Reviews and corrects ledger-to-subledger alignment in D365 by fixing posting configurations, inventory profiles, reconciliation logic, GL mapping, and critical reporting procedures.
NetSuite vs Business Central vs. Acumatica: An Overview
Posted on: February 27, 2025 | By: Page Wildridge | NetSuite
As businesses grow and require more advanced financial software to fit their needs, they tend to look towards a cloud-based ERP system. Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, and Acumatica ERP are three cloud-based ERP systems that all focus on growing small to medium sized businesses. This article gives an overview of all 3 systems and their differences regarding base integrations, customizability, and pricing.
Overview
Since all 3 systems are cloud-based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software, this means that the software provider (Oracle, Microsoft, and Acumatica) manages the system’s database and servers while the customer accesses and manages their ERP environment via the internet. All 3 providers continuously take suggestions, improve on the software, and release two updates per year for their customers. While these systems provide many of the same basic functions, they differ in many ways regarding the total experience.
Base Integrations
One big difference is that Business Central is a part of the Microsoft ecosystem, which means that it has already been made to integrate seamlessly other Microsoft products like Excel, Outlook, Power BI, and more. For example, users can edit BC records directly from excel and publish them to BC. There are also already BC connectors in Power BI that can be used to pull in real time data for custom reports. Base NetSuite does not have these built-in options to connect to these platforms, so customers that are already subscribed to the Microsoft ecosystem of products will get the most benefits from this.
NetSuite does offer a Tableau integration that can provide the same analytics and insight opportunities as Power BI. Base Acumatica does provide some connectors out-of-the-box to the Microsoft ecosystem (Outlook and Power BI are 2 examples). Acumatica was created by developers that used to work on Microsoft Dynamics SL, so you will see more Microsoft integration than most non-Microsoft ERPs.
Customizability
NetSuite and Acumatica are both easily customizable to your process with the ability to add custom transactions, records, and fields directly from the UI without coding. For what does need to be developed, NetSuite uses common code languages like java script and html that advanced users can pick up without a developer. This accessibility means that companies can more easily make sure they are meeting their business requirements even when there are requirements gaps with base NetSuite. Acumatica uses C#, .NET Framework, and ASP.NET programming languages, which can all be utilized in Microsoft Visual Studio. While this does require a developer to code the customizations, it is only needed for the most advanced and complex customizations.
BC, on the other hand, requires a developer to code all customizations, including just adding fields. This adds time to customization tasks that can be done faster in NetSuite. However, easy customizability is a double-edged sword and can lead to over customization of an environment if not managed properly.
Pricing
Business Central has two main licenses that are assigned to full users—Essentials and Premium—with Essentials including all the modules except Manufacturing and Service Management (these are included in the higher tier Premium license). These licenses are the most expensive while the other licenses, Team Member and Device, are significantly cheaper but also more restrictive regarding access. BC customers are charged an amount per month per user and can increase or decrease the number of licenses they have as needed.
NetSuite and Acumatica, on the other hand, has a base license fee per instance per month and a fee per user per month as well as fees for additional modules. The base software applications do not come with all modules installed already so additional modules will need to be purchased if needed, which can lead to complex pricing breakdowns. Ultimately, you would need to decide which cost is worth the benefits when making your decision between systems.
Next Steps
Netsuite, Business Central, and Acumatica are great cloud-based ERP systems for small to medium-sized companies. Each option can greatly help a business meet their needs as they grow. With the knowledge above you should be able to understand a little more about each system and which would be best to satisfy your current and future business needs.
Logan Consulting is a proud partner of all three ERP providers. If you are interested in finding the ERP that best fits your unique business needs, contact us to speak to an ERP expert.
