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.
"Supply Chain Management is an excellent feature."
"The most valuable feature I've found is the UI functionality."
"Dynamics AX provides a lot of functionality."
"In terms of features, GP offers a wide range of strong capabilities, particularly in the financial module."
"I am impressed with the tool's vendor collaboration. It is also easy to connect with third-party applications."
"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."
"One of the valuable features of the solution is how easy it is to use."
"The accounting and inventory management features are valuable."
"I like the solution's ability to close plans and resource requirements in deals."
"It automates transactional processes."
"Everyone who uses SAP ERP has benefited from the functionality."
"The solution has far more features, processes, and functionalities than we previously had."
"SAP ERP provides the perfect database and options for additional production. It's also good for finance analytics, production drill-down, and other types of analysis."
"The solution provides good production planning."
"It gives us full control over each change, to the level of the individual field in a master record, including certificates."
"The power of ABAP Development Tools is the main valuable feature in the SAP ECC system. Every couple of years SAP upgrades ABAP technology significantly, which facilitates developers' work."
"Microsoft Dynamics AX can improve by having a more modern user interface. It should be more modular and dynamic. Additionally, the solution could be easier to connect with APIs with other technologies."
"The on-premises and desktop versions are not user-friendly."
"We do not have access to daily projections."
"The solution in general just needs a few quality improvements."
"The implementation was completed within one month."
"This solution could be improved with more expert resources and an easier implementation process."
"It could be more scalable and stable. It would also be better if the interface were more integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem because 2012 is not really integrated."
"From a consultant's point of view, I recommend an enhancement in terms of detailed documentation for the products on the website."
"The initial setup is complex."
"SAP is not making a big effort to make it easy to integrate solutions from other vendors. It's not easy at all... Integration is what they can do better."
"It could be more flexible, and the company should be able to adapt the system. Not the other way around. It's very rigid and difficult to change. Reporting could also be better."
"One thing that is lacking in ERP is a good user interface. It is currently very clumsy and complex. Another thing is that reporting capability of SAP ERP is customizable, but it is not very good. Its development time is also very high if you require specialized technical services. If you want to do any changes to the report or develop a new report, you need people with specialized skills. Business processes are very straightforward and standardized as per the industry standards. However, the way it works is a bit complex, and you need to know a lot of things. There are different things that can be complex for a general user. A lot of information is being provided in ERP. A general user doesn't require all this information, and it creates a lot of confusion. Its learning curve is very high."
"It is very expensive to customize to meet compliance with regulations in some countries."
"Could be more user friendly."
"It would also help if it were more open, more flexible, with more standard products."
"The initial setup of SAP ERP is complex and it took a lot of time."
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.