Acumatica ERP: The Best Microsoft Dynamics Alternative

When looking at ERP (enterprise resource planning) options for your business, it’s a good idea to explore all the options out there. So many variables are involved in finding a good fit for your company that even great products may not do the trick.

ERPs that might be perfect for corporations may go to waste in small-to-mid-sized businesses. And vice-versa.

That’s why we’re comparing MS Dynamics and Acumatica. We’ll explore the pros and cons of both and why Acumatica could be a better fit for your business.

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Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a software suite. It includes both enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) software products developed by Microsoft. The name “Dynamics” reflects Microsoft’s ambition to create software that helps people and organizations make better decisions and take action.

In the early 2000s, Microsoft purchased four accounting applications that began in the 1980s. They were all aimed at different types of businesses. The four were rebranded as Dynamics AX, GP, NAV, and SL.

The original version of Dynamics NAV was retired in favor of a cloud version—now named Business Central.

Microsoft continues to support Dynamics GP, SL, and NAV (legacy), but their new program is Dynamics 365, designed to unify the capabilities of the previous applications.

Pros

MS Dynamics is overall a well-regarded system. It provides the following benefits:

A single application to manage an entire business.
Already integrated with Office tools, which most people are familiar with.
Up-to-date information to all stakeholders, including customers, partners, and employees.
Automation of processes like procurement and finance.
Data integration across multiple systems for better insights into customer trends and patterns.
Highly secure because it’s built on the Azure platform.

Overall, MS Dynamics benefits from being a Microsoft product. It has the benefit of familiarity and the support of a large and established corporation behind it.

Cons

But being a Microsoft product comes with a host of issues specific to the company. As anyone who has tried to add a picture to a word document will tell you, Microsoft products are not always the easiest to master. Many users complain that it’s a complicated system to get going with because even small tasks tend to be challenging to execute.

Functions that seem like they should be readily available and built-in may end up being add-on solutions. Businesses with a staff that doesn’t have much technical training may find themselves at a loss.

There is also an issue with the lack of instruction or documentation in many areas. Your experience will depend on your industry and what system you’re transitioning from. So, if your business is more niche, you may struggle to find all the necessary information for your specific requirements. There have even been issues with conflicting responses that Microsoft representatives have published.

There are also complaints about the cost of MS Dynamics. It’s generally considered on the higher side cost-wise, especially considering add-on prices for data.

Additionally, since it’s a pay-per-use system, it can be prohibitively expensive for businesses employing a lot of part-time help or using suppliers that need access to the system.

MS Dynamics is also not the easiest to modify once you’re locked in. So if you find parts of the system aren’t working for you, you may have to grin and bear it. Or have to jump through complicated hoops, which is odd for a system that’s supposed to be dynamic.

Acumatica

Acumatica is a cloud-based business software company that provides ERP and CRM solutions. Founded in 2008, Acumatica was designed with SMBs in mind. Acumatica has a wide range of functionality, from inventory management to customer relationship management and everything in between.

They currently have 8,000 customers worldwide and have been rated as the fastest-growing Cloud ERP system for six consecutive years.

Why Acumatica is an excellent alternative to MS Dynamics

Acumatica has similar functionality and pros to MS Dynamics but solves some of its more glaring issues. Namely, Acumatica is renowned for its stellar customer service and easy-to-understand interface.

This is a make-or-break element when considering ERPs. Acumatica is always there for its customers. They have published a ‘Customer Bill of Rights’ and offer installation and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are a lot of ways that ERP implementation can go wrong, and being able to rely on a readily available customer service team is a massive relief.

Training also takes the lion’s share of time and money during implementation. So having software that is simple to use and understand can make a huge difference in your bottom line. Especially if your employees are less technically savvy.

Price-wise, Acumatica solves the issues with paying per user by basing costs on overall usage. This way, instead of arbitrarily paying for users who may not even access the system often, your costs only increase when your business is actually growing. They are also very up front with their pricing, although you will need to contact them to get a quote based on your specific situation.

Acumatica also prioritizes flexibility in its system. So if your business is growing, you don’t have to feel locked into a system that no longer fits your needs. Instead, you can build onto your ERP as your company grows and scales.

Why Acumatica May Be Right for You

Microsoft may be a household name, but that doesn’t guarantee it’s right for your business. Its high price range, counter-intuitive UI, and rigidity can make for a frustrating experience. Acumatica ERP provides pros similar to Dynamics, but with more of an emphasis on fitting the needs of growing businesses by delivering dynamic pricing models and many customization options.

If you’re wondering if Acumatica Cloud ERP could be the right choice for your business, Confianz can help! We would love to talk to you more about your business needs to help you determine if Acumatica will fulfill your company’s needs, as well as walk you through implementation.

Acumatica Cloud ERP Software: Acumatica is a leading provider of Cloud ERP and Cloud Accounting software. It is the most adaptable cloud ERP.

So call us today to get started!

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