We performed a comparison between Microsoft Dynamics AX and SAP ERP based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.
Comparison Results: In this comparison, users of both solutions share mixed opinions on deployment and support. The major difference between the two products is that Microsoft Dynamics AX users find the interface to be very functional, whereas SAP ERP users feel that the ERPs UI is complicated and frustrating. In addition, SAP ERP users agree across the board that it is an expensive product.
"It is flexible and cost-effective."
"We're using the solution for financial modules, specifically focusing on consolidation, financial configuration, management reporting for warehousing, sales. Most of the features of Microsoft Dynamics AX are good. The overall structure and functions are great. The solution is stable. The initial setup is straightforward."
"I like that it's a complete ERP solution from production level to branch level."
"It's scalable."
"The production is a valuable feature."
"AX is nearly a Tier One product, so implementations are long, but there's a lot of flexibility. Also, the ability to handle different issues found in larger organizations."
"From a developer's perspective, the architecture of Dynamics has a well-designed security layer, which prevents coding issues between different layers. This is a significant advantage."
"I am impressed with the tool's vendor collaboration. It is also easy to connect with third-party applications."
"It has a lot of integrity of data, and it is fast. All the users feel that they can trust this data. So, data integrity is the most important value of SAP."
"The most valuable features of SAP ERP are the general operations. It has a good way to manage a business and do financial reporting. Overall we are happy with the robustness of the solution."
"The most valuable features of SAP ERP are that its robust, user-friendly, and secure."
"The architecture of the solution overall is great. It's great for development, testing, and production. I've worked with solutions where the architecture wasn't as strong and it was a disaster."
"The initial setup was straightforward."
"The best thing that SAP ERP has is the extensive coverage of processes for every field and business unit such as procurement, inventory, financials, asset management, plant maintenance, and production. We can cover up to 99.9% processes of our organization, which is the best thing about this solution. It also has a very good capability to integrate with other applications. The security and authorization level of SAP ERP is very high. No other solution can match this level."
"They provide a full service."
"Heavy integration is available with all types of systems, and we use it."
"They should include some modules related to solving customer problems or resolving support tickets from our customers — like a help desk for ERPs."
"The on-premises and desktop versions are not user-friendly."
"Change management could be better."
"We experienced some challenges with the mobile apps due to the insufficient processing capacity to handle the workload effectively."
"The solution in general just needs a few quality improvements."
"There is room for improvement when handling various currencies within the current Microsoft Dynamics AX system."
"There is no Arabic interface in Microsoft Business Central, which is a big weak point."
"There might be some features to support localizations that could be helpful to add."
"There will always be something within our business that it won't fit."
"More integrations and built-in integrations with other environments and products are needed."
"I do not have any notes for improvements."
"SAP ERP needs to consider simplifying a few areas within the tool. Compared to SAP ERP, other solutions in the market are much more easily configurable and understandable. SAP has a lot of complex features."
"The reporting could be improved, such as the casework, production, and activity reports. Our consultants in a subsidiary enterprise have requested that we develop a new production report. They could also improve production, financial, and HR analysis."
"The user interface could be improved. For example, sometimes you're missing some data and can't complete a task. There should be some built-in support and suggestions on how to solve your problem. I would also like the interface to be optimized to work better with mobile devices like tablets and smartphones."
"The reporting feature could improve in SAP ERP. It could benefit from being more flexible."
"I would like to see more integration with other partners. Some of our customers already use specific or in-house applications for their business processes. They do not want to replace those applications."
Microsoft Dynamics AX is ranked 6th in ERP with 51 reviews while SAP ERP is ranked 1st in ERP with 100 reviews. Microsoft Dynamics AX is rated 7.6, while SAP ERP is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Microsoft Dynamics AX writes "A stable product that offers excellent ROI and reliable technical support". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SAP ERP writes "The amazing, robust framework with unlimited scalability earns its #1 status". Microsoft Dynamics AX is most compared with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, SAP S/4HANA, Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP and Microsoft Dynamics GP, whereas SAP ERP is most compared with SAP S/4HANA, Anaplan, SAP Business One, Infor M3 and Infor LN. See our Microsoft Dynamics AX vs. SAP ERP report.
See our list of best ERP vendors.
We monitor all ERP reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.
For starters, I would stop comparing tools, and start looking at my business and what I want to achieve. So identify objectives and what's blocking achievement, define quality outcomes for the obejctives you want to achieve and build your businesscase on efficiency improvement. What earnings, savings, benefits are achieved when meeting your obectives.
Based on the blocking issues you identified, build use cases and challenge vendors to prove their outcome by building a PoV (Proof of Value).
Basically start looking for what improvement your business and processes need, rather than start looking for a tool. After all a tool is just a tool.
As a followup, I would not 'assume world class ERP has these features covered'.
We've seen several actual cases of RFP's (which is why we no longer rely on this outdated capital procurement process to evaluate strategic deployments) - but we've seen where several vendors will check YES to the RFP question concerning a certain feature. Company A does the certain feature well, with a single click. A couple other vendors do it OK, and a couple of the YES answerers require everyone to log out of the system, balance the outlying modules, jump through 6 undecipherable processes, and then YES - it does that.
If that particular feature is something you need 15 or 20 times a day, well, you're probably starting an expensive and long running development effort if you picked the wrong ERP.
The main point is, ERP evaluations need to be a defined process by which you don't make assumptions, skip steps, and your methodology should be repeatedly proven across multiple instances, industries, and shown to deliver with different internal teams (who's mileage may vary).
ERP has the potential to be wildly successful and given a solid business case, provide the tools for your staff to create substantial returns. It also has the potential for abject failure, and that potential for failure is north of 80%, industrywide. So your choices are whether you are comfortable with a big pile of money or a large vat of risk.
Only you can determine your comfort zone.
1. Your business is well defined?
SAP ERP = Company has to organize my directions. Microsoft ERP = I have to organize the company's directions.
2.Which industry do you stay in? In the SAP is more suitable for "Manufacturing", ERP is more suitable for "Retail and Distribution". The rest of the industries are the same difference.
3. Your business logics are too complicated? Microsoft Dynamics can be adapted easily.
4. On-Premise vs Cloud? On-Premise = SAP, Cloud = Microsoft
5. Reporting? It's too hard to access Microsoft Data today. Because no one can be accessed the operational data directly.
6. Commerce? Microsoft Commerce platform is well defined for omnichannel commerce.
I think.
Do you want to do it for a specific purpose or to tick a box?
Lets assume you are looking for system deployment. I would focus on the key areas of your business rather than what Gene has listed below, which is looking at point for point comparisons. (The Panorama report is SUPERB for getting up to speed....)
Then look at weighting for specific key business differentiation opportunities - such as single global instance for multiple companies, integrated CRM into Finance and Operations, off-line capabilities for customer facing processes, seamless transfer of customer conversations from one channel to another.
Then ask for client references to answer 5 key questions:
- Are they live?
- how was the deployment support from the OEM/partner and what was the % work split required to go live (as in your input vs partner vs OEM)
- how many customisations were requried to achieve xxx (your key areas)
- would they use the OEM again and what would they change going forward
Then look at demonstration from the OEM and costing for the solution
I would not go on a tender for each and every feature and function because we assume world class solutions have these typical areas covered.
Happy to discuss how to do this practically if required. Daniel@liferocksconsulting.co.za
I think Panorama Consulting Group publishes some of their ERP shootouts comparing SAP/Oracle/Microsoft with Infor thrown in as a bonus.
Our firm is more of a boutique operation that compares internal company requirements then picks software known for its propensity to work well in those industries/environments. But if you get to the stage where you need some guidance on who some of the top partners and resources are for those software packages, hit us up.