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Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs SAP S/4HANA Cloud comparison

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Buyer's Guide
ERP
April 2024
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and SAP S/4HANA Cloud based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about SAP, Microsoft, Oracle and others in ERP.
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Featured Review
ShafeeqRahman
We can see that Microsoft Teams is giving us more services and we were able to conduct meetings on it during the...
The tool runs all the areas of our organization. We were using a normal standalone before that, but it is better now. We can see that Microsoft... Read more →
Johannes Bacher
Reliable and powerful but costly
Public cloud deployment is preferred, as I do not have to take care about infrastructure, security and upgrades.
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is using the Excel sheets on Chrome and other applications.""The most valuable features of Business Central for me are its seamless integration with Power BI and the ability to create customized reports.""I like Microsoft Dynamics' simplicity. The interface is excellent, and it's a highly mature product. You can hardly find any bugs in the product.""Microsoft Dynamics NAV's most valuable feature is the integration with other Microsoft solutions.""This is readily available and affordable, as well as user-friendly and simple to use in my opinion.""The solution can scale.""It's quite reliable, and there's a good local provider who can adapt the solution for tax issues.""Has good integration with Power BI."

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"It is good in data analytics and helps in data analytics.""I like the SAP offerings and the standard best practices included in the SAP S/4HANA Cloud version.""Both standard and customized integrations work well with no issues.""It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution.""Finance aspects of it and transportation management, asset management, and inventory management are valuable.""S4HANA Cloud is reliable and accurate. Our existing team also has expertise in SAP, so it was simple to migrate to the cloud solution. S4HANA Cloud has advantages because we don't need to maintain the infrastructure, and there aren't any huge upfront costs.""The tool selection is really robust and scalable for multiple scenarios.""Speed has improved and getting analytical reports has been simplified."

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Cons
"There is room for improvement in terms of compatibility.""The solution's event management can be improved.""The solution must provide more AI features.""I think Microsoft should improve on the process of how the user decides on a business workflow. For example, there may be some kind of drag-and-drop interface that lets us decide for ourselves how to develop the business workflows that fit our purpose.""Some of the control aspects such as auditing can definitely be improved. For example, auditing is not very easy, and the user permissions are complicated.""The tool needs to work on reporting issues and user interface.""Its task scheduling and manufacturing models need improvement.""There is room for improvement in the ability to reverse or correct transactions more easily."

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"The product can be improved by including a module for after-sales service modules.""The implementation time for S/4HANA Cloud could be reduced.""UX design is not flexible and lacks compatibility with mobile devices.""We'd like to have more of a low-code platform.""They can improve the interface. It has a client-server kind of interface, which is kind of old.""When it comes to the SAP PM material's module, it would be nice to see the inclusion of predictive analytics.""Their revolving AI should should be better improved.""One thing that could be better in SAP S/4HANA Cloud, especially in the public cloud, is how easily you can make changes."

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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 →

  • "The pricing is competitive with other products at that level in that category."
  • "I feel the solution is expensive when it comes to what can be obtained with open source software."
  • "This is a pricey solution that best serves large enterprises. Be sure to ensure that your company's requirements need to be fulfilled by SAP. There are many other ERP's that are cheaper yet highly functional. However, it is still cheaper than some of the competition (i.e. Oracle, ESD, etc.)"
  • "I don't remember the specifics about the licensing, but it's scaled and modular. You pay for what you use. It's not a one-size-fits-all license. You have a license for every single module. It's similar to Oracle."
  • "The licensing process for SAP S/4HANA Cloud has worked well."
  • "It's very expensive."
  • "Pricing wise, SAP S4HANA Cloud is very expensive. The licensing cost can be 100,000 euros per year, depending on the number of users in your company."
  • "S/4HANA is an enterprise solution that many can't afford. You must invest a lot to get the most out of it. It isn't cheap. I rate the price seven out of 10."

    • More SAP S/4HANA Cloud Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    What do you like most about Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
    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 »
    Read all 28 answers   →
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Dynamic...
    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.
    Read all 26 answers   →
    What needs improvement with Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
    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 »
    Read all 28 answers   →
    What do you like most about SAP S/4HANA Cloud?
    Top Answer: The manufacturing area is a good feature.
    Read all 26 answers   →
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP S/4HANA Cloud?
    Top Answer:The solution is affordable.
    Read all 17 answers   →
    What needs improvement with SAP S/4HANA Cloud?
    Top Answer:Their revolving AI should should be better improved.
    Read all 26 answers   →
    Ranking
    3rd
    out of 69 in ERP
    Views
    8,624
    Comparisons
    5,981
    Reviews
    33
    Average Words per Review
    395
    Rating
    8.3
    3rd
    out of 18 in Cloud ERP
    Views
    2,283
    Comparisons
    1,135
    Reviews
    28
    Average Words per Review
    431
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Dynamics NAV, MS Dynamics NAV
    SAP S4HANA Cloud
    Learn More
    Microsoft
    SAP
    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."

    SAP S/4HANA stands for SAP Suite 4 HANA. It is a next-generation integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that is designed for businesses of all sizes, in all industries, that require deep and broad functionality combined with a high degree of flexibility. SAP S/4HANA was launched in 2015 and been adopted by more than 3,200 customers over a period of sixteen months. SAP S/4HANA is materially different from anything SAP has done before and represents the company’s biggest innovation since SAP R/3.

    SAP S/4HANA is intended to provide a digital core for an organization. It is fully architected for the most advanced in-memory platform, SAP HANA, and is designed on the most modern design principles with the SAP Fiori user experience to create a personalized and simple feel on users’ device of choice (tablet, laptop, mobile). SAP S/4HANA aims to simplify an organizations’ system landscape and reduce total cost of ownership by shrinking the data footprint while at the same time improving productivity levels in the form of higher throughput. Timelines for cloud deployments average around six months.

    SAP S/4HANA is designed to drive business innovation by connecting people, devices, and business networks in real time to support the development of new business models. It will also help accelerate the adoption of, and connection to, the Internet of Things and Big Data. SAP S/4HANA can analyze big data at unprecedented speed allowing users to access real-time information from anywhere, any way they’d like and thus help managers make truly insightful decisions. The simplified data model allows customers to reimagine their IT, helping to drive lower costs and deliver IT efficiency. This, coupled with the SAP S/4HANA prediction and simulation capabilities allow it to anticipate the impact of business outcomes. By doing all the above, SAP S/4HANA aims to provide ultimate sophistication in the simplest possible manner.

    To learn more about SAP S/4HANA, visit http://go.sap.com/product/enterprise-management/s4hana-erp.html

    Sample Customers
    Harris Farm Markets, Mister Spex GmbH, Bounce Foods, Eurofin Services SA, Medica Medizintechnik, Associated Gaskets, Onduline, Sitka Surfboard Corporation, World Animal Protection
    La Trobe University, Carrefour Comércio e Indústria Ltda, Delaware Consulting and Corning Inc.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company24%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company41%
    Computer Software Company23%
    University14%
    Energy/Utilities Company9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Government9%
    Educational Organization7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business55%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise27%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise47%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business36%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise53%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business26%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise58%
    Buyer's Guide
    ERP
    April 2024
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    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is ranked 3rd in ERP with 62 reviews while SAP S/4HANA Cloud is ranked 3rd in Cloud ERP with 41 reviews. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is rated 8.2, while SAP S/4HANA Cloud 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 S/4HANA Cloud writes "A valuable tool for businesses seeking to enhance their overall performance and competitiveness in the digital era". Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is most compared with SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics AX, SAP Business One, SAP ERP and Odoo, whereas SAP S/4HANA Cloud is most compared with SAP Business ByDesign, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, SAP Business One, IFS Cloud Platform and Anaplan.

    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.