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Microsoft Dynamics AX vs SAP Business One comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

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 AX
Ranking in ERP
4th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
56
Ranking in other categories
Activity Based Costing Software (3rd)
SAP Business One
Ranking in ERP
5th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
65
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the ERP category, the mindshare of Microsoft Dynamics AX is 6.3%, down from 6.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP Business One is 3.7%, down from 6.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
ERP
 

Featured Reviews

SherifAnter - PeerSpot reviewer
The sales and distribution modules are robust, and reliable, and seldom encounter issues
In GP, there are certain features like financial reporting that aren't part of the core GP package. Users might need to install additional components for these features. For example, there's a reseller product called Management Reporter, but many users would prefer to have the reporting capabilities integrated within GP itself, rather than relying on external tools. The manufacturing module in GP is quite basic, and those who require more advanced manufacturing capabilities often turn to third-party modules or tools. Additionally, you might be aware that in 2028, GP is expected to reach its end of life. Microsoft has already ceased selling GP to new customers. It's essentially the same product, but this marks the final year for GP's availability.
Ijlal Naqvi - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy to deploy but needs to improve in the area of BI
If I speak about a feature in the tool that helps with financial management, I would say that of all the products I have ever worked on, used, or implemented, the finance part is pretty much the same in all ERPs and bookkeeping software tools. Finance is a regulated thing. It has to generate financial statements related to all the accounts. All financial management systems will look into the ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. Generally the tool has two models. If the tool's in-house model is opted, then just one person is needed to maintain the product as an ERP administrator. If it is through a partner, then we usually have managed services, so you get access to a whole bunch of resources, technical, functional, finance, manufacturing, supply chain, or resources that you can have as part of the managed services contract. My company does not use much of AI with SAP Business One since it is pretty much manual now. It's still pretty much manual for business process enhancements and it still requires more of a consultative approach with more of a human touch. With SAP S4/HANA, there is a process navigator, process data mining tool that does help users since with the use of AI it provides answers to their questions. Recommendations are subjective to the requirements of the users. I would not recommend SAP Business One to a financial services institution or a bank. I would most definitely recommend it to a small family-owned business with about 20,000,000 of revenue, and that too in the area of discrete manufacturing. I rate the tool a seven out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It has the same UI and is very similar to any other Microsoft product."
"Dynamics AX is very simple to use."
"The stability is very good."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics AX is its full integration with Excel, allowing for cut and paste functionality between Excel and the system."
"The tool makes it easier to manage things."
"If anyone is familiar with Microsoft products then they can handle it easily."
"AX is nearly a Tier One product, so implementations are long, but there's a lot of flexibility. Also, the ability to handle different issues found in larger organizations."
"I like that it's a complete ERP solution from production level to branch level."
"Its real-time data capabilities initially provided critical insights that supported our decision-making. It effectively meets our data security and compliance requirements."
"The sales and wholesale distribution are great."
"Business One's best feature is transport management and collections."
"It's very powerful and very complete."
"The solution is user-friendly in comparison with Oracle."
"It offers users a rather simple interface."
"Sales CRM and Financials are most valuable."
"The solution offers a structured view and is useful for the top management. The top management finds it organized and structured. It is stable and gives you fewer headaches as an IT manager."
 

Cons

"The product must be made accessible online."
"It needs better financials and reporting from the system, not through Excel."
"AX does take some time and maintenance."
"The product takes some training to get up to speed on all functionality and modules in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 ERP system."
"From a consultant's point of view, I recommend an enhancement in terms of detailed documentation for the products on the website."
"There is room for improvement in the licensing model and associated costs of this solution."
"There is room for improvement when handling various currencies within the current Microsoft Dynamics AX system."
"There are so many errors."
"SAP Business One would be a great product if more customization is available."
"Lacks ability to integrate with other tools."
"SAP Business One could improve by automatically inputting exchange rates in the software. We currently have to enter them manually to find the appropriate exchange rates from a website. If it could be done with one click it would be helpful and more straightforward."
"I am not sure if it has an HR and Payroll functionality, but it would be helpful and make it a more complete ERP if they could put the HR and Payroll functionality in it."
"Business One doesn't have a proper master data management function."
"Something which would be helpful to management and, from our vantage point as a user, would be to see a simple reporting tool."
"Lacks an advanced HR model with payroll."
"We would like a mobile version of this for sales exhibits, etc. We would also like more personalization features to personalize it for our organization."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"In relation to the cloud, it might be expensive for a longer duration. However, it's essential to consider the demands of enterprise users. While it's cost-effective in the short run, it becomes relatively costly in the long run."
"It is $180 to $200 per user per month with a minimum of 20 users, which makes selling the product a bit difficult."
"The tool is cheap."
"The price of the solution is high."
"The platform's price offering is good."
"There is an annual licensing cost for Microsoft Dynamics AX."
"The solution is expensive."
"The initial investment cost goes up due to the hidden cost."
"The price of SAP Business One is not comparable to other solutions. SAP is a well-known brand, and its price is on the higher side. However, if the solution offers the right fit for an organization the price is not a major concern for those who choose to use it."
"The price is a bit expensive."
"There is a license to use this solution and the price is good."
"I rate the price of SAP Business One a seven out of ten."
"The price of SAP Business One is high for smaller businesses to afford. The currency plays a large part in the fluctuation of the solution's price when we convert the USD to our local currency. $1,400 is for a limited license and $3,700 is for a professional license."
"The price of the solution is reasonable."
"Business One is reasonable considering the functionality."
"It's not cheap but offers good value, particularly for medium-sized enterprises."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Retailer
6%
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
15%
Healthcare Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Microsoft Dynamics AX?
Microsoft Dynamics AX has several areas that need improvement, particularly when compared to larger systems. It lacks the concept of month-end closing, which is essential for tight control over fin...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Dynamics AX?
I primarily use Microsoft Dynamics AX ( /products/microsoft-dynamics-ax-reviews ) for the financial module, which includes the general ledger, account payable, account receivable, inventory, and pu...
Are there any advantages of SAP S4 HANA over SAP Business One (SAP B1) apart from the cost?
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 com...
What do you like most about SAP Business One?
It's user-friendly and comes with comprehensive manuals. So, it is easy to learn to use SAP Business One
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP Business One?
The pricing model of SAP Business One is average. It is neither too good nor too bad, and there is room for more flexibility in pricing.
 

Also Known As

Dynamics AX, Axapta, MS Dynamics AX
Business One
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

ConQuaestor, D & H Distributing, Sunny Queen, Mesa Associates, Britax Childcare, Ibema, Arafa, Sabo S.p.A.
Ego Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Dynamics AX vs. SAP Business One and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
849,210 professionals have used our research since 2012.