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3E alternatives for SDS authoring
3E is a leading provider of regulatory content. Its authoring solutions include 3E Generate and 3E ERC+, which creates SDSs inside SAP S/4HANA for product compliance.
That makes 3E well suited to SAP-focused enterprises. Smaller manufacturers often look at other options because:
- They do not use SAP, or prefer SDS authoring to stay independent from ERP projects.
- They want transparent pricing, and 3E does not publish its prices.
- They need strong support for a few regions rather than coverage across 120 countries.
Below is a comparison of alternatives, based on each vendor’s public pages as of October 29, 2026. We make one of these tools, and we say where 3E may be the better option.
3E at a glance
All figures are 3E’s own, from its Generate and ERC+ pages. 3E also sells 3E Protect, a separate SDS and chemical management tool.
| 3E Generate | 3E ERC+ | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | SDS authoring platform with jurisdiction-specific rules and a multilingual phrase library | SDS authoring and regulatory content embedded in SAP S/4HANA for product compliance |
| Coverage | Cites OSHA HazCom and WHMIS; a Veolia case study cites 40 countries | 120 countries, 45 languages |
| SAP | Not stated | 3E calls itself “the exclusive provider of embedded regulatory content for SAP S/4HANA® for product compliance” |
| Deployment | Not stated | Inside your SAP system |
| Extras | Not stated | Supplier SDS Loader (AI parsing into SAP), dangerous goods, Poison Centre notifications |
| Pricing | Not published | Not published |
3E alternatives compared
Only Valenc publishes a price. None of these require SAP.
| Tool | Best for | Deployment | Coverage (as published) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valenc | Chemical manufacturers with 10–500 employees that want to keep their current chemical management system or connect to their existing ERP | Cloud (AWS); API and MCP connector into existing systems | 6 regions, 25+ languages | From $7,000/yr |
| Lisam ExESS | Global chemical companies wanting one broad suite | On-premise, or Lisam-hosted via Remote Desktop | 25+ GHS versions, 50+ languages | Not published |
| UL WERCS Studio | Large multi-region portfolios and CPG brands | Not stated on product page | 8,000+ regulatory lists, 45+ languages | Not published |
| Sphera Intelligent Authoring | Enterprises | Not stated on product page | 28,000+ phrases; regions not listed | Not published |
| Outsourced authoring | Low volume, few revisions | Service | Varies by provider | Per SDS |
Coverage and deployment are as each vendor publishes them, checked October 29, 2026. For a longer review of seven tools, see SDS authoring software compared.
Valenc vs 3E: where each fits
If SDS authoring must live inside SAP, choose 3E ERC+. If it does not, Valenc offers faster implementation and predictable costs.
| If you need | Better fit |
|---|---|
| SDS authoring embedded in SAP S/4HANA product compliance | 3E ERC+ |
| 120 countries and 45 languages today | 3E ERC+ |
| Dangerous goods, Poison Centre notifications and regulatory content in one enterprise vendor | 3E |
| Transparent, published pricing | Valenc (from $7,000/yr) |
| Every classification traced to the named regulation (OSHA HCS 2024, UN GHS Rev 11, CLP, WHMIS, NOM-018) | Valenc |
| GHS labels and DOT Section 14 from the same classification record | Valenc |
| US, Canada, Mexico, EU and UK coverage, live in weeks | Valenc |
| An API and MCP connector into the chemical management or ERP system you already use | Valenc |
| Free, unlimited exports of your data | Valenc |
3E is designed for global enterprises using SAP. Valenc is built for smaller manufacturers, such as those with a few hundred employees, where the product steward also serves as the EHS manager.
Switching from 3E
Moving to Valenc does not affect your ERP. Authoring moves; your other systems stay where they are.
- Export compositions and current SDSsFrom Generate, or from SAP if you’re on ERC+.
- Import into ValencOur team helps with the import and enriches raw materials from our database of over 60,000 CAS numbers.
- Classify and compareValenc classifies each product and shows the regulatory rule behind every result. Review the results side by side with your current SDSs.
- Author SDSs and GHS labelsGenerate SDSs and labels for all of your regions in a single pass.
- Connect your other systemsIf SAP or another platform needs SDS data, send it through Valenc’s API.
- Keep 3E Protect if you use itOr any SDS management tool, for workplace SDS access.
Questions about switching from 3E
Do I need SAP to use Valenc?
No. Valenc runs on its own in the cloud and connects to other systems through an API.
Is Valenc a replacement for 3E Protect?
No. Protect manages SDSs and chemicals in the workplace. Valenc authors your own SDSs and labels. Many manufacturers need both, and they can run side by side.
Does Valenc cover as many countries as 3E?
No. 3E ERC+ lists 120 countries. Valenc covers the US, Canada, Mexico, EU, UK and UN GHS today, with more coming.
How does Valenc pricing compare to 3E?
Valenc starts at $7,000 per year (see pricing). 3E does not publish prices, so ask for an all-in year-one quote, including any SAP partner services.
How long does it take to switch?
Most teams are live within a few weeks. Looking for SDS management rather than authoring? See our SDS management software guide.
More comparisons
Sources, checked October 29, 2026: 3E Generate, 3E ERC+, Lisam ExESS, Sphera Intelligent Authoring, UL WERCS Studio. Vendor figures are the vendors’ own published claims. Product names are trademarks of their owners. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
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