Which is Right for You: Business Central or NetSuite?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Oracle NetSuite are both cloud-based ERP solutions that serve the needs of small to large organizations. Both have their strong points (and their weak points), and you would do well to examine those points closely to find the right solution for your business needs. In this article, we will present you with a side-by-side comparison of Business Central vs NetSuite to help you choose.

First Glance of Business Central vs NetSuite

NetSuite ERP consists of these core modules:

• Financial Management
• Order Management
• Production Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Warehouse and Fulfillment
• Procurement
• Human Resources Management(HCM)

Business Central also has diverse functionality, such as:

• Financial Management
• Inventory
• Purchasing
• Order Management
• Project Management

Naturally, this isn’t a full listing of their features, but rather a brief overview. NetSuite is famous for its comprehensive solution that stretches across many industry verticals, although divided into various modules each with its price tag. Business Central is no slouch either, and as part of the main module has built-in features especially useful to the Wholesale Distribution and Manufacturing sectors.

Business Central vs NetSuite Cost

While not the only consideration, the cost of the software is often a deciding factor in ERP selection. While the monthly rates of the base modules of both solutions are comparable in price, the feature set is not. NetSuite’s entry-level software doesn’t include CRM, Warehouse Management, or Manufacturing functionality, and the pricing for the add-ons is not cheap.

NetSuite doesn’t publish full pricing information – for that, you’ll need to contact a NetSuite partner and get a custom quote. Microsoft, on the other hand, has a more transparent pricing structure. Here’s a quick look:

A simple, affordable, and scalable pricing structure certainly puts potential Business Central clients at ease.

Third-party Solutions and Initial Setup

NetSuite is just that: a “suite” of modules for all your potential needs. Oracle’s vision for ERP is to be the one-stop shop. But what if Oracle’s way doesn’t exactly fit with your business processes? Normally you would turn to a third-party add-on. Many industry-specific applications fill the unique needs of Manufacturing and Warehouse Management companies, add-ons for payroll functionality, and more. However, not many integrate with NetSuite. Moreover, being a comprehensive solution also adds to its complexity; a typical implementation can take months because of extensive customization.

Rather than risk unneeded complexity, Business Central delivers a well-designed and feature-rich solution, built on a foundation designed for third-party integration. This enables flexibility and customization while still keeping your business data in one central system. Thus there is a more direct implementation path, getting you up and running in less time, with less cost from your VAR partner.

Reporting

NetSuite has basic reporting included in its base implementation. For some the available reports are sufficient; for many, though, getting the business insight they expect requires much effort and customization.

While the reporting features of Business Central are also basic, they do play nicely with Microsoft Power BI. For a nominal fee of USD 10 per user, per month, you get enhanced data visualization, drill-down functionality, and hooks to external data sources, all of which give you deep business insight.

Action Steps

NetSuite is a renowned ERP solution and comes from a champion of enterprise software. Business Central has a similar pedigree. With its affordability, extensibility, and native integration with Power BI, many SMEs consider it the better choice.

Is Microsoft software already used throughout your organization? Are your users already familiar with the Office-style user interface? Or, are you already using a legacy Microsoft ERP, such as Dynamics GP or NAV? Dynamics 365 Business Central is likely your best option to future-proof your business.

Would you like to learn more? Get expert advice from CogentNext along with a free, no-obligation quote for Business Central and our implementation services. Contact us today and start the conversation!