You are presenting a budget for SAP to your finance chief, but he wants proof before approving it. The next question, coming right behind, is, “Who else runs this?” When asked, most IT leaders respond with a slide of logos. An answer that does not satisfy a board member will not last long after the meeting. Logos don’t tell you anything about scope, release, or migration status.
Companies with SAP ERP (enterprise resource planning) provide more proof, but only if you know which ones are running SAP ERP. In this guide, we profile 15 real customers and their SAP processes. Each profile covers industry, processes, and migration path. You will also learn how they transition from SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) to SAP S/4HANA. Lastly, you will leave with lessons for your own project.
Consumer goods, automotive, energy, and chemical companies use SAP ERP in their large enterprises. There are numerous examples, including Nestlé, Siemens, Shell, BMW Group, and BASF. They rely on SAP for their finance, procurement, manufacturing, and logistics needs. The overwhelming trend is to move from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA, as SAP is ending mainstream maintenance for ECC 6.0 on December 31, 2027.
What does it mean to be one of the companies using SAP ERP?
SAP ERP users are companies that run their entire finance, procurement, and production in one system, SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA. Both systems access business information in a shared data model. This means that all departments work from the same records.
SAP ERP originally meant SAP ECC 6.0. Today, the term also refers to the successor product, SAP S/4HANA. Hence, customers on both products appear on any list of companies using SAP ERP.
The majority of big customers use a mix. For instance, SAP S/4HANA could be deployed in one division, with SAP ECC in another. Mixed systems are common during multi-year migrations.
How do SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA differ?
SAP ECC can be deployed on various databases, such as Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. SAP S/4HANA runs only on the SAP HANA database. It also eliminates numerous finance tables by using the Universal Journal, which stores postings in table ACDOCA.
This change affects reporting. Manual reconciliation of separate ledgers is a thing of the past. However, custom reports built on classic tables like BSEG typically require review. If you want to compare SAP S/4HANA and SAP ECC, you can use this article to learn the differences between them.
What are the most commonly used SAP ERP modules?
Typical customers begin with Financial Accounting and Controlling (FI/CO), Materials Management (MM), and Sales and Distribution (SD). Manufacturers add Production Planning (PP) and Quality Management (QM). Firms with many assets add Plant Maintenance (PM). Together, these modules comprise order-to-cash and procure-to-pay.
Data is shared among the modules. In SD, the sales order reserves stock in MM. The goods issue is then posted automatically, so finance does not need to enter revenue and cost of goods sold manually.
Why do large companies opt for SAP ERP?
Large companies opt for SAP ERP because it integrates finance, supply chain, and manufacturing in a single data model. It also supports industry functions and local legislation in many countries. They can also use the same processes across regions, with the benefit of global templates.
A single data model across business units
Finance, logistics, and production data are stored in linked tables in SAP ERP. This means that one sales order affects inventory, billing, and revenue records. Finance departments close the books faster because each posting is connected to its source document. This design matters most when a group has numerous legal entities.
Industry functions and local compliance
SAP provides country versions with local tax and statutory reporting rules. As a result, hundreds of companies around the world have less custom code to write. Industry solutions for oil and gas include joint venture accounting. These rules are also updated regularly via SAP support packages.
Global templates and rollouts
Large groups define one global process template. They then roll it out one country at a time. This way, processes are standardised across regions. It also reduces support costs, as teams do not have to support multiple designs.
15 real-life examples of companies using SAP ERP
In this section, we profile companies implementing SAP ERP in various industries. The details come from SAP customer stories, press releases, and trade coverage. However, the scope varies from company to company. Please refer to SAP’s customer pages for up-to-date information.
1. Nestlé: Global Process Template
SAP says it standardized Nestlé’s ERP systems across the world about 20 years ago. The company now operates in 188 countries and follows the same process design. More recently, Nestlé selected RISE with SAP to transition key systems to the cloud. This demonstrates how a global template can be transitioned to a new hosting model.
2. The Coca-Cola Company: Beverage Supply Chain
The Coca-Cola Company is a public SAP customer. Some bottling partners also have their own SAP software. Accurate demand planning and distribution are vital to beverage groups. With integrated logistics and finance data, SAP ERP supports both.
3. Shell: Phased Migration in Energy
According to reports, Shell started its journey to SAP S/4HANA in 2020 as part of a multi-year program. For energy companies, joint-venture accounting, procurement, and materials management at large scale are essential. SAP provides industry functions for each area. Shell thus shows a step-by-step migration, not a cut-over.
4. BMW Group: Procurement and Production Logistics
According to technology trackers, BMW Group is an SAP S/4HANA customer that has migrated from SAP R/3. Automotive manufacturers have thousands of suppliers and parts. In SAP ERP, purchasing, inventory, and production planning are integrated into one data model. Thus, planners can see material shortages before they occur.
5. Siemens: Consistent Group Reporting
According to public sources, Siemens group companies are migrating to SAP S/4HANA. When a group has numerous legal entities, it must be able to report financials consistently. The Universal Journal, part of SAP S/4HANA, addresses this need. Additionally, a single ledger reduces reconciliation tasks.
6. Colgate-Palmolive: High-Volume Order Processing
Colgate-Palmolive is listed among the public SAP customers. Consumer goods companies have high order volumes and low margins. For those orders, SAP automates pricing, billing and delivery. Consequently, finance and logistics teams share the same data relating to orders.
7. Unilever: Clean Core Approach
Trade coverage describes Unilever’s journey to SAP S/4HANA using a clean core approach. In a clean core, teams build extensions outside the ERP core. For instance, they can build custom apps with SAP Business Technology Platform. This makes upgrades easier.
8. Bayer: A Common Template Across 90 Countries
Bayer is transforming its core business to SAP S/4HANA as part of its transformation journey. The company established a common template incorporating division-specific features. It planned to roll out gradually over the next four to five years in approximately 90 countries. Batch tracking and compliance are both required in the pharmaceutical and crop science sectors.
9. BASF: Single Instance to Clean Core
BASF has been using SAP for approximately 40 years. Its current system is one global instance with more than 300,000 custom objects. BASF will be transitioning to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition through RISE with SAP, as discussed at SAP Sapphire 2025. Its coatings business already operates a greenfield instance based on clean core principles.
10. Carlsberg: Procurement-Led Rollout
Carlsberg has chosen IBM to deploy SAP S/4HANA in its operations in Western Europe. Procurement is viewed as the hub of the program. In addition, the brewer has been using SAP Ariba for supplier collaboration. Brewers need to track and manage returnable packaging and seasonal demand, so accurate purchasing information is important.
11. adidas: SAP S/4HANA on AWS
adidas moved from SAP ECC 6.0 to SAP S/4HANA on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The company chose AWS instead of RISE with SAP. The program combines purchasing, supply chain, finance and sales. So, adidas has shown that there is more than one way to move to SAP S/4HANA.
12. Volkswagen Group: Multi-Brand Master Data
Volkswagen Group appears on named SAP customer lists. Large automotive organizations own many plants and suppliers across brands. SAP ERP provides shared material, vendor, and customer master data for them. Record sharing helps plants and sales teams stay in sync.
13. Procter & Gamble: Automated Migration
In a 2022 partner article, P&G explains how it automated the transition of SAP ECC-based systems to SAP S/4HANA. Leaders of consumer goods organizations have massive product catalogs. Thus, data quality is a motivation to migrate. Automation eliminates manual conversion work.
14. Bosch: Manufacturing Master Data
The Bosch Group is a named SAP customer. It also uses SAP S/4HANA for its own services business and manufacturing customers. Diversified manufacturers require shared master data. For this, SAP ERP offers material, vendor and customer records.
15. ExxonMobil: Joint Ventures and Assets
ExxonMobil is a named SAP customer. Energy majors are involved in joint ventures, big assets and complicated procurement. SAP provides plant maintenance and joint-venture accounting to address these needs. However, little is public about the extent of ExxonMobil’s SAP usage.
What are the top industries where SAP ERP is used?
SAP ERP adoption is led by manufacturing, consumer goods, automotive, chemicals, and energy. These industries have complex supply chains and require tight financial controls and accurate inventories. SAP provides specific industry functions for each of them.
| Industry | Everyday focus of SAP ERP | Example customers |
| Consumer goods | Order-to-cash, master data | Nestlé, Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever, P&G |
| Beverages | Distribution, procurement | Coca-Cola, Carlsberg |
| Automotive | Procurement, production logistics | BMW Group, Volkswagen Group |
| Industrial manufacturing | Group reporting, master data | Siemens, Bosch |
| Energy and chemicals | Joint-venture accounting, maintenance | Shell, ExxonMobil, BASF |
| Fashion and life sciences | Batch management, sourcing | Bayer, adidas |
The pattern repeats, with focus areas varying by industry. Each company normalizes processes first. It then builds on a common data model.
Where can you find a list of companies that use SAP ERP?
SAP doesn’t maintain a full list of SAP ERP customers. However, many large customers are mentioned in customer stories, in SAP’s annual reports, and in conference sessions. Always use primary sources first, and treat third-party lists as leads.
How to check an SAP ERP users list
Be sure to check any entry against a primary source before publishing or presenting it. Begin with SAP customer stories, and then review annual reports and conference sessions. Do not accept job postings and vendor lists as evidence.
- Look up SAP in SAP News Center or go to SAP customer stories.
- Look for SAP S/4HANA and SAP ECC in the annual report.
- Check out the SAP Sapphire sessions where the firm is presenting.
- Record the scope: region, division and product release.
Why is scope important when reading a customer list?
A company can have one ERP system in one division and another in a different division. Large groups often maintain several independent SAP systems following acquisitions. So, when a company is said to “use SAP ERP,” this doesn’t necessarily mean a single system for the whole company.
BASF demonstrates this. The main system is a single global instance; its coatings business already uses SAP S/4HANA as a separate system. Learn more about the factors influencing SAP ERP pricing, including licensing, implementation, and ongoing support costs.
What options do companies have to migrate from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA?
The three options are greenfield, brownfield and selective data transition. Greenfield builds a new system, brownfield converts the existing system, and selective transition moves selected data. The decision is driven by the volume of custom code and appetite for process change.
Choosing between greenfield, brownfield and selective data transition
Greenfield is ideal for companies seeking to remove outdated custom code and rebuild processes. BASF used this approach for its coatings business. Brownfield suits companies wishing to retain history and move faster. Selective transition suits groups that want to separate a business unit or combine multiple systems.
Many customers also select RISE with SAP. This offer provides SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, infrastructure, and services in one package. However, adidas shows that hosting SAP S/4HANA on a hyperscaler is also an option. Evaluate both options against your hosting and licensing requirements.
For more information on the migration approach, please consult the SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA Migration Guide. There is a wealth of information about RISE with SAP on this website; you can find it here.
What do these SAP ERP customers have in common?
Successful SAP S/4HANA programs begin by standardizing processes and keeping custom code small, which safeguards later upgrades. They also start data migration and testing early, as most delays are due to data quality. Last, they choose a deployment model according to business goals, not trends.
- Ensure that processes are standardized prior to migration.
- Minimize custom code and adhere to clean core principles.
- Initiate data cleansing and test planning early.
- Ensure that the deployment model aligns with the business objectives.
As per SAP, SAP ECC 6.0 mainstream maintenance will end on December 31, 2027, for EHP 6 to 8. An optional extension to the end of 2030 is available at a 2 percent fee increase. Additionally, eligible RISE customers may take advantage of a transition option until 2033. Before setting your timeline, look at the SAP Notes and the SAP Help Portal.
Is SAP ERP also available for mid-size companies?
Yes, mid-size companies can run SAP ERP via SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, SAP Business One or SAP Business ByDesign. These options are typically more cost-effective than a global on-premises template. All of them include finance, sales and stock, but in varying capacities.
SAP Business One is more appropriate for smaller groups with simpler processes. Growing companies may prefer SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, which offers standard processes and regular updates. SAP provides this public edition through GROW with SAP. Before deciding, compare the scope, cost, and integration requirements.
Conclusion
All the companies in this list began with the same initial question: Will SAP ERP work for our size and scope of business? The companies that answered “yes” had various models for success. While Nestlé built around a global template, BASF moved toward a single global instance, and Bayer planned a rollout across about 90 countries. The choices made by each organization were a result of its processes, organizational structure, current SAP environment, custom code, and risk appetite.
That’s the key lesson for businesses embarking on their own SAP journey. The goal is not to replicate another company’s SAP environment. It’s important to grasp the rationale behind the architectural and implementation decisions that the organization took, and then to work out which principles fit your landscape. A global template could be useful for standardizing processes, while a more selective approach might be warranted where local requirements or existing investments have high value for the business.
Before a migration decision, it’s important to consider custom development. Custom code can create dependencies that make the transition to S/4HANA more difficult, but it can also carry critical business logic that has been coded in ABAP over the years. A comprehensive evaluation of custom code, integrations, data, business processes, and unused functionality can help determine what the business should keep and what it can redesign or retire.
Now the clock sets the tempo. SAP will continue to support ECC 6.0 until December 31, 2027, while focusing increasingly on SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Business Technology Platform as the product direction. The date is important to keep in mind, but do not turn preparation into a hurried technical task. You need time to review the existing landscape, establish the target architecture, analyze the custom code, and select a transition strategy that fits your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who uses SAP ERP?
Well-known companies that use SAP ERP include Nestlé, BASF, Bayer, Carlsberg and adidas. Other customers include Siemens, Shell, BMW Group and Unilever, which are all public SAP customers. The majority are running SAP S/4HANA or are transitioning from SAP ECC. For the latest information, refer to SAP customer stories.
Are there any official lists of companies that use SAP ERP?
SAP does not have a comprehensive list of customers using SAP ERP. However, many significant SAP customers are mentioned in its customer stories and annual reports. Adoption data is also available from third-party databases, but it can be out of date. Be sure to double-check a company’s SAP usage with a primary source.
How many companies use SAP ERP?
SAP has hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide across its products. Not all of them are running a full ERP system, which means any SAP ERP users list constitutes only part of the base. Many use SAP Business One or SAP S/4HANA Cloud. For the latest number, look at SAP’s latest annual report.
What are the top industries for SAP ERP?
The majority of companies that use SAP ERP are in manufacturing, consumer goods, automotive, chemicals and energy. These industries require financial, procurement and production information to be integrated. Other customers include retailers, life sciences companies and public sector organizations that have deployed SAP at scale. So, choose the industry functions that correspond to your own processes.
How do small businesses use SAP ERP?
Yes, small businesses use SAP ERP in the form of SAP Business One and SAP Business ByDesign. These products are appropriate for smaller companies with simpler processes. Typically, less time is needed for implementation compared with a global SAP S/4HANA program. Before you make a decision, take scope and cost into account.
What is the difference between SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA?
In general, SAP ERP refers to SAP ECC 6.0, and SAP S/4HANA is its successor. SAP S/4HANA runs only on the SAP HANA database and has a streamlined data model. SAP’s ECC 6.0 mainstream maintenance will end on December 31, 2027. As a result, numerous SAP ERP users are now planning to migrate.
Why do big companies opt for SAP ERP over other ERP systems?
SAP ERP is a preferred solution for large companies due to its comprehensive finance, manufacturing, and supply chain capabilities. In addition, the software has been adapted to comply with local tax and legal regulations in numerous countries. Moreover, a large partner network offers implementation skills. However, compare other options against your own needs.
What are the most popular modules of SAP ERP for companies?
The most frequently used modules are Financial Accounting and Controlling (FI/CO), Materials Management (MM), and Sales and Distribution (SD). Manufacturers add Production Planning (PP) and Quality Management (QM). Firms with high asset intensity add Plant Maintenance (PM). Together, these modules cover procure-to-pay and order-to-cash flows.
References
Source: SAP News Center — BASF Embarks on Digital Transformation with SAP S/4HANA Cloud — https://news.sap.com/2025/05/basf-digital-transformation-sap-s4hana-cloud/
Source: SAP Customer Stories — Nestlé S.A.: Achieving a global cloud transformation — https://www.sap.com/about/customer-stories/nestle.html
This procedure helps to make sure that the SAP S/4HANA Business Suite operates correctly.
One Response