This post was updated in March 2024.
As your small to midsized business grows in size and complexity, you’ll notice your entry-level software isn’t keeping pace with the uptick in orders, new locations or entities, additional headcount, and other common challenges.
A cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution will save you time and money, streamline your daily operations, and bring every aspect of your business—including accounting and finance, customer relationship management (CRM), procurement, inventory, reporting, eCommerce, supply chain, and projects—together on one platform.
But investing in a cloud ERP solution is a big deal, and it’s essential to find the perfect fit for your business. There are several options on the market, and their capabilities vary. So, where do you begin, and how do you narrow your search?
Let’s start by comparing two popular options: SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics. Both cloud ERP solutions were developed by stable, reputable technology corporations—but that’s where the similarities end.
Here are four critical differences between SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics.
Performance
SAP Business One gives businesses unlimited data storage. And backed by the enterprise-grade SAP HANA platform, SAP Business One allows users to access reports and analytics at lightning speed.
Microsoft Dynamics also has exceptional performance; however, its database platform has limited in-memory capabilities.
Ramp Time
SAP Business One’s user interface (UI) makes business processes easy to understand, so even non-technical users can perform common configuration tasks with minimal training.
Microsoft Dynamics has similar functionality, but the learning curve is steep.
Upgrades
SAP Business One lets you decide when to upgrade, and there are no charges to set up a test environment.
Microsoft Dynamics schedules software upgrades for when it’s convenient for Microsoft—customers
have no control over when they occur.
Dollars and Sense
No one wants to pay more than necessary for anything, including new technology. SAP Business One offers simple, all-inclusive pricing that includes future enhancements. You pay a one-time fee for the whole package based on the access you need.
Microsoft Dynamics has attractive—but complex—pricing. It has a great starting price, but add-ons or customization to fill functional gaps will increase the cost quickly.
Learn More
As you can see, cloud ERP is not a cookie-cutter solution. To learn more about the differences between SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics, download Vision33's free guide below.
