Is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central a suitable ERP platform for my business needs?

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Choosing the right enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform that suits a company's needs and budget can be an arduous and time-consuming task. With the abundance of options available, it can be challenging to determine the ideal solution. Lack of proper guidance may lead to confusion and difficulty in making an informed decision. Therefore, it's vital for companies to meticulously assess their business requirements and explore their alternatives to select an ERP platform that will meet their needs and promote business expansion. Luckily, this blog post was made in partnership with Simply Dynamics, so you will be provided with valuable insights and guidance on selecting the right ERP platform for your business. Simply Dynamics offers a wide range of ERP solutions, including Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, which is a popular choice among businesses.

Determining the right enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform for your business can pose several common challenges. Firstly, it can be difficult to gather a comprehensive view of the company's needs and requirements, which can make choosing an ERP platform a time-consuming and expensive process without the right tools and governance. Additionally, ERP platforms can be complex to implement and support in the long-term, creating issues for companies with limited technical resources and causing delays and additional costs during the implementation process. Another challenge is that some ERP platforms may not meet the specific needs of a company, particularly if the company has unique business processes or regulatory requirements. It is also important to identify early-on whether an integration is possible with existing systems and processes to avoid disruptions and additional work during the implementation process. Finally, some ERP platforms are proprietary, which can result in vendor lock-in and limit the company's future flexibility.

We will talk about 2 big competitors (Microsoft Dynamics and Netsuite) and compare which 

Both Business Central and NetSuite excel in various areas, and you should consider how important these are to your business and technology users when deciding, while also taking into account less strong solution areas. For example, NetSuite is strong in managing multiple entities globally, running on one database for all deployments, while Business Central has separate databases for different countries. NetSuite has a complete CRM system, whereas Business Central has a basic CRM, but it can easily integrate with Dynamics 365 Sales and other Dynamics 365 modules. Business Central can run in the cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, integrating well with Microsoft 365 and Azure services, while NetSuite is a pure cloud solution that requires middleware to integrate with Microsoft 365. NetSuite offers two annual upgrades that preserve integrations and customizations, while Business Central offers two major releases a year that Sikich tests for easy adoption by clients.

Business Central and NetSuite have similar costs over five to ten years, with differences in the short term. NetSuite requires a higher upfront investment but has lower fees after go-live, while Business Central has a low licensing fee per user but higher running costs due to frequent updates. Both can help reduce IT management costs and allow for repurposing of hardware, but the on-premises version of Business Central does not have all the cloud features.

In conclusion, choosing between Business Central and NetSuite depends on your business and technology requirements, as both solutions have their strengths and weaknesses. You should weigh factors such as managing multiple entities, CRM capabilities, deployment options, integration with other services, and upgrade processes. Additionally, cost comparisons between the two solutions vary in the short term, but over five to ten years, the expenses are comparable. Both Business Central and NetSuite can help reduce IT management costs and allow for repurposing of hardware. However, the on-premises version of Business Central does not have all the cloud features. Ultimately, you need to carefully evaluate which solution is the best fit for your business needs and goals.

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