Microsoft and Oracle have been computing giants for decades, so it’s no surprise that both companies offer ERP solutions that are listed as industry leaders in the most recent IDC MarketScape report.
As more small and medium-sized businesses look to invest in technology and take advantage of new automation and AI-powered features included in today’s ERP platforms, the search process often comes down to a decision between these two top vendors.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and NetSuite offer a significant upgrade from older platforms that require manual data entry and spreadsheet management. Which solution is right for your business? Here’s a quick comparison:
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Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
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Category
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NetSuite
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4.2 out of 5
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Gartner Peer Insights rating
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4.0 out of 5
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40,000+
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# of Clients
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~37,000
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Annual license per user
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Subscription model
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Annual license per user and bundles/modules
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Both
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Cloud or On-Premises
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Cloud only
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Android, iPhone, iPad
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Mobile version
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Android, iPhone, iPad
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Native integration with Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, Power BI and other common Microsoft products
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Integration with Microsoft Products
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Integrations required
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Finance, order entry, procurement, inventory, supply chain, project management, manufacturing, CRM, service management and warehouse management
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Core modules
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Finance, CRM, order entry, customer service, inventory, supply chain, procurement, e-commerce, PR/HR, manufacturing, automation, fulfillment and warehouse management.
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Yes (Microsoft Copilot)
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AI features?
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Yes (NetSuite AI)
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Yes
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Scalability
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Yes
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4 weeks–4 months
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Average implementation time
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2-6 months
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While the two vendors are fairly close, with Business Central edging out NetSuite, according to Gartner Peer Insights, there are some key differences.
Integration and Familiarity
NetSuite markets itself as an all-in-one solution, and it can get a lot of things done without integrations or customizations. But when you have a need that falls outside of its core functionality, you’ll need to download a third-party app through their store or develop a custom app that could make your tech stack more complicated — and potentially less stable.
Business Central can also be customized, and third-party applications are also needed. Where Business Central pulls ahead is that it already works seamlessly with many apps SMBs use, such as Excel, Teams and Outlook. A business can send a first-touch email to a prospective customer, build a quote for them, send an invoice and accept payment, all without leaving Outlook. This level of integration makes it easy for anyone who’s familiar with Microsoft products to adopt BC. Gaining widespread adoption is one of the biggest challenges any organization faces when implementing a new software solution.
Modularity and Scalability
Out of the box, NetSuite has more core functionality, including advanced analytics and reporting. NetSuite also has payroll and human resources. If your company needs all those functions right away, it’s not a bad pick. But if you’re a smaller business that doesn’t need or want a total overhaul, BC’s per-user model comes with all the modules. It allows companies the flexibility to implement modules they need right away and wait to implement other modules down the road. And Microsoft Power BI makes it easy to unlock powerful analytical capabilities within Business Central, breaking down data silos to automatically generate useful reports.
Artificial Intelligence
According to Gartner, Microsoft outpaces Oracle when it comes to AI:
Microsoft is comfortably in the Leaders quadrant, meaning it has a complete vision and a high ability to execute, while Oracle lags in the Niche Players quadrant. Microsoft Copilot is one of the most visible generative AI tools today, with its basic free version earning 4 stars from PC Mag and its enterprise version earning an average of 4.3 stars on Gartner Peer insights. Oracle’s AI efforts, meanwhile, are much less notable, with only 9 ratings on Gartner Peer Insights compared to Microsoft’s 87. Microsoft Copilot can assist with a wide range of tasks, from email composition to data entry to inventory forecasting, which makes it a powerful asset for any SMB.
Implementation Time
NetSuite’s lack of modularity means that the floor for implementation time is around two months — and it can take up to half a year if you need a more complex setup. A basic configuration of Business Central can be on its feet in about a month, and its familiarity tends to make adoption quicker, too.
In truth, the most crucial factor when it comes to efficient and successful implementation is the partner you choose to help implement it. If you select a highly experienced firm that can serve as both an expert consultant and a collaborative partner, you’ll likely be able to implement whichever solution you choose on the lower end of those estimates. You can also get a clearer picture of what you can expect from an implementation cost and timeline perspective if the partner you choose offers packaged implementations or migration from other ERP solutions.
Let Enavate Guide You on Your ERP Journey
At Enavate, our expert team knows what it takes for an SMB to successfully upgrade its ERP solution. To learn more about how we can help you choose, implement, and gain widespread adoption of the right platform for your specific needs, contact us today.
