SAP Business One promised SMB-friendly ERP with enterprise DNA. For many distributors, the reality has been different: enterprise complexity at prices that keep climbing.
Workd offers AI-native distribution that's actually designed for mid-market operations.
SAP Business One is SAP's product for small and mid-sized businesses. It's been around since 2002 and carries SAP's enterprise pedigree. But many distributors discover:
SAP B1 inherits enterprise software thinking—multiple modules, complex configuration, database-level customizations. You need SAP expertise to operate it, but you don't have SAP's budget for that expertise.
Everything flows through SAP partners. Need a change? Call your partner. Problem? Call your partner. The relationship between you, SAP, and partners can feel like playing telephone with your own business.
SAP is pushing customers toward SAP HANA database (away from SQL Server). This means migration projects, new licensing, and often significant cost increases—even though your business needs haven't changed.
Core SAP B1 lacks many distribution features. Solutions come through third-party add-ons (with their own licensing), SDK customizations, and integration to other SAP products. What seemed like one system becomes patchwork.
Workd was built this decade, for distribution specifically:
SAP B1 is manual-first software. Workd is AI-first:
This isn't adding AI to old software—it's AI as the foundation.
No add-on hunting. Workd includes:
One platform, one vendor, one predictable bill.
You work directly with Workd:
Typical SAP B1 costs for a mid-market distributor:
For most mid-market distributors, Workd is designed to deliver lower total cost of ownership while delivering capabilities SAP B1 doesn't have.
SAP version upgrades are projects. Customizations break. Testing is extensive. Many distributors fall versions behind because upgrades are too disruptive. Workd updates continuously without version projects.
The SAP partner model means critical knowledge lives outside your organization. Switching partners is complex. You're dependent in ways that feel uncomfortable. Workd's direct model eliminates this dependency.
SAP's HANA push means migration projects and new licensing for many B1 customers. The uncertainty is real. Moving to Workd sidesteps this entirely.
SAP B1's architecture means many changes require SDK work—which means partner billable hours. Workd's configuration approach means changes happen through the application, not the code.
Ready to see what distribution looks like without SAP complexity? Book a demo and we'll show you AI-native operations, discuss your specific SAP B1 environment, and give you an honest assessment of fit.
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