SAP為100家成長型企業提供免費顧問服務及最高50%的ERP導入折扣

SAP Korea Vice President Kim Jun-young speaks at the event. (Photo: THE ELEC)

SAP Korea plans to select 100 small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) with strong growth potential and support their adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative marks an expansion beyond its traditional focus on large corporate customers, aiming to help growing businesses establish digital infrastructure and develop long-term customer relationships.

The move is expected to intensify competition with domestic ERP providers such as Douzone Bizon and YoungLimWon Soft Lab, which have traditionally held strong positions in the SME market.

SAP Korea announced the “SAP Next 100” program at a press conference at IFC in Yeouido, Seoul, on Oct. 20. Five partners are participating: Hana Bank, Visa Korea, PwC Korea, ASPN and Blueward.

The program provides eight months of support, comprising one month of growth assessment, one month of innovation planning, four months of ERP implementation and two months of stabilization and optimization. It covers assessments of business operations, workflows and data environments, followed by system implementation and operational stabilization.

Selected companies will receive free consulting services worth 25 million won covering business management, digital transformation and AI adoption. Initial system implementation costs will then be reduced by up to 50%. A standardized 12-week implementation option is also available for core financial functions.

“SAP software is not inexpensive, but after nearly a year of discussions with headquarters, we secured approval for pricing close to cost,” said Kang Ji-hoon, a division head at SAP Korea. “Our partners have also agreed to provide services such as firm banking implementation and additional development.”

Applicants will be evaluated based on growth potential (30%), need for innovation (30%), compatibility with standardized systems (30%) and execution feasibility (10%). Applications opened on Sept. 1 and will close on Oct. 31. SAP Korea also plans to begin recruiting a second group on Nov. 1, earlier than its original schedule for 2027.

ERP systems manage core corporate functions such as finance, accounting, procurement and production. Once implemented, replacing them with competing products is difficult.

“Cloud ERP is provided through annual subscriptions, with contracts typically lasting three to five years,” Kang said. By attracting new customers through initial support, SAP Korea could generate long-term subscription revenue and additional software sales.

The participating partners will help reduce the financial and staffing burdens SMEs face when adopting ERP systems. PwC Korea will assess each company’s growth stage and business processes and provide standardized implementation methods. ASPN will support phased ERP expansion from finance into logistics and production. Blueward will handle cloud ERP implementation, operations and AI agent integration, while Hana Bank will provide firm banking services connected to SAP ERP.

The partnership with Hana Bank will allow companies to monitor cash positions and process payments directly through their ERP systems.

“As companies grow, the number of subsidiaries and affiliates increases, but management personnel remain limited,” said Park Tae-joon, a division head at Hana Bank. “Integrating ERP and financial systems helps companies manage funds and maintain internal controls with a small workforce.”

Germany-based SAP is a global ERP provider competing with Oracle for the largest share of the worldwide market. In South Korea, it has primarily served large corporations, including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, LG Energy Solution and LG Innotek.

According to IDC Korea, new contract revenue in South Korea’s on-premises ERP market totaled 440.9 billion won in 2025. SAP held a 34.2% market share, followed by Douzone Bizon at 15.4% and YoungLimWon Soft Lab at 7.1%.