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Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs SAP ERP comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 12, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Busi...
Ranking in ERP
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
64
Ranking in other categories
Activity Based Costing Software (2nd)
SAP ERP
Ranking in ERP
2nd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
104
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the ERP category, the mindshare of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is 6.3%, down from 6.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP ERP is 20.2%, down from 22.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
ERP
 

Featured Reviews

StefaanVandesompele - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides end-to-end accounting and finance module at reasonable pricing
365 Business Central integrates with Office 365 to streamline the invoice approval process. This allows businesses to manage and approve invoices efficiently within a unified system. Our organization plans to transition to the Dynamics 365 environment, where various functions will be centralized. We will consolidate everything into one system instead of maintaining multiple databases for each country with local data. Dynamics 365 is fully integrated, which should address many of our challenges when we migrate to this new environment. We look forward to seeing how it performs in practice. The project is progressing well overall, though integrating it with other tools and ensuring Dynamics 365 operates smoothly can be challenging. Dynamics 365 is user-friendly and effective. However, a deeper understanding of its technical capabilities and architecture might be necessary to optimize its use fully. The software landscape is evolving, and achieving the best reporting and functionality with just a click can be complex. A clear vision of what you want to achieve with Dynamics 365 is essential. Proper preparation and configuration are crucial to achieving the desired outcomes. This principle applies not only to Dynamics 365 but to all software packages. Understanding the system's flexibility and adaptability based on your specific business needs is key to its successful implementation. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Srinivasan Kuppuswamy - PeerSpot reviewer
The amazing, robust framework with unlimited scalability earns its #1 status
The solution is not ready for the current e-commerce environment. Its was built for large enterprises who need to predictably optimize their human, material, and financial resources. ERP has evolved and businesses are changing. There are not many large corporations. Most are small enterprises with the capabilities of large enterprises through networking and platform integration. Some companies promote products but get things done with other enterprises as a network. Companies do not want to create new capacity but want to leverage existing capacity with innovative products. They do not want to spend resources on duplicating capacity or facilities. I do not think any ERP product is ready to support this environment so ERPs as a whole might end up being used for back-office functions only. It is not easy to evolve an ERP product because its intent is to integrate functions and processes within an organization. Whereas, in the new business model, processes are not limited to one's own enterprise but cut across different enterprises. There is no enterprise solution as this point in time for the current e-commerce environment so companies must integrate with many solutions.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"I am impressed with the tool's user authentication, compatibility , and policies."
"The solution's integration between Teams, SharePoint, and Exchange Online is really helpful."
"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."
"This is readily available and affordable, as well as user-friendly and simple to use in my opinion."
"Microsoft products are very good in general. This product is flexible, easy to use, intuitive, and has good capabilities."
"The solution has good dashboard functionalities and export functionalities."
"The most valuable features of Business Central for me are its seamless integration with Power BI and the ability to create customized reports."
"The audit trails, which include any IP system, are very useful."
"The most valuable feature of SAP ERP is the integration. It can be seamlessly integrated across the board."
"It automates transactional processes."
"Finance view across functions is valuable."
"It is a stable solution...Our company has experienced a return on investment using the solution."
"Its integration is most valuable."
"They provide a full service."
"The most valuable features are that it's very customizable and it's flexible."
"It is a comprehensive and robust solution. It can provide lots of functional features."
 

Cons

"Microsoft Dynamics NAV could improve the reporting."
"The product should improve work optimization."
"Customization and costs could be improved."
"The solution could include the retail tool in the native version."
"They need to improve their processes."
"I am hoping there is more integration with other platforms, more features, and customization in the next release."
"Any request that had come from the website had to go through an e-form which was then plugged into Microsoft Dynamics NAV. There was no direct data capture. That was the pain point, where clients had to build e-forms, and that caused delays in transactions and getting information."
"The tool needs to work on reporting issues and user interface."
"I always prefer using an S/4HANA system."
"Reporting is why most companies need to acquire business intelligence add-on solutions, and when it comes to SAP ERP, they could improve the reporting graphical representation of the data."
"The reporting feature could improve in SAP ERP. It could benefit from being more flexible."
"It needs a more complete guidance with complete processes. Right now, it only has single transactions."
"This solution could be made more user-friendly for development teams."
"It's difficult to code; structured language is difficult."
"Pricing could be improved for preferred customers."
"The reporting could be improved, such as the casework, production, and activity reports. Our consultants in a subsidiary enterprise have requested that we develop a new production report. They could also improve production, financial, and HR analysis."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is reasonable. We pay monthly for the use of the solution."
"Its licensing is yearly. In addition to the licensing cost, there is the cost of hosting on Azure."
"The price of the solution is reasonable."
"You have to pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution."
"We have a perpetual license to use Microsoft Dynamics NAV."
"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."
"NAV might be a little pricey for a small or medium-sized company, but all the solutions out there are."
"The tool’s licensing is yearly. The solution is cheaper compared to other ERP products from Oracle or SAP."
"I am not sure. However, extensions cost approximately $100,000 or$200,000."
"We pay annually for the use of this solution."
"Some components are available at an additional cost, depending on the type of contract that you have."
"When you have a solution that is stable, reliable, and has a high performance as this solution, the price is going to be expensive. However, when you evaluate the service you are paying for the cost is quite reasonable for this solution."
"The solution has moved from a licensing model to a rights-based, subscription model in the cloud."
"I don't know the price, but I know its licensing is on a yearly basis."
"I rate SAP ERP's pricing a six or seven out of ten."
"Licensing can vary, but for educational institutions, there are often favorable conditions."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Retailer
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Manufacturing Company
14%
Computer Software Company
12%
Retailer
6%
University
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
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 integrat...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
The pricing for Dynamics 365 Business Central is reasonable. The value for money is very high.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
There is a need for improvement in consolidation and multi-country master data management.
Is Anaplan better than SAP ERP?
There are different aspects of both Anaplan and SAP ERP that I like and dislike. Anaplan improves forecast accuracy and drives up the quality of analytics. Rather than spending all of their time co...
What do you like most about SAP ERP?
The solution has made the most significant impact on our human resources function, specifically in HR operations and HR analytics. One feature of SAP ERP that I found most valuable is its use of co...
What needs improvement with SAP ERP?
There is a need for improvement in the business analytics aspect in financial reporting and also in sales and marketing analytics.
 

Also Known As

Dynamics NAV, MS Dynamics NAV
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Harris Farm Markets, Mister Spex GmbH, Bounce Foods, Eurofin Services SA, Medica Medizintechnik, Associated Gaskets, Onduline, Sitka Surfboard Corporation, World Animal Protection
B&G Manufacturing, Unilever, Life is good Inc., Joy Global Inc., City of Cape Town, Bhopal Municipal, Corporation (BMC), adidas Group, Butcher & Packer Supply Company, Franklin Valve L.P., Evoshield, Prime Meats, a Norsan Group company, EMC Corporation, Varian Medical Systems Inc., FC Bayern Mªnchen AG, AkzoNobel Chemicals B.V., T¾V Rheinland, Pacific Drilling S.A., Fire & Rescue New South Wales, University of Amsterdam, Pa_alon S.A.
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. SAP ERP and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
842,161 professionals have used our research since 2012.