Epicor [EOL] vs Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs Oracle E-Business Suite comparison

Epicor, founded in 1972, specializes in developing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for companies operating in the manufacturing, distribution, retail, service and hospitality industries. Currently, Epicor has over 20,000 clients in 150-plus countries. Its business solutions software is further tailored to specific customer needs, and it is available in more than 30 languages. The Austin, Texas-based company operates development centers in North and Central America, Europe and Australia. Its approach to market-specific ERP systems resulted in revenue of $840 million for the year 2011. Its dedication to its clients is perhaps best represented by its annual Insights conference for customers. This event regularly attracts more than 4,000 attendees. Epicor's ERP software products are designed to streamline clients' business processes by incorporating those different processes into a single cloud-based or web-based package. Also, while Epicor only offers a single ERP brand, it tailors versions specifically for five areas: manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality, and professional services. Each version has industry-specific tools, but all Epicor products are complete ERP solutions, providing a single, comprehensive frame of reference for use by management and employees in order to improve efficiency. In addition to ERP software, Epicor produces customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM) products, as well as tools for human capital, product and financial management. Its business software solutions packages are scalable, so they are suited to businesses of all sizes. Some of its clients, for example, began using Epicor ERP products as small businesses, then went on to grow into billion-dollar operations. Also, each of its clients is afforded access to the company's team of experts for support issues.

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."

Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) is considered the most extensive offering of amalgamated worldwide business applications available. Oracle EBS helps facilitate medium to large business enterprise organizations with the ability to enhance critical decision-making processes, streamline business procedures, minimize costs, and improve overall performance and productivity.

Oracle EBS runs as a complement to Oracle Database software. The applications serve to automate such processes as supply chain management (SCM), human resource management (HRM), customer relations management (CRM), project portfolio management (PPM), financial management, service management, and more.

Oracle EBS runs best in the cloud. It is a cost-saving option that offers greater productivity and can immediately and easily respond to changing dynamic business needs with an intuitive, automated scalable cloud infrastructure.

Below are some of the valuable features of popular application offerings available within Oracle EBS:

Supply Chain Management (SCM): Every possible supply chain process can be fully automated, from planning, creation, and appropriation to development and fulfillment, delivering a comprehensive solution application to ensure organizations have robust, intelligent-driven, value-added chains. Some applications include:

• Manufacturing
• Value Chain Planning and Execution
• Procurement and Fulfillment
• Lifecycle Management
• Business Intelligence and Analytics

Human Resource Management (HRM): The solution offers a sturdy group of outstanding human resource processes that enable users to improve productivity, enhance overall business performance, and lower TCO. Some processes include:

• Workforce Management
• Talent Management
• Global Personnel Policy Management
• Human Resource Analytics

Customer Relations Management (CRM): This application provides for a streamlined, unique global gathering of information that will ensure all selling channels are continually following the organization's objectives and protocols. Some features include:

• Oracle Service
• Oracle Marketing
• Oracle Order Management
• Oracle Channel Revenue Management

Project Portfolio Management (PPM): Oracle EBS provides a comprehensive, full lifecycle offering of project and portfolio management. Users get a single fully transparent view of all project-related ventures coupled with a superb performance process that grants users the ability to choose the best, most dynamic portfolio ventures.

• Project Collaboration
• Project Management
• Project Analytics
• Project Cost
• Project Billing

Financial Management: Users are able to perform more effectively, improve productivity and efficiency, develop productivity tools and integrated performance management, and develop processes for shared services to reduce overall operating costs. Some features include:

• Asset Lifecycle Management
• Financial Control and Reporting
• Travel and Expense Management
• Lease and Finance Management
• Risk Management and Compliance

Service Management: This application allows users access to the best data necessary to provide correct, precise, reliable information to their clients to ensure that every expectation is exceeded and consistently satisfied.

• Inbound and outbound telephony
• Project Collaboration
• Project Cost
• Billing
• Project Management

Reviews from Real Users:

Kopano R., Freelancer at a tech services company, says, “What I found most valuable in Oracle E-Business Suite is the patching because it is straightforward. As long as you follow Oracle's best practices, you are able to finish the task of patching without a problem. I like that it's also easy to add products, e.g. if you want to add on financials, you can, or if you don't have financials, you can expand on that. I like that Oracle E-Business Suite is really scalable.”

Mohammed G., Senior Oracle Application Consultant at a comms service provider, writes, “Oracle E-Business Suite consists of a lot of streams, such as financial and HR processes of the enterprise companies. We are using most of the Oracle financial modules, and we have an Oracle stream, FI procurement stream, and HR streams, which have a lot of applications. Oracle E-Business Suite has over 20 different modules to choose from, it is comprehensive. Additionally, the integration is very good. “