Every successful business has efficient management across their finance, supply chain and operational processes. But getting there isn’t always easy – especially given the broad range of tasks involved with running these daily.
A robust ERP system is crucial for making management effortless. It should enable you to keep track of your back-office operations and make accurate decisions based on centralised data.
Today, there are several ERP solutions on the market, each promising unique benefits. Two of the most popular are Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Oracle NetSuite. Both are powerful and designed to simplify ERP.
If you’re struggling to choose between these systems, we’ve put together a comparison guide to uncover which is the best fit for your business.
Business Central vs NetSuite: and overview_
Let’s start with a quick look at Business Central and NetSuite.
Business Central_
Dynamics 365 Business Central is an extensive cloud-based ERP system, created for small to medium sized businesses. It’s also a market leader, having been named ‘best overall ERP’ by Forbes.
Business Central’s biggest USP is its seamless integration across the Microsoft stack, allowing you to easily access ERP insights from tools you use every day, like Outlook, Teams and Excel. This makes it ideal for businesses already leveraging Microsoft tools and wanting best-in-class connectivity.
Other key features include:
- Finance management features (general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, cash flow management, fixed assets and more)
- Accounting functionality (including WIP and revenue recognition methods to ensure compliance and easy auditing)
- Sales order processing, quote and service management
- Inventory management (stock tracking, purchase order management and warehouse management)
- HR features (such as employee information, hours, payroll and performance management)
- Reporting and analytics
- Point of sale, inventory management and customer loyalty programs for retail
- Project management (as a fully integrated module, which includes project manufacture)
Oracle NetSuite_
Oracle NetSuite is a unified cloud-based platform that helps businesses manage core operations. Its key features include:
- Financial management (including a central ledger, handling payables and receivables, enabling budgeting and tax management, supporting multiple currencies and simplifying intercompany transactions)
- Inventory management (including demand planning, automated replenishment, lot/serial tracking and bin management)
- Order management (including pricing, returns and customer self-service
- Supply chain management (encompassing procurement, warehouse operations, demand planning and supplier relationships)
- Manufacturing (with BOM management, work orders, routing, scheduling and shop floor control)
- CRM features
- E-commerce features
- Global business management for multi-subsidiary, multi-currency and multi-language operations.
How do the costs compare?
Business Central runs on a subscription-based pricing model, with licenses starting from £57.50 per user, per month. There is also premium package priced at £82.20 per user, per month, which will give you unlimited access to all features. Our guide explains licensing in more detail.
Due to the wide-reaching functionality available and scalability, Business Central is generally considered one of the most affordable ERP systems on the market. There is also a one-month free trial available.
Oracle NetSuite is also subscription-based, though there are some differences. Pricing isn’t publicly available, but you can expect to pay a monthly subscription per user (reportedly starting around £76 per user, per month) on top of a base fee (around £770 per month). There are also add-on costs for some features and service options. This makes NetSuite a much more expensive ERP system. There also is no free trial available.
Business Central vs NetSuite: strengths and weaknesses_
Now, let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of both Business Central and NetSuite.
Scalability_
Business Central is designed to be scalable, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. The modular design enables businesses to start with essential functionalities and add more as they expand. Plus, you can easily add new users as your team grows.
NetSuite is also scalable with a multi-tenant architecture that allows it to handle significant growth in transaction volumes, data and user numbers. NetSuite’s global capabilities further support international expansion without requiring a complete system replacement. However, the cost of the platform will rise as you scale, so it is suited for businesses with a larger budget.
Customisation and integration_
NetSuite offers extensive customisation capabilities through its SuiteCloud platform, providing a tightly integrated environment for tailoring the system, through custom logic, automation, workflows and fields. For integration, NetSuite provides SuiteTalk APIs for programmatic access, SuiteConnect for pre-built integrations and the SuiteApps marketplace for certified third-party solutions.
Business Central provides customisation primarily through extensions, which allow for modifying and adding functionality without altering the core code, simplifying upgrades. Integration is a key strength, leveraging the Microsoft ecosystem and the Common Data Service for seamless connectivity with other Dynamics 365 applications and the Power Platform. Power Automate also offers a vast array of connectors for integrating with numerous external applications.
The integration with the Microsoft ecosystem also streamlines processes, allowing you to avoid inputting data across multiple tools and offering contextualised insights in whatever Microsoft solution you’re using.
In short, both can be easily customised and offer vast integration options.
User friendliness_
Business Central is often seen as having a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, especially for users already familiar with Microsoft products. Its design aligns with the familiar look and feel of other Microsoft applications like Office 365, making navigation and basic tasks more straightforward for many users. The role-based design personalises the user experience by presenting only relevant information and features based on their job function, contributing to a cleaner and less overwhelming interface.
NetSuite can have a steeper learning curve for new users. Its vast array of features can initially feel overwhelming. The interface, while functional, is sometimes described as less modern or intuitive compared to Business Central, especially for those unfamiliar with enterprise-level systems. However, NetSuite does offer extensive personalisation options, allowing users to customise dashboards, views, and shortcuts to improve their individual experience.
Deployment_
Business Central offers a variety of deployment options, including cloud-based, hybrid or on-premises. This allows businesses to choose a deployment option that works for their specific needs and decide what control they want.
NetSuite, however, is a purely cloud-based solution where Oracle hosts and manages all the infrastructure, software and updates. While this will suit many businesses, it makes the system less flexible, especially for those who want on-premises deployments.
Data and reporting_
NetSuite is built on a unified data model and provides comprehensive reporting and analytics through its SuiteAnalytics tools, including customisable reports, saved searches, KPIs and dashboards. It offers an embedded analytics experience.
Business Central, with its more modular data structure, offers standard built-in reports financial statements, KPIs and dashboards. It heavily leverages Power BI for advanced data visualisation and in-depth analysis, integrating seamlessly with the broader Microsoft ecosystem. BC also provides ad-hoc analysis features within list pages and strong Excel integration.
AI_
While both platforms are leveraging AI, Business Central currently showcases a broader range of explicitly named AI features directly impacting various business processes through Microsoft Copilot, an AI-powered assistant integrated across various business lines.
Copilot assists with tasks like generating product descriptions, predicting late payments and forecasting cash flow. BC also utilises AI for intelligent data processing, inventory forecasting, bank account reconciliation and personalised customer service. Its AI capabilities often leverage the broader Microsoft ecosystem, including Azure AI, focusing on automating tasks, providing intelligent insights, and enhancing decision-making. There is also the ability to integrate custom AI through Copilot Studio.
NetSuite focuses on embedding AI directly into its unified platform. Key AI features include automated content creation, invoice processing and Intelligent Performance Management (IPM) for enhanced planning and budgeting. NetSuite also offers an AI-driven digital assistant and AI for anomaly detection and risk quantification. However, at present, this is as far as it goes.
Automation_
Both NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) offer robust automation capabilities to streamline business processes, reduce manual tasks and improve efficiency.
NetSuite relies heavily on its SuiteFlow tool, a visual, drag-and-drop workflow automation engine that allows users to automate a wide range of business processes across different modules without requiring coding. For more complex automation scenarios and integrations, SuiteScript, a powerful JavaScript-based scripting language, provides extensive capabilities.
Business Central integrates deeply with Microsoft Power Automate, a powerful cloud-based workflow automation service with a vast library of connectors to hundreds of applications. This enables complex and cross-system automation workflows.
Additionally, Business Central has its own built-in workflow engine for automating processes directly within the system, particularly for internal approvals and notifications. Developers can also use AL (Application Language) to create custom code and extensions for specific automation needs.
Value for money_
Business Central typically offers a more transparent and often more affordable pricing structure, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. Its per-user monthly fees for are generally lower than NetSuite’s per-user costs, and it doesn’t have a separate base platform fee. Furthermore, its seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem can provide added value for companies already invested in those technologies. The modularity and extensibility through AppSource allow businesses to pay for only the functionalities they need, potentially offering better value for organizations with more focused requirements.
NetSuite generally comes with a higher overall cost, especially for smaller businesses, due to its base platform fee and potential costs for additional modules and higher service tiers. However, for larger organisations with complex global operations and a need for comprehensive features, NetSuite can offer significant value by reducing the need for multiple disparate systems and integrations.
The bottom line_
There’s plenty to consider when making the choice between NetSuite or Business Central.
In general, NetSuite suites larger organisations with global operations. Its strength lies in its extensive functionality, high customisability and robust support for multi-currency and multi-language requirements, making it ideal for rapidly growing businesses or those with complex needs. As it’s more expensive, you also need the budget to afford it.
Business Central is generally a better fit for small to medium-sized businesses, particularly those already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. Flexible deployment options, including cloud and on-premises, and its often more transparent pricing make it an attractive option for SMBs looking for a modern and adaptable ERP solution.
Ultimately, the right choice will depend on your priorities and needs as a business. So, spend time scoping these out.
If you’re still unsure, our Dynamics 365 consultants can show you Business Central in more detail and help you uncover whether it’s the right choice for your business.
Or if you’d like to know how Business Central and NetSuite stack up against other ERP solutions, read our in-depth comparison guide.
