others by niche: Deltek (project-based/professional services), SYSPRO, Cetec (affordable manufacturing), industry-specific solutions.

Quick Market Insights

• Customer count leaders (one tracker): Microsoft Dynamics, Workday, SAP ERP/S/4HANA, NetSuite.
• Revenue leaders: Often Oracle, then SAP, Intuit, Microsoft, etc. The top 10 vendors hold a significant but not dominant share of a large, fragmented market (~$136B+ range recently).
• Trends: Cloud/SaaS dominates new implementations. Embedded AI/agents, analytics, and industry-specific (“vertical”) functionality are key differentiators. Many large firms still run hybrid or legacy (e.g., older SAP ECC) while migrating.
• Fortune 500 / large enterprise: Heavily SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft, with Workday strong in HCM/finance.

Recommendations by Use Case

• Large global/complex (manufacturing/supply chain): SAP S/4HANA or Oracle Fusion.
• Microsoft-heavy organization: Dynamics 365.
• Mid-market growth / cloud-first: NetSuite or Acumatica / Business Central.
• Services / HCM + Finance focus: Workday.
• Manufacturing-specific: Epicor, Infor, QAD, or IFS.
• Small business / starting out: Intuit QuickBooks ecosystem, Odoo, or Sage; graduate to full ERP as you scale.
• Budget/flexible: Look at Acumatica, Odoo, or open options; always factor in implementation costs (often higher than software licenses).

Advice: Evaluate based on your requirements (use demos, RFPs, reference checks). Consider total cost of ownership (TCO), implementation partner quality, scalability, integration needs, and AI readiness. Analyst reports (Gartner Magic Quadrants for Cloud ERP—product-centric vs. service-centric), G2/Capterra user reviews, and peer references are valuable. Many companies use multiple systems or best-of-breed alongside a core ERP.

For the most current details, check recent Gartner/Forrester reports, vendor sites, or sites like G2 for user scores, as the landscape evolves quickly with AI and cloud shifts. If you provide more details (company size, industry, key pain points), I can refine this further.

Some of the top ERP solutions widely used in 2026 include SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Workday, and Acumatica, each catering to different industry needs, company sizes, and deployment preferences.

Top ERP Software Overview

SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Best for: Mid-market enterprises standardizing on cloud ERP Strengths: Highly integrated finance, procurement, and analytics; quarterly automatic upgrades; strong AI capabilities with SAP Business AI (Joule) embedded 1 . Considerations: Fit-to-standard processes may limit customization; mandatory quarterly upgrades; not ideal for complex manufacturing. Pricing: $180/user/month; implementation 3–6 months. Oracle NetSuite Best for: Growing mid-market and global operations Strengths: Strong multi-subsidiary, multi-currency management; SuiteSuccess vertical editions offer rapid 90-day go-lives; mature cloud extensibility 2 . Considerations: Per-user costs accumulate quickly; UI still feels dated in some modules; embedded analytics less advanced than SAP. Pricing: $99/user/month; implementation 4–9 months. Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Finance & Supply Chain / Business Central) Best for: Microsoft ecosystem companies Strengths: Deep integration with Teams, Power BI, and Azure; AI Copilot for finance and operations; low-code extensibility through Power Platform 2 . Considerations: Process manufacturing weaker than competitors; licensing can become costly; Business Central vs. F&SCM split may cause confusion. Pricing: Starting at $50/user/month; implementation 6–14 months. Workday Best for: Services, professional, and knowledge-worker-intensive organizations Strengths: Best-in-class HCM, financial management parity with Tier-1 systems, unified UX across HR and finance, embedded AI/ML 1 . Considerations: Limited capabilities for manufacturing and inventory; high implementation costs; smaller partner ecosystem compared to SAP/Oracle. Pricing: Custom; implementation 6–12 months. Acumatica Best for: Mid-market businesses seeking a cloud ERP alternative to NetSuite Strengths: Unlimited-user licensing (cost-effective for large teams), modern web-native UX, strong manufacturing/distribution editions, flexible Microsoft-native cloud deployment 2 . Considerations: Smaller partner ecosystem; less multinational depth; fewer vertical pre-configurations. Pricing: $75K–$350K; implementation 4–8 months. Infor M3 / CloudSuite Industrial Best for: Asset-intensive, process manufacturing, or industry-specialist verticals Strengths: Deep vertical pre-configuration (e.g., food & beverage, chemicals), strong field service and asset management, integrated analytics 2 . Considerations: Smaller brand presence compared to SAP/Oracle; may require vertical-specific expertise. Other notable ERPs Epicor Kinetic: Strong for discrete manufacturing; cloud and on-premise options; good operational reporting and order visibility 2 . IFS Cloud: Best for asset-heavy and service-intensive operations; strong project and procurement management 1 . Cetec ERP: Affordable, cloud-native solution for small to mid-sized manufacturers; comprehensive manufacturing and quality management features 2 . DELMIAWorks: Fully integrated ERP + MES for manufacturers; strong shop-floor to executive visibility 1 . Intuit Enterprise Suite: Good for firms migrating from QuickBooks; multi-entity management and AI automation 1 .

Key Considerations When Selecting ERP

Industry Fit: Some solutions, like Infor M3 or QAD Adaptive, are specialized for manufacturing and regulated industries. Company Size & Complexity: Larger enterprises often prefer SAP S/4HANA or Oracle ERP Cloud, while mid-market firms might favor NetSuite, Dynamics 365, or Acumatica. Deployment & Cost: Cloud versus on-premise options affect TCO and scalability; licensing models (per-user vs. unlimited) significantly impact costs. Integration & Ecosystem: Consider your tech stack. Microsoft-centric organizations benefit from Dynamics 365; complex global finance often favors NetSuite or Oracle. Implementation Timeline: Go-lives range from 3 months (SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud) to over a year (large enterprise custom ERP deployments).

Choosing the best ERP depends on your industry requirements, company size, core processes, and long-term IT strategy. For mid-market cloud adoption, SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, NetSuite, and Acumatica are widely recommended, while large enterprises often consider SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud, Oracle ERP Cloud, or Workday for specialized needs ERP Research+2 .