Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs SAP Business One comparison

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8,624 views|5,991 comparisons
96% willing to recommend
SAP Logo
9,290 views|6,368 comparisons
90% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Jan 9, 2023

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Dynamics 365 Central and SAP Business One based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Most users feel Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is easy and straightforward to deploy. SAP Business One users share mixed opinions regarding deployment.
  • Features: Users of both products are happy with their stability and scalability.

    Dynamics 365 users feel the solution is flexible, easy to use, and intuitive. Users would like to see a quality check module and feel the performance and virtual machine backup need improvements.

    SAP Business One users like the solution’s production planning and maintenance models and say it is user friendly and flexible. Several users mention they would like better reporting tools.
  • Pricing: Users of both solutions consider the pricing to be reasonable.
  • Service and Support: Users of both solutions report being satisfied with the level of the support they receive.
  • ROI: Dynamics 365 users do not mention an ROI. Users of SAP Business One report a positive ROI.

Comparison Results: The main difference between the two solutions is that users of Dynamics 365 say the performance is lacking and do not report an ROI like SAP Business One users do.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. SAP Business One Report (Updated: May 2024).
772,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Q&A Highlights
Question: Which ERP solution better suits a manufacturing company: SAP Business One or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Answer: Dynamics 365 Business Central is a robust all-in-one solution that can fit your company's needs very well. The standard functionality is strong and you can always add extensions if any additional feature is required.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution has good dashboard functionalities and export functionalities.""The tool covers most of the business requirements that most companies have, especially financial institutions.""We use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as CRM.""It's quite useful for our production line, and it's easy to configure to our requirements.""The product is customizable so we can tune it according to our requirements.""The most valuable features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are the dashboards, ease of use, and flexibility.""The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics NAV is its simplicity of accounting and receiving reports. The solution is similar to Microsoft Excel, and that similarity is good. All the functions of Microsoft Dynamics are user-friendly.""Its most valuable feature is the user interface."

More Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Pros →

"The solution is user-friendly in comparison with Oracle.""The solution is stable.""The graphical view of connections between different transactions is a valuable feature of the solution.""It offers users a rather simple interface.""The ability to link documents to accounts, partners and events via the Golden/Yellow Arrow feature is very useful.""SAP Business One has many valuable features. It is highly flexible and has a solid background in accounting that is localized in a lot of countries. This makes it very user-friendly for a lot of different situations.""The most valuable features of SAP Business One are that it has plenty of features and an easy general ledger entry. Additionally, we have an internal team that supports the solution and they provide is good. The solution is easy for us to support.""The solution is scalable."

More SAP Business One Pros →

Cons
"There is room for improvement in the ability to reverse or correct transactions more easily.""We need to customize more often than we would like.""The solution can improve by having better integration with Microsoft PowerBI and reporting.""The UI is not particularly user-friendly and the CRM could do with some enhancements.""If Microsoft made some of the security setups a little easier to work with, that would be a significant improvement. The warehouse management features could also use some work. We had to buy third-party software to make NAV's warehouse management and security more usable and functional.""I would like to improve the tool’s reporting and coding part.""Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has been buggy in my experience and they should improve in this area. Additionally, there are too many updates. The updates involve a whole bunch of applications as part of the package, such as the Edge browser. The updates are too broad across the whole package of applications.""The configuration packages can be somewhat tiresome at times, and they can be slow when loading data."

More Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Cons →

"Production area and Bill of Materials: effective date and Subcontracting process.""You get support through the vendor, not SAP directly. If your vendor is good, you get good support. If it is not a good vendor, the support is very bad.""The standard SAP Business One is sufficient for the Indian region. There is no need for further enhancement as custom solutions can be designed and developed to meet specific needs. For example, HR and payroll is not a standard feature of the solution, but they can be created as a separate custom solution. However, payroll is not a standard function due to the varying norms and regulations across India's 29 states and union territories. Therefore, a standard payroll solution cannot be provided by SAP to add utility and features. Adding it would lead to different versions of the solution and more complexity in managing them. However, it would be useful to have addons to cover the other states which have different regulations.""Areas for improvement are the operating mechanisms, authorization of the production process, and sales cycle automation.""While SAP has been a leader in the enterprise and SME segments, many competitors have emerged with new features, especially in analytic modules like Salesforce and Oracle. The rise of cloud tools from providers like Amazon, Google, and Azure, offering analytics and visual analytical tools, has contributed to this shift.It seems SAP Business One may not have focused as much on this aspect, prioritizing the basic functioning of the enterprise. As a result, the latest user experience, particularly in digital aspects of data consumption, may not be on par with what's available in the market.""SAP Business One could improve project management, quality assurance, material management, forecasting, full costing, and quality control. Many modules are missing in this solution.""The reading and retrieving of data are slow in the system.""There should be a portal so that our providers can give us their invoices. This is something that it is missing currently. SAP provides such a portal with SAP ERP, but it is not available with SAP Business One."

More SAP Business One Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The first time we tried to buy the newest version, it was expensive."
  • "I have some subscription-based customer and a few customers who have perpetual licenses that hosted the application on the cloud."
  • "The price of the solution is reasonable."
  • "The price of the solution is reasonable."
  • "I think the pricing is the best; it's cost effective for sure."
  • "Microsoft Dynamics NAV has a pay-as-you-use payment model."
  • "NAV might be a little pricey for a small or medium-sized company, but all the solutions out there are."
  • "The cost is one of the benefits. If you don't want to go for the full-blown finance and operations, the pricing model is a lot cheaper and has now switched to being based on a per-user subscription. So, if it's on cloud, you now have an expense instead of a large CapEx. If it's on-prem, you obviously still have to continue with the licensing model that they have, but if you compare the features and functionality, in terms of the price that you pay, I find it's better than other products. My answer on the pricing would be slightly different, depending on the country you're in and the return on investment, based on the size of the company. It's well-priced internationally. I think the new model is priced even better because it's now subscription-based and, if you go for cloud, the return on investment is a lot quicker and if it's expense, you can cap it. If you do take the on-prem version, the licensing is still priced as what it used to be, so that would depend on what country you are in."
  • More Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Business One is reasonable considering the functionality."
  • "In terms of price, it's fair, but the problem is with AMC."
  • "Its price is reasonable. People are able to spend that much."
  • "Its licensing model is good. There is a one-off payment for the software license, and after that, you only need to pay the annual maintenance fee. Compared to other cloud-based systems, this cost model is quite reasonable for SMEs."
  • "We pay annually. It is around 800 a month."
  • "We feel that the licensing fees are a bit on the higher side."
  • "We compared the Microsoft solution with Oracle NetSuite, as they have a price decrease. It is, however, not that much cheaper, and the price is comparable to SAP."
  • "Its price is reasonable. We have about 200 licenses. We have to pay every year for the license."
  • More SAP Business One Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Answers from the Community
    SANJAY KUMAR PATODIA
    Mohammed Shakir Ibrahim - PeerSpot reviewerMohammed Shakir Ibrahim
    Real User

    Both are not the right fit for Manufacturing company because these 2 solutions are built for small and medium size enterprises mainly for accounting purpose but not for operations.  They need modules like Production planning & Scheduling, Quality management, adv' inventory optimization, Shoop floor control, Supplier management, Adv' warehouse, Inbound and outbound logistics and so on. 
    Regards, Mohammed Shakir (shakir52268@gmail.com)

    Manish Chhatbar - PeerSpot reviewerManish Chhatbar
    MSP

    Hi Sanjay,

    My recommendation is to evaluate ERP software from a long-term perspective as it is a big investment. As I understand, your organization is growing and needs better control and reporting hence you are looking for business transformation and digitalization therefore ERP is the first step in business transformation. 
    As Inteliwaves (visit us at www.inteliwaves.com) are in the SAP consulting field a company based out of Mumbai, India we are dealing with the business requirement for ERP implementation day in and day out, and from our past experience we have observed that customers who have implemented small scale ERP software do not support business growth due to scalability issue and after few years they need to look for another solution for their growing business demand.
    I will recommend you to checkout for the SAP Public cloud option which is best in the current market scenario. Please lets us know if you need more details on SAP Public cloud solution or demo as we are an SAP partner.                                                                            Thanks & regards, Manish, manish.chhatbar@inteliwaves.com, 9930636260

    Dinesh Parashar - PeerSpot reviewerDinesh Parashar
    Reseller

     I think you should first look at Dynamics BC. We have provided consulting services to your company and knows in-and-out of your processes. Ranthosh knows me very well. You can reach out to me at 9811359356

    Atul Goyal - PeerSpot reviewerAtul Goyal (Educe Consulting)
    Vendor

    Look at e10x-ERP (educe10x.com). Built natively for the cloud, connects using a browser, and no need for hefty hardware installations, etc. e10x-ERP is focused on SMB manufacturing companies and has a suite of modules that will fit your requirements. The modules include attendance and payroll which most other ERPs do not offer as standard.


    Also, integrated with WhatsApp Business (for auto reports, auto messages to customers, suppliers, etc), email, trigger, and event-based reports, integrated with GST (ASP). 

    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The platform offers a robust and comprehensive cycle for supply chain and inventory management, with features like minimum and maximum settings, dynamic monitoring of inventory levels, and integration… more »
    Top Answer:Currently, the product offers a starting price of $70 per user per month, which provides access to the complete ERP engine. It is highly reasonable.
    Top Answer:One aspect that could be improved in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the visibility and accessibility of communication-related features, such as email integration. Currently, users may need… more »
    Top Answer:SaP Business One is a complete solution for business management. The software applications are broad, ranging from accounting to project management and human resources. It is very versatile and… more »
    Top Answer:It's user-friendly and comes with comprehensive manuals. So, it is easy to learn to use SAP Business One
    Top Answer:It's not cheap but offers good value, particularly for medium-sized enterprises. We suggest a minimum budget of around 30,000 dollars.
    Ranking
    3rd
    out of 68 in ERP
    Views
    8,624
    Comparisons
    5,991
    Reviews
    34
    Average Words per Review
    396
    Rating
    8.3
    4th
    out of 68 in ERP
    Views
    9,290
    Comparisons
    6,368
    Reviews
    27
    Average Words per Review
    445
    Rating
    8.1
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Dynamics NAV, MS Dynamics NAV
    Business One
    Learn More
    Overview

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution developed by Microsoft. It is designed to help small and mid-sized organizations streamline and automate their financial, supply chain, and project management processes. Business Central offers a range of tools and features to support collaboration and communication and provides real-time visibility into business performance.

    With Business Central, organizations can manage their financials, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash management. It also offers supply chain management capabilities, including inventory management, purchase order management, and sales order management. In addition, Business Central supports project management, including project tracking, project billing, and resource management.

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Features

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • Mobility: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides mobile access, allowing users to access information and perform tasks from anywhere, at any time.
    • Reporting and analytics: The solution includes business intelligence and reporting capabilities to help organizations gain insight into their operations and make data-driven decisions.
    • Security: With its secure platform, the solution protects sensitive data and ensures the integrity of business operations.
    • Customization: It offers a highly customizable solution that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a wide range of industries and organizations.


    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • Adapt as your business grows: With full capabilities on desktop, tablet, or mobile, on-premises or in the cloud, across Windows, Android, and iOS devices, the solution allows you to work wherever your business takes you.
    • Rapid deployment: The solution can be rapidly deployed either in the cloud or on-premises.
    • Scalability: With the solution, you can scale as you grow using modern technologies built on the Microsoft cloud, such as machine learning, IoT, and mixed reality to help you adapt to market dynamics.
    • Drive continuous process optimization: When you implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, you can Improve outcomes and productivity with real-time system suggestions, based on historical data, to guide employees through workflows.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it is user-friendly, has good integrations, and is flexible.

    Sasinath V., Project Consultant ( Scale Up) at a tech vendor, says, "For me, the main strengths of Microsoft Dynamics NAV are that it's user-friendly and light. These are its major wins. I have used other ERPs and their architecture was a little more complex when compared to the Microsoft Dynamics NAV architecture."

    "The solution's integrations and interface are very good,” mentions Alonso R., Director de Servicios at Kc ERP group.

    Another PeerSpot reviewer, Kamesh G., Vice President - Information Systems at a media company shares what he likes most about the solution: "I have found the flexibility to be very valuable. It's highly flexible, and at least for us, it has been effective. It is also highly functional."

    The SAP Business One application offers a way to manage your entire business – from accounting and financials, purchasing, inventory, sales and customer relationships, and project management, to operations and human resources. SAP Business One helps you to streamline processes, gain a greater insight into your business, so that you can act fast and make decisions based on real time information, to help you drive profitable growth.

    Sample Customers
    Harris Farm Markets, Mister Spex GmbH, Bounce Foods, Eurofin Services SA, Medica Medizintechnik, Associated Gaskets, Onduline, Sitka Surfboard Corporation, World Animal Protection
    Ego Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company24%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government10%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    Financial Services Firm7%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company26%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Healthcare Company9%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Manufacturing Company12%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    Retailer7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business55%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise27%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise47%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business40%
    Midsize Enterprise26%
    Large Enterprise34%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business31%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise54%
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. SAP Business One
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. SAP Business One and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    772,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is ranked 3rd in ERP with 62 reviews while SAP Business One is ranked 4th in ERP with 61 reviews. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is rated 8.2, while SAP Business One is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central writes "Easy to deploy, extremely stable, and highly scalable". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SAP Business One writes "Helps with intercompany sales and purchase orders, and optimizes inventory management". Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is most compared with SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics AX, SAP ERP, Odoo and Oracle E-Business Suite, whereas SAP Business One is most compared with SAP S/4HANA, SAP ERP, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, SAP S/4HANA Cloud and Epicor ERP. See our Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. SAP Business One report.

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    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.