Infor M3 vs Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Infor M3 and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two ERP solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Infor M3 vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"provides all modules, supply chain, HR - it's good for management.""Infor comes up with different tools every year, and they are all compatible with Infor M3, which makes it a more reliable and trustworthy tool. The integration is very smooth.""Infor M3 has tailor-made packages for each and every industry.""The most valuable feature of this solution is the Infor GL tool that allows us to do our application support and development.""Its ease of use is most valuable. Inquiries are transparent, and it shows good information on each screen. We don't have to go to 14 different screens to find out about one item, which is a big advantage.""It's simple to use. You don't need any complex training to use it.""The user interface and user experience were good.""M3 has several useful features for managing supply chains, production, and customer orders. It's an excellent system that helps me meet all my requirements for fixed costs."

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"NAV covers everything from purchasing and selling items to invoicing. Everything is within NAV, so it's all very neat.""We are getting more features after switching to Microsoft 365.""The solution can scale.""The initial setup is easy - because it stands on Microsoft offerings, it's simple and intuitive to use.""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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are the dashboards, ease of use, and flexibility.""The security feature, particularly the encryption, which still builds sensitivity, is one of the most valuable features.""Microsoft products are very good in general. This product is flexible, easy to use, intuitive, and has good capabilities."

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Cons
"Its initial setup was probably complex, but it is a very good system.""I would like to have some kind of dashboard to show an overview of different data on the same dashboard or on the same screen instead of moving to BI.""The solution's technical support is an area with shortcomings that need improvement, especially the support for the product named M3 rather than the support offered by Infor as an organization.""The solution is stable but not agile.""We can't make modifications to fit the client's requirements.""The implementation could be simplified, it's complex.""It should be improved in terms of procurement of the supply chain and business intelligence analysis. We have the Infor BI tool, but it's more complex to use than, for example, Power Pivot or QlikView in the market.""Sometimes, M3 alone cannot handle all the planning functionalities required by a customer. It has to be used along with industry-specific planning tools because M3 doesn't have all the features. However, no product can handle all the requirements of all the industries. There will be some shortcomings in all the products. Though this is an area for improvement, it is not a very serious shortfall or limitation. It can be covered by using third-party planning applications that integrate with Infor M3."

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"The solution is not best suited for larger-scale businesses.""The initial setup of the solution was quite complex and the troubleshooting involved with that needs to be improved.""I would like to have more frequent updates.""There is a book for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central explaining how to use it. But it is not easy to use, and it is not easy to learn.""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.""Since it's complex for a layperson user to understand the solution, it would be better if the solution provided some training resources.""In the next release, I would like to see a quality check module - Navision doesn't have one, and the industry very much requires it.""The solution can improve by having better integration with Microsoft PowerBI and reporting."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "There is a yearly licensing cost. The price is based on the modules you need. There are several modules, such as HR module, accounting module, sales module, scheduling module, etc., and the price will vary depending on the number of modules you choose. The customers always say that it's very expensive. It can cost a lot of money if your organization is huge. It's not implemented in a lot of organizations in my country because it's too expensive."
  • "Infor M3 is a tier-two product and is cheaper than tier-one products such as SAP and Oracle. However, it is more expensive than some other tier-two products. The licensing cost is dependent on the number of users. Also, if you purchase other tools from Infor as a package, then there may be other discounts offered."
  • "The cost is between $50 and $100 per user annually."
  • "I'm not part of the team that manages Infor M3 pricing, but it depends on the client, integration, ship-out, and training levels. You get the price from the solution provider, but it would be best to discuss it because nothing is set in stone regarding pricing."
  • "If you compare Infor M3 to SAP, Infor M3 is less expensive than SAP, but if you compare Infor M3 to Dynamics 365, Infor M3 is more expensive. It also depends on the model that you buy. It depends on whether you have the complete package or whether you have separate models."
  • "The tool’s licensing is yearly."
  • More Infor M3 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 →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The user interface and user experience were good.
    Top Answer:The solution must provide more learning documents. Researching and going through the configuration takes a lot of time. I took a lot of time on how to find the portals. It would be nice if more… more »
    Top Answer:We used the product for warehouse management.
    Top Answer:The most valuable features of Business Central for me are its seamless integration with Power BI and the ability to create customized reports.
    Top Answer:I would rate the pricing of Business Central as a six or seven out of ten in terms of costliness. We have yearly licensing costs, and the biggest additional expense is for external consultants.
    Top Answer:There is room for improvement in the ability to reverse or correct transactions more easily. Currently, if we make mistakes or need to undo something, it can be challenging and time-consuming… more »
    Ranking
    12th
    out of 66 in ERP
    Views
    4,236
    Comparisons
    3,358
    Reviews
    9
    Average Words per Review
    685
    Rating
    8.4
    4th
    out of 66 in ERP
    Views
    8,859
    Comparisons
    6,142
    Reviews
    33
    Average Words per Review
    366
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Infor Lawson M3, Lawson M3
    Dynamics NAV, MS Dynamics NAV
    Learn More
    Overview

    Infor M3 offers ultimate flexibility in operations, technology, and scale. As a multi-site, multi-country, and multi-company solution, M3 empowers your organization to adapt to changing business needs. It provides flexibility in managing mixed-mode and complex environments, with the agility to make quick adjustments at any time. Written in Java, M3 also gives you platform independence and choice.

    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."

    Sample Customers
    Grosfillex, High Five Sportswear, L_derach, OTK Group, PHS Group, Propper International, Red Wing Shoe Company, Reynolds Catering Supplies, Saudi Diesel, Sheetz, Zeppelin, Zodiac Aerospace
    Harris Farm Markets, Mister Spex GmbH, Bounce Foods, Eurofin Services SA, Medica Medizintechnik, Associated Gaskets, Onduline, Sitka Surfboard Corporation, World Animal Protection
    Top Industries
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Retailer6%
    Wholesaler/Distributor6%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company24%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business36%
    Midsize Enterprise36%
    Large Enterprise27%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise57%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business55%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise27%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business36%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise47%
    Buyer's Guide
    Infor M3 vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Infor M3 vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Infor M3 is ranked 12th in ERP with 12 reviews while Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is ranked 4th in ERP with 61 reviews. Infor M3 is rated 8.2, while Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Infor M3 writes "The solution is a reliable, stable, and cost-saving ERP". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central writes "Easy to deploy, extremely stable, and highly scalable". Infor M3 is most compared with SAP ERP, Infor LN, SAP S/4HANA, Infor CloudSuite Industrial and Microsoft Dynamics AX, whereas Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is most compared with SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics AX, SAP Business One, SAP ERP and Sage Business Cloud Enterprise Management. See our Infor M3 vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 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.