If you want to know what the difference is between Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite, then this simple guide will help you understand the differences in the performance of the two platforms for your ease.
Growth is the utter motive or reason that keeps any business going. Whether it is the growth in operations, growth in profits, growth in personnel, or any other. Growth has and will continue to have positive effects on the business. When growth is paired with stability and control, the business sees new heights that it has never seen before. Moreover, stable growth also stimulates the business to overgrow its competition and stand out from the crowd with ease.
Whenever any company realizes that the growth rate of the business and its operations are constant and stable, one of the first things that it decides to opt for is automation. Whether it is the automation of data recording or the automation of any other task, both of these allow the business to make the process of recording and management easy.
To help a business attain this task, developers from around the world are coming up with new apps and platforms. With the help of such tools, you can easily manage and control various aspects of the business and its related attributes. However, as there are multiple creators, the products or solutions are also multiple. This creates confusion among businesses about which tool to use.
Such confusion also appears when the business comes across Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite. Although both platforms are made to help the business with different tasks, some businesses fail to decide between the two.
To help such businesses we have brought together this guide. Here you will find the main differences between NetSuite and Dynamics 365. So, let’s start this guide with a description of the tools and then proceed to the major similarities and differences between the two.
What is NetSuite?
NetSuite is one of the most popular and widely accepted ERP or enterprise resource planning solutions ever created. The tool is so amazing and helpful that every business tries to implement it in the business. This tool supports a lot of features and services. This standalone software allows companies to take over the control of business requirements associated with CRM (customer relationship management), HRM (human resources management), warehousing, stocking, deliveries, e-Commerce, and everything else.
However, to get the most out of these features, you may need to use some connectors and integrations. The platform is suitable for small and medium-scale businesses that are receiving continuous and stable growth and hence, facing problems in managing and controlling operations. However, some large organizations can also use the tool for ease of control.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365?
Just like NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 is also an ERP solution for businesses. However, along with ERP, the platform also supports and helps you manage CRM requirements. You can even control the finances, sales, e-Commerce, supply chain management, marketing, etc.
Just like NetSuite, Dynamics is also a suite of apps or platforms that make it easy for you to manage and control the business attributes. You can purchase specific modules to unlock control over different aspects of the business.
Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite: The Similarities
As the above definitions or introductions of the tools suggest, both NetSuite vs Dynamics 365 are advanced tools that help you with similar tasks like ERP, CRM, etc. So, before understanding the differences between the two, it’s important that you understand the similarities first and then rule out the former. So, below are a few points that show the similarities between the duo:
- ERP
- CRM
- Financing
- Sales
- Marketing
- Operations
- Warehousing
- Supply Chain Management
- Production and Procurement
Yes, the two platforms are quite similar to each other but yet there are certain differences in these similarities. In the next section of this article, we will have a look at NetSuite vs Business Central differences.
Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite: The Differences
Below are all the major factors or points of difference between NetSuite vs Business Central Dynamics. Go through all the factors to understand the differences properly.
Differences in Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
It’s not news that both of the ERP solutions offer CRM solutions to you. However, there is a huge difference between the quality and scope of these services provided. Under the CRM package of the duo, you will find different advanced and smart solutions or modules that allow you to manage the sale, marketing, customer support, customer management, and various other aspects of the CRM.
The solutions provided by both suites are quite amazing but as compared to Dynamics, NetSuite has much more years of experience and expertise in the domain. When the CRM solutions of the two are compared, it is found that the ones offered by NetSuite are more inclusive and much more advanced than that of the other.
NetSuite offers multiple modules to the user to make the best use of the CRM services. However, MS Dynamics offers various versions or editions of the platform for such services. With NetSuite, you get the flexibility to select and implement specific modules as per the requirements. The same can also be dropped or re-implemented as and when required. However, this is not possible with MS Dynamics as specific features are included in one edition as compared to the other ones.
| NetSuite Modules with CRM+ | Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM Editions |
|---|---|
| Sales Process and Personnel Automation | Dynamics 365 for Sales |
| Customer Service Management | Dynamics 365 for Customer Services |
| Marketing Process Automation | Dynamics 365 for Retail |
| Vendor and Partner Relationship Management |
As you can see from the above table, the CRM modules of NetSuite offer more flexibility to the user as compared to Dynamics 365 CRM editions.
Netsuite: A Simple Yet Advanced Business Management Solution For Economic And Financial Ease
Differences in Financial Control and Services
When you compare Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite, another factor that comes up a lot is the difference in the financing aspect of the two. Both of these platforms are well-known and readily accepted for financing services. However, on the financing front, Dynamics has left NetSuite a little behind.
The services of both the software for financing and operations management are extraordinary. However, Dynamics provides a few advanced features to the users along with real-time information management and useful features for all. You can easily infer results using the smart options provided by Dynamics for the advancement and development of the business.
Differences in the ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning
If concluded shortly, the ERP services and functionalities offered under NetSuite are better, more inclusive, and broader than Dynamics. Both of the platforms, Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite, are quite advanced and leaps & bounds better than most of the other ERP solutions. But when compared head to head with features and functionalities, NetSuite is winning by a major difference.
Dynamics’ ERP Suite is quite dynamic, undoubtedly but lacks on some fronts like supply chain management, stock management, advanced reporting, warehousing, order fulfillment center, PoS tools, asset control, e-Commerce, and many more.
If you as a business are confused between NetSuite vs Dynamics 365, then the simple solution would be, do you need any of the above-suggested features? If yes, then you should definitely opt for NetSuite.
Differences in Warehousing and Stocking Services
It’s not that Dynamics does not have warehousing and stocking services, the tool offers such features to you but not under the ERP solution. To take care of all these services, you need to use one of the editions of Dynamics under CRM. Moreover, even if you opt for the features with Dynamics, the ones offered by NetSuite are better suited for all. You may find that some of the basic functionalities are missing from the Microsoft suite and the same can be easily found in NetSuite.
If you want to get the benefit of such features of NetSuite, you need to purchase a specific module. However, with Dynamics, you can unlock all the features and functionalities under one edition of the tool. Hence, NetSuite is more flexible than Dynamics in such features.
Differences in Flexibility of Data Migration
As you know, whether it is NetSuite vs Dynamics 365, it is very important for the business to migrate data from all the existing platforms to new ones. However, this is not an easy task to undergo. NetSuite offers more flexibility to the users for the transferring of data. However, Dynamics lacks this flexibility. Yes, NetSuite may take days and maybe even weeks to transfer the data, but all-in-all, the transferred data would be more reliable and inclusive than that done using Dynamics.
This makes it easy for all users to implement NetSuite once and for all without worrying about repetitive connection and checking.
Differences in Software Updates
Both Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite are quite reliable tools that offer regular updates to all. These updates are much better than the previous versions of the same. The advantage that you get by using NetSuite is that the creators of the tool do not offer updates instantly for all. Instead, they first share the updates with a couple of businesses to understand their response. If the response is positive, then the same update is rolled out for all. However, if the response is negative, the creators and developers start working again to make it better and more advanced.
However, this is not the case with MS Dynamics. Dynamics offers regular updates for all users. However, it also provides the option to update the software to a major one only if the business wants it. You can schedule the major Dynamics update for a later period and use it when the business feels comfortable doing the same.
This delay in updates can be both beneficial and harmful to the business. Beneficial in that the business gets the chance to postpone the updates for later and get used to the new features. Harmful as in you should not postpone the updates as they may contain more advanced security features for the users.
Differences in Supportive Tools
Both Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite allow you to get the best out of the platform using a set of features and functionalities provided “optionally” for the users. The users can select specific features of the business that make it easy to manage a certain aspect of the operations or the company as a whole.
NetSuite offers more flexibility in catering to these supportive integrations. You can select which integration or module you want to control the business and use the same for your good. However, with Dynamics, there is a limit that defines how and what features can be used,
Dynamics does not include many features to integrate third-party apps and modules into the core platform.
Differences in Flexibility
If overall flexibility is considered under Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite front, then you will find that NetSuite is much more flexible than the latter. The creators of both tools have added features that allow all to integrate the native platforms with the advanced ones but NetSuite offers even more under the same.
Differences in Prices
Lastly, let’s consider the prices of Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite to understand better. If you take the help of a NetSuite ERP partner or expert service provider, then the implementation of NetSuite is way cheaper than that of Dynamics.
If you go for NetSuite, then you can get and implement the platform for a monthly price of $999 but even the starting price of Microsoft Dynamics costs $3,000. Even after paying the higher price, you may not get the desired options from the solution and may even end up paying way more than this price. Thankfully, with NetSuite, you get the option to choose the base plan and then add or integrate more platforms and modules as the need arises. This is one of the main reasons when NetSuite vs Business Central are compared, users prefer the former over the latter.
Summing Up: Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite
So, in the previous sections of this write-up, we had a look at the most exclusive and informative differences between NetSuite and Dynamics 365. After an extensive study of the differences, it’s safe the two have their own advantages. NetSuite has gained popularity over the years because of its stability of features and functionalities.
However, if considered overall, Microsoft Dynamics is more advanced and supportive if you are willing to pay more. As for the rest, a third-party services provider would be able to explain to you better which one of the ERP solutions to choose, Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite, after studying the requirements and expectations of your business extensively
