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2021

ENTERPRISE RESOURCE
PLANNING
BUYER’S GUIDE

1
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

MARKET OVERVIEW
The process for evaluating and selecting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is not as simple as
it once was. Complexities are growing even wider when organizations consider emerging tech trends and
customer demands. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to ERP software.
Solutions today come in a variety of different flavors, each features a particular set of capabilities, strengths,
and drawbacks. Choosing the right vendor and solution is a complicated process—one that requires in-depth
research and often comes down to more than just the solution and its technical capabilities.

Emerging technological capabilities like AI, the Internet of Things, and machine learning will begin taking
the ERP industry by storm in 2021. Cloud computing will continue to revolutionize how these systems are
used, accessed and protected as well. According to Gartner Inc., ERP technology and service providers will
see new spending driven by increased adoption from midsize organizations, particularly of Software-as-a-
Service (SaaS).

Analytics leveraging AI will be a big push in ERP next year. Predictive tools available in an ERP solution are
already being used to make smarter business decisions based on past history, but with the addition of AI,
this technology will have a big impact on how industries can utilize their ERP portfolio. Predictive analytics
with AI will help companies in manufacturing, retail and more industries optimize inventory and better track
supply and demand. While robotic process automation is also set to transform warehouses, ERP software
with analytic and AI capabilities is the first step towards creating an automated supply chain that many
executives envision for 2021.

End-user ease of use and complexity are two top-of-mind considerations for buyers in the current space.
Product support capabilities and services offered are also key attributes that require some thought.
Common support packages include assistance for non-technical users who require self-service, but there’s
also sometimes deployment assistance, dedicated use case representatives, and user training modules that
can be a great help.

The ERP software marketplace is mature and crowded with excellent software tools for a variety of use cases,
verticals, deployment methods, and budgets. There are very large providers we refer to as ‘megavendors’,
like Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle. There are also lesser-known innovators with interesting products that play in
niche areas, such as Aptean, ProcessPro and Intact Software.

ERP systems are business management platforms that organizations of all sizes use to collect, store,
manage, and communicate data across all functions of the enterprise. By integrating information from all
areas of a business into one complete enterprise system, ERP solutions allow data to be shared across
departments in real-time in order to streamline processes and automate common tasks. With a number of
possible indicators proving you might need an ERP solution, it’s important to recognize that each situation is
unique and that it’s important to find the ERP solution that’s right for you.

Solutions Review has developed this buyer’s guide to assist buyers in search of the best possible tool to
fit the needs of their organization. This resource features 10 important questions to ask during the buying
process, and full, one-page vendor profiles that provide a solution overview, three key features, contact
information, and our own ‘Bottom Line’ analysis.

Elizabeth Quirk, Editor

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 2
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

5 Questions You Should Ask When


Evaluating An ERP Solution

What business problems am I trying to solve with this ERP system?


Each ERP solution is designed with a specific type of company in mind and comes equipped with its own set of functionalities. It’s
important to identify the business problems that you’re planning address. For smaller businesses, you may only need the core ERP
essentials, but as your business grows you may require specific ERP capabilities to manage a larger database.

How will this ERP solution affect my business processes?


ERP systems have traditionally been built to serve the needs of large corporations. It’s only recently that software companies have
begun to target mid-tier and smaller organizations. Today, ERP solutions are designed to accommodate any number of quirks a
business might have. That’s why it’s important for you to understand how your business process works, and what adjustments you
would have to make to your processes if you were to purchase an ERP solution.

On the ground or in the cloud?


There are a number of reasons why your business may choose to keep your files stored locally. Costs, security, and your company’s
need for customization may all factor into your decision. On-premise file storage is often considered to be a capital expenditure.
Cloud based file storage is an operating expenditure giving you an additional expense the longer you keep you subscribe to the
service. Many ERP solutions providers also offer a hybridization of the two to better accommodate the needs of their clients.

Should you get a horizontal or a vertical ERP solution?


Horizontal ERP solutions are completely integrated suites that include a module for every business process you may undertake.
These solutions are often a bit generic in order to fit a number of company needs. Vertical solutions on the other hand are often
what you would refer to as “specialist solutions”. These solutions are designed for one specific industry rather than stretching
themselves to cover a number of industries.

What are you actually buying with the purchase of an ERP solution?
When you’re buying an ERP solution for your business, you’re not simply buying a single product that will simply be implemented
and left to its own devices. When you buy an ERP solution, you are essentially buying an ongoing process of maintenance,
upgrades, and support which could last decades. Each of these aspects is critical to the success of your ERP system and need to
be considered before purchase.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

5 Questions You Should Ask Your


Potential ERP Solution Provider

Will your company need to implement upgrades and enhancements even if you don’t want to?
While ERP solutions aren’t nearly as pricey as they once were, they can still be a hefty expense for your business. Today, many
vendors give customers the option for flexible financing options letting buyers spread payments over 3-5 years. Our biggest advice
when buying an ERP solution is to not over-buy. You don’t need to buy more licenses than necessary. Because of the modular
nature of ERP solutions, you can always add more modules later as you need them.

Does your company have the IT resources available to support an on-premise installation?
Like nearly every software provider, ERP vendors release upgrades and new products pretty much every year. This can be a real
headache, as it brings a major invasive change that could turn costly depending on their upgrade pricing. This is why nearly two
thirds of mid-sized businesses are running outdated versions of their ERP software. Many companies believe that unless you’re
properly prepared to re-implement your locally stored software, it may be wiser to opt for the cloud instead, to ensure that your
software stays updated with the least amount of trouble.

What sort of training is made available by this solution?


When you finally lay down all that money for your ERP solution, you’d at least like your employees to know how to use it, right? You
should ask the provider if they provide effective training for the solution. If they don’t, you may want to ask for some information
regarding resources that can be provided to make the learning curve less difficult. Without properly preparing your employees for
your new ERP solution, it will be very difficult for them to properly operate the new system.

What functionalities will my company actually use?


ERP solutions these days have the ability cover essentially every business process you can think of. The question for mid-market
organizations is whether or not you need all of those capabilities. Often times, ERP functionalities may be too specialized to be
very useful for a company or perhaps a company may have an existing or outsourced feature. The bottom line here is not to pay
for features that you’re company doesn’t need or won’t use in the future.

Does the solution vendor have a clear long-term product strategy?


After investing a pretty penny in an ERP solution, you’d expect to stay with it for a while, right? Today, the ERP solution market is
filled with frequent acquisitions and mergers. You need to be sure that after you put the money and effort, your ERP solution will be
around to grow and adapt to your company’s needs, while also staying equipped with the latest technologies.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 4
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

4 Key Capabilities To Consider Before


Selecting An ERP Solution

Security
An ERP system is a place where all your company data and numbers will be stored, and it’s vital for your business to keep your data
protected from unauthorized use. Some ERP systems have a permit-driven architecture that gives users an opportunity to view,
modify and delete only the data they have the permission to handle. Flexible deployment architecture of an ERP system is a must.
It will give your network administrator an opportunity to configure the best security settings.

Financial Management
Go for ERP software with a financial component and can securely store, control, and analyze all the financial data of your enterprise.
The system should be able to handle budgeting and forecasting. There should be a feature to see the insights of your budgeting so
that you can optimize your processes. With the financial management feature, an ERP will help you to increase the profitability of
your enterprise, improve the cash flow, cut down the costs of different processes in various departments.

Quality Control
ERP systems should have an active quality control feature. Naturally, every part of the company influences the quality of its
products and services in a certain way. ERPs help to boost employee commitment and improvement by generating and deploying
transparent quality values every employee can refer to. Active quality management helps companies to improve their compliance,
improve management of supplier relationships, and reduce their defect rates.

Customer Relationship Management


Your ERP system should help bring data together to enable salespeople and marketing planners alike to better address customer
needs, preferences and buying patterns. It should better manage invoicing activities and monitor the overall status of contracts.
The CRM function of an ERP helps with all of this by allowing you to communicate with customers and improve relationships with
them through faster, more accurate access to customers’ information and history.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 5
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Solution Provider Profiles


8 ....................................................................................... Acumatica

9 ....................................................................................... Aptean

10 ..................................................................................... Deltek

11 ..................................................................................... ECi Software

12 ..................................................................................... Epicor

13 ..................................................................................... ERP Gold

14 ..................................................................................... Exact

15 ..................................................................................... FinancialForce

16 ..................................................................................... IFS

17 ..................................................................................... Infor

18 ..................................................................................... Intact

19 ..................................................................................... Microsoft

20 ..................................................................................... Odoo

21 ..................................................................................... Oracle NetSuite

22 ..................................................................................... Priority Software

23 ..................................................................................... ProcessPro

24 ..................................................................................... QAD

25 ..................................................................................... Ramco

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 6
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Solution Provider Profiles


26 ..................................................................................... Sage

27 ..................................................................................... SAP

28 ..................................................................................... SYSPRO

29 ..................................................................................... Unit4

30 ..................................................................................... Workwise

31 ..................................................................................... Workday

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 7
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Acumatica
Founded in 2008, Acumatica provides cloud and browser based business 11235 SE 6th St
management software designed for small and mid-sized businesses.
Bellvue, WA
Acumatica’s ERP solution offers a suite of fully-integrated applications powered
by a flexible platform. It comes as a full suite offering financials, distribution, United States
project accounting, and CRM. Acumatica provides its Studio feature, which +1 (888) 288-8300
empowers business process changes while enabling software customization www.acumatica.com
instead of requiring businesses to change their business processes.

Key Features
Financial Management
From online accounting for smaller local businesses to feature global applications for larger, complex businesses,
these accounting applications are designed to support a number of needs.

Distribution Management
Manage quotes and orders, track inventory, automate purchasing, and improve customer service, plus fully
integrated with CRM, financial, manufacturing and project accounting for visibility across the entire organization.

Customer Management
Acumatica’s customer management module includes standard CRM functionality for managing leads, contacts,
opportunities, etc. In addition, post-sales service and customer portals help improve the total customer
experience.

Bottom Line
Each application is fully mobile to allow access from anywhere on any device at any time. Acumatica’s unique
pricing model offers flexible licensing and deployment options and is easily expanded for a growing organization.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Aptean
Aptean was founded in 2012 after a merger between Consola Corporation and 500 S. Kraemer Blvd
CDC Software and offers Enterprise Resource Planning solutions for a number
Brea, CA
of financial and manufacturing markets. The company builds and acquires
solutions to support the evolving operational needs of businesses, helping nearly United States
5,000 organizations. Aptean’s ERP solutions include: Cimnet ERP, Encomprix +1 (888) 353-7058
ERP, Ross ERP and more, each designed to fit individual needs. Aptean delivers www.aptean.com
solutions to more than 9,000 customers in over 100 countries within the
manufacturing, distribution, high tech, transportation, retail, government, real
estate, financial services, health care, and not-for-profit industries.

Key Features
Easy Integration
Provide seamless integration of planning, materials management and procurement, manufacturing, financial, and business
intelligence processes.

Standardized Business Processes


Make it easy for your employees to do business with each other by standardizing and integrating business
processes across the enterprise.

Multi-Currency Capabilities
Support multi-national manufacturers with multi-language and multi-currency capabilities.

Bottom Line
Aptean builds industry-focused solutions to support the evolving operational needs of their customers. They
provide a flexible ERP solution that’s designed to work around your business needs, and not the other way around.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 9
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Deltek
Deltek’s ERP solution, Costpoint, has assisted companies in researching and 2291 Wood Oak Dr
identifying new opportunities, winning new business, recruiting and developing
Herndon, VA
talent, and more. Deltek offers a range of ERP products to fit the unique demands
of clients. Deltek’s ERP solutions are available as cloud-based and on-premise United States
systems, priced on a per employee per month basis. Deltek is typically used by +1 (800) 456-2009
organizations with over 21 employees in the system and more than ten users www.deltek.com
who need access to the software. The solution is used in a number of industries
including aerospace and defense, healthcare, non-profits, and education.

Key Features
Finance
Deltek’s Costpoint simplifies processes such as billing, revenue recognition, expense management and
compliance to maximize profit and revenue, and improve cash flow.

Human Resources
Costpoint provides a single integrated solution that helps automate and simplify the HR Process by streamlining
and automating the entire employee life cycle, reducing costs associated with their employee self-service, and
ensuring compliance.

Operations
With Costpoint, you can operate more efficiently with more transactional control by eliminating manual processes
with electronic billing, automating business processes, and centralizing contract information in one place.

Bottom Line
As the most trusted ERP accounting software for government contractors, Deltek’s Costpoint provides users with
a single, integrated, and dynamic ERP solution that lets you track, manage, and report on a variety of business
processes. Deltek’s pairing mobile applications allow users to access the software from anywhere, at any time.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 10
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

ECi Software
ECi Software Solutions provides business and e-commerce solutions, offering 4400 Alliance Gateway Freeway
on-premise and cloud-based technologies. For more than 20 years, ECi Software
Fort Worth, TX 76177
has served the manufacturing, office supplies, service technology, contract
office furniture, lumber and building materials, hardware and jan/san sectors. United States
With small and medium sized organizations in mind, ECi offers: Macola ERP for +1 (866) 374-3221
manufacturers and distributors, JobBOSS for shop management, MAX ERP for www.ecisolutions.com
discrete manufacturers, and M1, a powerful all-in-one ERP for manufacturers.
ECi offers ERP solutions for a range of industries such as Hardware Retailers,
Lumber & Building, Office Tech, Equipment Maintenance, and more.

Key Features
Order Processing & Shipping
Easily track jobs, access real-time customer and supplier information, and streamline the sales order process
with the JobBOSS Order Processing module. Keep your customers informed and happy with the JobBOSS
comprehensive shipping management module. Shipping can be an efficient and excellent customer service tool.

Business Process Management


Increase organizational knowledge, boost efficiency, and streamline customer interaction with document
management, workflows, and integrated CRM functionalities.

Business Activity Monitoring


KnowledgeSync Alerts & Automation is a business activity monitoring solution that combines business
intelligence, alerts, and workflow to keep you on top of your business. KnowledgeSync empowers your business
to become more customer-centric by allowing you to be in control with intelligent alerts.

Bottom Line
JobBoss is the ideal solution for: Made-to-order, Mixed-mode, and highly customizable job-based manufacturing.
Macola is ideal for Mixed-mode and Make-to-stock. Max is ideal for Made-to-order and Mixed-mode. Whereas M1
is the ideal solution for customer manufacturing, made-to-order, make-to-stock, configure-to-order, and engineer-
to-order.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Epicor
Epicor Software Corporation provides industry-specific business software 804 Las Cimas Pkwy
designed around the needs of manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services
Austin, TX
organizations. With more than 45 years of experience, Epicor Software offers
unique solutions for unique business processes and operational requirements United States
―in the cloud or on premises. Epicor ERP is a global resource planning platform +1 (800) 999-1809
that provides choice, flexibility, and agility to promote growth and opportunity www.epicor.com
Epicor ERP is IoT ready, deployable in the cloud or on-premise, and provides a
scalable solution for integration, implementation, and expansion.

Key Features
Human Capital Management
Offers a feature-rich HR management solution to comprehensively manage your global workforce from
recruitment to retirement, so you can focus on cultivating a culture of growth.

Business Intelligence and Analytics


Features dashboards, trackers, and data visualization tools built into the core ERP platform to help you visualize
data and get a better understanding of what is happening in your company right now.

Enterperise Risk Management


Stay compliant, and ensure that employees and partners are aware of non-compliance risks. Epicor governance
risk and compliance (GRC) software solutions offer greater business predictability, help manage business risk,
and drive stakeholder confidence.

Bottom Line
Epicor ERP is a highly flexible resource planning solution allowing it to be deployed to fit your unique business
situations. The solution is true cloud-based ERP software, giving companies a month-by-month subscription to
the service. As a single source for information, it helps to minimize duplicate data entries and repetitive tasks.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 12
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

ERP Gold
ERP Gold offers a full-stack intelligent ERP solution that brings major business 595 156th. Av
operations from marketing, lead generation, CRM, inventory, purchases, payroll,
Bellevue, WA 98007
and project management to accounting in one platform. ERP Gold’s cloud-
based system offers a secure SSL connection for easy, encrypted access from United States
anywhere in the world. ERP Gold is heavily focused on the marketing, sales and +1 (888) 334-4472
client relationship side of the business, so there are no missed opportunities. www.erp.gold
With EPR Gold, you are able to integrate third party APIs so you can manage all
your solutions in one location.

Key Features
Customer Relationship Management
With ERP Gold’s Customized CRM Software you can assign leads to co-workers and work together with your
team to make sales, automate calendars and reminders to make sure you follow up with leads, and instantly
convert listings from the lead generation module to customers with all necessary data.

Retail POS
ERP Gold gives you Point of sale software with inventory management, it has improved inventory visibility,
enhanced sales and customer management, and real time access to financial information whether you are a
single store or have multiple locations.

Manufacturing and Wholesale


With ERP Gold’s Manufacturing tools, you can keep track of Item Assembly, production Control, Bill of Material,
production costing and more. With Wholesale you can maintain repeated customers with easy management of
your inventory and sales.

Bottom Line
ERP Gold is an all-in-one solution to fulfill your business processing needs. ERP Gold was built to be easy to
use and customize so you can tailor it to your work flow. Give your small business the power of enterprise class
software with ERP Gold.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Exact
Exact Software offers its Exact Globe ERP solution, featuring accounting, 3600 American Blvd
inventory management, billing and invoicing, financial reporting, and more. Globe
W Bloomington, MN
Next can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise. Exact’s ERP solution works
with companies of any size, enhancing visibility and insight into their business United States
processes through a single interface. This ERP solution also notifies users +1 (855) 359-9256
whenever there is an action that needs attention. Exact Globe allows teams to www.exact.com
customize their system and adjust team and individual user permissions quickly
and easily.

Key Features
Service Management
Exact Service Management provides the insight to empower your service provision, supporting more efficient,
customer oriented service delivery.

Manufacturing
Exact ERP for manufacturers allows you to streamline your manufacturing process. You utilize your manufacturing
resources as effectively as possible and optimize inventory levels. You maintain control and save costs thanks to
transparent reports and automatic notifications. What’s more, with ERP for manufacturing you take the first step
towards the ‘smart’ factory of the future

Business Process Management (BPM)


Empower your employees with the information to get the job done right first time. Whether as a stand-alone
solution, or fully integrated with any of Exact’s Finance, ERP, CRM or HRM software, Exact for BPM workflows
help your departments and employees work more efficiently together from day one.

Bottom Line
Exact’s ERP Suite is designed to bring all aspects of a business operation together. It does this using modular
flexibility that adapts to your requirements. The Exact Globe ERP solution is an easy to use program designed for
companies of all sizes, especially manufacturers that require high standards of government compliance.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

FinancialForce
FinancialForce was founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco. Today, 595 Market St
FinancialForce is the leading cloud-based ERP for the new services economy.
San Francisco, CA
The number one ERP native to the Salesforce platform, FinancialForce unifies
data across the enterprise in real-time, enabling companies to rapidly evolve United States
their business models with customers at the center. Built on the Salesforce +1 (866) 743-2220
platform, FinancialForce software offers centralized billing capabilities to www.financialforce.com
facilitate accurate invoicing for products/services, subscriptions, contracts,
projects, and more.

Key Features
Financial Management
Streamline your opportunity to cash process, manage revenue precisely and generate real time financial analysis
& compliance report with FinancialForce Financial Management on Salesforce.

People Management
Optimize your resources to drive project profitability. Gain visibility, predictability, and intelligence around every
aspect of your business. Leverage prebuilt API connections for seamless data integration.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)


Salesforce integration eliminates the artificial divide between the front & back office. This allows for one
customer record for CRM and ERP apps and a seamless opportunity to cash process. Act as one company, not
five departments.

Bottom Line
Built on the Salesforce Platform, FinancialForce Cloud ERP solutions automatically gives you a complete,
customer-centric view of your business. It’s simple but powerful cloud accounting platform offers an end-to-end
solution ideal for small and large sales and service-oriented companies seeking solutions to streamline their
workflows while minimizing expenses.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

IFS
Founded in 1983, IFS develops and delivers ERP software for customers around 300 Park Boulevard
the world who manufacture and distribute goods, maintain assets, and manage
Itasca, IL 60143
service-focused operations. IFS’s products are known for being user friendly,
modular in their design and flexible. IFS Applications business software provides United States
increased ERP functionality, including CRM, SCM, PLM, EOI, enterprise asset +1 (888) 437-4968
management, and MRO capabilities. IFS ERP includes functionality for Enterprise www.ifsworld.com
Project Management, Enterprise Asset Management and Service Management.
It can be configured for a variety of industries and excels in demanding settings.

Key Features
Supply Chain Management
SCM functionality is an embedded and advanced component within the software, providing you with a powerful
logistics solution in demanding environments like aviation and defense, oilfield services and multi-location
manufacturing.

Financial Management
The IFS Financials solution helps you make the right business decisions at the right time. This solution provides
end-to-end support for project, financial and management accounting, and supports multiple visual outputs to
clearly communicate performance to business decision makers.

Human Capital Management


IFS HCM solution gives you the flexibility you need to manage your workforce as work practices evolve. From
essentials like time and expense allocation to performance management and talent development, this solution
gives you what you need to manage and develop your teams.

Bottom Line
ERP software from IFS it is designed to help you rapidly take advantage of emerging technology and the changing
market landscape, maximizing the agility of your business. With functionality for Enterprise Project Management,
Enterprise Asset Management and Service Management, IFS ERP can be configured for a variety of industries.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Infor
Infor is a privately held software company founded in 2002. Infor’s business 641 Ave of the Americas
applications are specialized by industry, built for the cloud and gives you everything
New York, NY
you need to run your day-to-day operations as well as grow your business for the
long-term. Whether you need to optimize vital back-office functions like HR and United States
financials, jumpstart your customer experience, or initiate digital transformation, +1 (866) 244-5479
Infor solutions have you covered. Over 90,000 organizations worldwide rely on www.infor.com
Infor to help overcome market disruptions and achieve business-wide digital
transformation.

Key Features
Industry CloudSuites
Infor’s ERP software is at the core of the industry CloudSuites. Infor offers unique ERPs to meet your specific
needs from manufacturing to distribution to services industries. Infor M3, Infor LN, Infor CloudSuite Financials
and Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) enables Infor to build out the industry requirements, business processes
and analytics unique to each of your industries and verticals.

Infor Technology
Infor OS serves as the underlying foundation for the entire enterprise ecosystem, ensuring that systems work
together seamlessly, deliver business insights automatically, and are flexible. Designed to maximize the potential
of both your technology and your people, it provides a conversational UX that makes systems intelligent, intuitive,
and exponentially more valuable.

Best of Breed Solutions


Infor also offers Best of Breed solutions to meet the unique requirements specific to different business processes.
From Human Capital Management to Enterprise Asset Management , Customer Relationship Management,
Supply Chain Management, Configure-Price-Quote and more, Infor offers additional capabilities for your company.

Bottom Line
With Infor, you can easily find the right solutions for every aspect of your business. We build complete industry
suites in the cloud and deploy software that puts the user experience first, leverages data science, and integrates
easily with your existing systems.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Intact
Intact Software was founded in 1992 and has been creating accounting software Coes Rd
ever since. They are currently known for providing the flexible Intact iQ, their ERP
Dundalk, Co. Louth
solution directed towards small and medium sized businesses. Intact’s iQ ERP
software gives users the ability to view all aspects of their business from one Ireland
platform. The ERP solution can be used across multiple mobile devices through +353 (0) 42 933 1712
its cloud capabilities, and includes a built in email platform and SMS messaging www.intactsoftware.com
functionality.

Key Features
If This Then That (IfTTT)
Intact’s unique IfTTT agents filter out distracting data to ensure you with the most relevant information for your
business.

Innovation
Intact iQ works directly with you to create the kind of unique features you need to be at your best and differentiate
your business in the marketplace.

Predictive Stock Management


With Intact iQ, you benefit from predictive analytics, using your data to make better business decisions. Predictive
stock management allows for tighter controls, ensures stock levels reflect demand, and that customer demands
are exceeded.

Bottom Line
Intact’s iQ ERP software is a flexible piece of ERP software that allows small and medium sized business to
streamline their data in order to make informed and thoughtful business decisions. The system is meant for a
wide variety of industries as a horizontal accounting system and one of the best all-in-one ERP, accounting and
business management software for merchants, engineering and wholesale and distribution.

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ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Microsoft
Microsoft provides ERP software to businesses of all sizes through its Dynamics One Microsoft Way
365 platform, which consists of six separate products: Microsoft AX, GP, SL, NAV,
Redmond, WA
CRM, RMS. The Microsoft Dynamics portfolio started in 2001 with the acquisition
of Great Plains Software and Soloman, and in 2002 with the acquisition of United States
Navison and Axapta. Together, these four technologies make up the Microsoft +1 (800) 642-7676
Business Solutions Group (MBS), a major supplier of ERP solutions. Dynamics www.microsoft.com
GP, NAV, and SL are typically intended for small and medium enterprises while
Dynamics AX is typically best suited for larger organizations.

Key Features
Manufacturing
Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system can be tailored to support the specific needs of manufacturing businesses
while delivering a low total cost of ownership (TCO).

Usability
The user interface is very customizable (with role-based personalization), and is also familiar, for staff that
regularly use Microsoft software.

Financial Management
Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP software delivers a range of financial capabilities to help consolidate accounts with
subsidiaries or distribution centers worldwide.

Bottom Line
Dynamics 365 goes beyond traditional ERP systems by bringing comprehensive enterprise resource planning
functionality together with the Office 365 apps you already know in a single, cloud-based service. If you’re a small
or medium-sized business, it helps you manage your finances. If your enterprise is larger, you can manage your
operations and increase your speed of doing business. And Dynamics 365 powers insights that help you make
data-driven decisions to improve your business performance.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 19
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Odoo
Odoo is an open-source ERP software provider for businesses of all sizes and 250 Executive Park
industries. With the “On-premise” offer, Odoo is the most installed business
San Francisco, CA
software in the world; used by over 3.700.000 users worldwide ranging from
startup companies (1 user) to large enterprises (300,000+ users). Odoo’s United States
distinction is that the whole system revolves around a collection of apps. The +1 (650) 691-3277
software has apps to cover everything from warehousing, manufacturing, and www.odoo.com
sales channels, to timesheets, websites, purchasing, and more.

Key Features
Manufacturing
Accurate planning directly based on real manufacturing times measures. MRP, Quality, Maintenance and PLM
fully integrated. Display worksheets, quality alerts to workers during operations. Lastly, capture data in real-time
from your equipment using the API.

Marketing Automation
Segment your prospects database to deliver the right message to the right prospect at the right time. Set up
advanced marketing workflows that are centered around your prospects and nurture them efficiently through
your sales funnel, 24/7.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)


Track leads, close opportunities and get accurate forecasts. Schedule activities based on your sales scripts:
calls, meetings, mailing, and quotations. Get all information you need, directly on the opportunity: website pages
viewed, mail received, etc.

Bottom Line
Odoo offers one application for free for unlimited users when hosted online, and adding additional apps will
typically run you from $12/month-$72/month depending on the app. However, if you install and maintain the
software in house, Odoo is totally free.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 20
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Oracle
In 2016, Oracle acquired NetSuite in a definitive agreement saying “Oracle 500 Oracle Pkwy
and NetSuite cloud applications are complementary, and will coexist in the
Redwood Shores, CA 94065
marketplace forever.” That being said, the two offer leading cloud-based ERP
solutions designed for small, medium-sized and large enterprises. From advanced United States
financials to supply chain management to billing and beyond, NetSuite and +1 (650) 627 1000
Oracle ERP solutions give companies the tools they need to accelerate growth info@netsuite.com
and drive innovation, in industries such as: Financial Services, Healthcare, Higher www.netsuite.com
Ed, Manufacturing and Retail. Oracle NetSuite ERP is a horizontal package
designed for a wide range of industries.

Key Features
Financial Planning and Management
Combine robust financial management with built-in business intelligence to drive smarter, quicker decision-
making. Shorten cycle times, engage business users and enrich your planning process with an intuitive planning,
budgeting and forecasting solution.

Order Management
Oracle NetSuite’s ERP solution’s order management module helps to accelerate the order-to-cash process by
tying sales, finance and fulfillment to pricing, sales order management and returns management.

Built in Business Intelligence (BI)


Combine data with visual analytics to generate meaningful and actionable business insights. Real-time analytics
is the NetSuite user interface. Users know what they should be doing and how they’re helping the business, with
vital business data displayed from right within the system.

Bottom Line
Oracle NetSuite ERP permits customers in any industry to manage their front and back office functions, plus web
operations, all from a single and reliable source.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 21
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Priority Software
Founded in 1986, Priority Software provides end-to-end business 300 Roundhill Dr
management solutions for organizations of all sizes, from accounting software
Rockaway, NJ 07866
for small businesses, to a full featured ERP platform serving multi-national
corporations. Priority’s functionality covers all the core elements of the traditional United States
ERP landscape, with primary modules including finance, manufacturing, logistics, +1 (973) 586-2200
HR, CRM, business intelligence, and more. With Cloud and Mobile platforms, www.priority-software.com
Priority’s mobile ERP solutions enable real-time access and true “Priority on the
go” for various processes and positions across the supply chain.

Key Features
Project Management
Priority‘s Project Management module provides capabilities that match and surpass those of dedicated project
management systems. Project planning supports task interdependencies within or between projects, while
activity-related reporting of labor & expenses.

Warehouse Management
Priority‘s Warehouse Management System (WMS) is derived from its complete integration with Priority‘s ERP
system. This prevents inventory balance discrepancies and operational requirements mismatches between the
ERP and WMS systems.

CRM and Sales


Prioirty’s CRM module includes two components: marketing automation for managing marketing efforts and
pipelines, and sales force automation for managing sales reps and channels. Priority gives users the benefit of
full customer lifecycle management, from generating leads to recording a price quote and sales order, shipping
the order, receiving payment, and handling service calls and repeat orders.

Bottom Line
From Manufacturing (plastics, chemicals, metal processing, electronics, Food & Beverage, pharmaceutical,
medical devices and more), Distribution, Customer Service, to Project Management and Construction, Priority
serves a wide range of SME customers throughout the world.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 22
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

ProcessPro
ProcessPro is one of the leading mid-market ERP solution providers that integrates 3290 33rd St
all aspects of plant operation. ProcessPro’s Premier ERP Suite, designed for the
S. Saint Cloud, MN
manufacturing industry, works for both manufacturers and distributors. Their
latest release, Global, is their newest ERP solution uniquely developed for the United States
food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, cannabis and specialty chemical +1 (800) 457-3548
industries. Their software suite tackles your mission-critical business functions www.processproerp.com
while linking all of your information through integrated “business intelligence”
functionality.

Key Features
Human Capital Management
Inventory Control automatically tracks inventory balances, serial numbers, lots, and product line information.
Plus, it prints extensive reports to analyze and control inventory. Features can be selected individually for each
item, and includes unit of measure conversions for stocking, purchasing, selling, and counting in different units.

Project Portfolio Management


Add functionality to your base physical inventory system to allow you to perform inventory counts and to recreate
inventory transactions that are done during your physical inventory process.

Financial Management
Pricing Management allows for pricing by customer and/or products, including tiered, volume, and promotional
pricing, as well as rebates. Perform a detail margin analysis to easily garner profitability ratios. Incorporate landed
costs to ensure accurate management of costs and margins.

Bottom Line
ProcessPro offers a fully integrated ERP suite that offers a complete system. The system handles all aspects of
your business from sales and receivables, to purchasing and manufacturing. The solution is also developed, sold,
installed, and supported by the same ProcessPro team, so you only have a single source to deal with at every
phase.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 23
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

QAD
QAD began in 1979 as a small startup looking to address a large gap in business 100 Innovation Pl
software for manufacturing companies. Today, they offer a flexible ERP solution
Santa Barbara, CA
for those same customers. Their ERP software is typically recommended for
organizations that have six or more users accessing the system. QAD Cloud United States
ERP provides users around-the-clock and around-the-world support in all major +1 (805) 566-6100
languages. Running on the QAD Cloud, QAD Cloud ERP delivers excellent www.qad.com
availability and performance with the security demanded by a mission critical
application including support for GPDR.

Key Features
Blended Deployment
QAD Cloud ERP allows you the freedom to move your data entirely to the cloud, keep it on premise, or a
combination of both (hybrid).

Manufacturing
QAD Manufacturing ERP adapts to any style of manufacturing and to the needs of all your geographic locations.
Quality metrics, central model management and automated data collection ensure accurate, complete product,
material and inventory information. Intuitive planning tools synchronize production to changing demand, while
built-in quality management helps you keep a sharp focus on excellence.

Financial Management
QAD Financials supports your business with comprehensive controls, budgeting, analysis and reporting tools.
With built-in local languages and internationalization, it supports local business practices globally. QAD Cloud
ERP supports IFRS and Multi-GAAP compliance for fast and accurate closing and reporting.

Bottom Line
QAD works to develop products and services that can address the needs of specific industry vertical segments
through collaboration with leading manufacturers and extensive research, QAD Cloud ERP specializes in a six
industries: automotive, life sciences, consumer products, food & beverage, high tech and industrial manufacturing.
Their solution helps manufacturers address the unique challenges in their given industry.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 24
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Ramco
The India-based software company, Ramco Systems, delivers an ERP Suite that 64 Sardar Patel Rd
covers a number of business needs, including finance & accounting, supply
Taramani, Chennai
chain management, and quality management. The solution is built on Ramco
VirtualWorks, one of the most advanced application assembly and delivery India
platforms. Its cloud option allows you to get a 360 degree view of your business +91 (44) 2235 4510
at any time, and from anywhere. You can access each component of the suite www.ramco.com
from over the internet from mobile or desktop devices.

Key Features
Easy Integration
A robust enterprise services platforms offering complete integration solution for all Ramco ERP applications
across industries. Designed with one codebase ensures all components of Ramco ERP work seamlessly with
each other.

Service Engagements
Ramco’s ‘Mail It’ feature has brought the Enterprise System to where the user wants and when he wants it. The
user can now transact on the ERP by sending a mail to the system to complete their transactions. The system is
intelligent enough to understand user’s mail and take appropriate action.

In-Memory Capabilities
Optimizing processes, planning resources, and minimizing costs, Ramco’s Optimizer module makes complex
procedures easy and convenient for you.

Bottom Line
Ramco’s comprehensive ERP solution is geared towards a business that’s experiencing rapid growth. Ramco
ERP has the ability to be scaled up to accommodate multiple locations, currencies, and business units. Ramco
Systems focuses on Innovation and Culture to differentiate itself in the marketplace.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 25
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Sage
Founded in 1981, Sage provides ERP software directed to small and medium 271 17th St
sized companies. Sage’s ERP software is available in three different products;
Atlanta, GA
X3 for enterprises, 100 for small and mid-sized light manufacturers, and 300
for small and mid-sized businesses with multiple locations. Sage 100 includes United States
modules for core accounting, distribution, manufacturing, business intelligence, +1 (866) 996-7243
customer relationship management, and human resources. X3 is web based and www.sage.com
browser agnostic and is responsible on mobile devices. It is also configurable to
company requirements, user roles, and preferences.

Key Features
Blended Deployment
Sage’s hybrid cloud feature allow you to keep your data on-site while also allowing you to access your information
through mobile devices.

Service Engagements
Integrate front to back office processes such as marketing sales, and customer service.

Customization
Flexible and powerful customizations can be done utilizing Custom Office to add user-defined fields, add
programming to follow business rules, and automatically perform tasks. These customizations are very cost-
effective as they will survive upgrades to the next release.

Bottom Line
Sage provides a number of ERP solutions, each designed with a specific business need in mind. The ERP solution
provider is now in the cloud, providing a hybrid feature allowing to businesses to store data locally while having
mobile access. Sage has been noted for their frequent updates for their ERP and CRM solutions.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 26
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

SAP
SAP, the German software giant, provides businesses with its SAP S/4HANA next Dietmar-Hopp-Allee 16
generation ERP software which provides strong functionality across a number of
69190 Walldorf
industries including manufacturing, services, retail, wholesale distribution, and
more. Within S/4HANA, it offers applications covering customer relationship Germany
management, financials, human capital management, and product lifecycle +49 (0) 6227 / 7-47474
management. The software primarily serves small to medium-sized businesses www.sap.com
with up to one hundred employees and less than $75 million in annual revenue.

Key Features
Procure to Pay
Manage your purchase orders more efficiently with SAP’s “Procure to Pay” function. This centralized software
allows you to reduce costs by optimizing inventory levels, improve supplier management, and simplify basic
procure-to- pay processes such as requisitioning and e-invoicing.

Core Finance
With the ‘Core Finance’ function, organizations can automate their financial operations while ensuring regulatory
compliance.

Plan to Product
With this function, organizations can accelerate their manufacturing process; from planning and scheduling to
monitoring and analysis.

Bottom Line
SAP S/4HANA is a real-time enterprise resource management suite for digital business. It is built on our advanced
in-memory platform, SAP HANA, and offers a personalized, consumer-grade user experience with SAP Fiori.
Deployable in the cloud or on-premise, S/4HANA can drive instant value across all lines of business – no matter
your industry or business size.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 27
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

SYSPRO
SYSPRO ERP is a modular system with functionality focused completely on the 959 South Coast Dr
needs of manufacturers and distributors. From supply chain management to
Mesa, California 92626
production and scheduling, SYSPRO provides applications with industry-specific
technology designed to integrate every aspect of your business. SYSPRO United States
offers industry-built ERP software made for Automotive Parts and Accessories, +1 (714) 437-1000
Electronics, Fabricated Metals, Food and Beverage, Industrial Machinery and www.syspro.com
Equipment, Packaging, and more. SYSPRO’s new features integrated with the
latest innovative technologies paves the way to digitizing your business and
providing greater control and visibility.

Key Features
Business Intelligence
SYSPRO Analytics enables you to measure your business based on your particular key performance
indicators (KPIs), so you can make informed business decisions every day, while shaping long-term strategic
priorities.

Customer Relationship Management


With CRM for SYSPRO, you can be sure that your customer information is connected to support efficiency
and productivity across the entire organization, streamlining finance and accounting, production, supply chain
management, logistics, and other management operations.

Production Management
Whether producing goods to order, to stock, or using discrete or process methods, SYSPRO provides a
comprehensive solution to address the key challenges that occur within the production environment, such as:
Requirements Planning, Manufacturing Operations Management, Lot Traceability and Serial Tracking, and more.

Bottom Line
Because SYSPRO ERP is sold in modules, you are able to select only the modules that you require upfront and
add modules to your system as your company grows and requirements change. The modules cover every aspect
of manufacturing, distribution and finance, as well as advanced reporting capabilities, planning and automated
workflows. Therefore, your system can be as basic or advanced as your needs demand.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 28
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

UNIT4
Unit4’s ERP solution, BusinessWorld, delivers industry focused solutions that 1000 Elm St
include, professional services, education, public services, non-profit, wholesale,
Manchester, NH
and financial services. The solution integrates information, workflow and
analytics so each update populates automatically throughout the system. Its in- United States
system memory and predictive capabilities give teams the time to focus on other +1 (877) 704-5974
projects. Unit4 modules include core financials, Human Resources, budgeting, www.unit4.com
forecasting, procurement, asset management, and reporting and analytics.

Key Features
Planning and Analysis
Unit4 Business World provides organizations (in both the public and commercial sectors) with flexible tools for
budget registration, consolidation, and analysis.

Transactions Processing
Business World’s architecture includes a powerful control management framework, tying other modules, manual
processes and authorizations into one visible and auditable process flow.

Control
The General Ledger is at the core of the Financials solution and is used to control and consolidate all the financial
and statistical information from other parts of our unified ERP system, providing the financial department with
full control and overview at all times.

Bottom Line
Unit4’s Business World is a fully integrated, role focused ERP solution that lets you deploy from a private cloud,
public cloud, or on-premises locations. Unit4 Business World integrates information, workflow and analytics so
each update populates automatically throughout the system. In-system memory and predictive capabilities help
free up teams so they can focus on higher value work.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 29
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

WorkWise
Workwise is a developer of ERP and CRM solutions along with implementation N80 W12878 Fond du Lac Ave
and support services. Their ERP solutions allow for full customization. Workwise
Menomonee Falls, WI
calls its philosophy “customer inspired” because of their devotion to customer
service; listening to unique requirements from customers and using the feedback United States
to create innovative enterprise solutions. Workwise provides more than forty-five +1 (800) 490-9010
applications that can be used to build a number of roles that companies can www.workwisellc.com
deploy at group levels or at the individual user level.

Key Features
Serial and Warranty Control
Maintain accurate records for each unique warranty and/or serial number purchase and sale. This ERP solution
gives you tighter control of business operations and a more effective way to deal with regulatory compliance.

Ecommerce Gateway
Management of all your customer-facing applications, including web collaboration with customers, catalog and
content management, credit card processing, inventory management and more.

Customer Order Management


Customer Order Management handles the creation, maintenance, shipping, and invoicing of your customer
orders for goods and services.

Bottom Line
Workwise is a flexible on-premise ERP application that allows for the assembly of screens and function required
to fit each user’s roles and responsibilities. From shop floor to delivery, WorkWise ERP software gives you
complete visibility into your manufacturing processes to help streamline operations, improve efficiencies, manage
complexity and grow your business.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 30
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

Workday
Founded in 2005, Workday provides cloud-based ERP software for both 6110 Stoneridge Mall Rd
medium businesses and large enterprises in all kinds of industries, such as:
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Communications, Energy and Resources, Life Sciences, Hospitality, Insurance,
Manufacturing, Retail, Nonprofit and more. Workday delivers user and United States
administrative tools across financials, HR, planning, talent, payroll, analytics, +1 (925) 951-9000
and more from a single system. Workday also offers a module for educational www.workday.com
institutions that includes recruiting and admissions, curriculum management,
records, advising and financial aid tracking.

Key Features
Professional Services Automation
With Workday Professional Services Automation (PSA), you can support every part of your project—from staffing
and project management to billing and financial management.

Data-as-a-Service
Workday Data-as-a-Service Benchmarking shows how your business compares to your Workday peers. With a
clear understanding of where you excel and which areas need improvement, you can allocate resources where
they’re needed, capitalize on competitive advantages, and deliver industry-leading results.

Human Capital Management


Workday HCM provides complete visibility into your global workforce and a better user experience, so you can
keep your people engaged and help them grow. Easily plan for, recruit, and develop talent using a single system.

Bottom Line
By bringing finance, HR, and planning into one system, Workday makes it possible for enterprises of all sizes to
shed their disparate systems, giving you total visibility so you can make decisions based on data, not guesswork.

© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 31
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING BUYER’S GUIDE

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SOLUTIONS REVIEW
Solutions Review is a collection of technology news sites that aggregates, curates, and creates the best
content within leading technology categories. Solutions Review’s mission is to connect buyers of enterprise
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Over the past four years, Solutions Review has launched ten technology buyer’s guide sites in categories
ranging from cybersecurity to wireless 802.11, as well as mobility management, business intelligence and
data analytics, data integration, and cloud platforms.

Information for this report was gathered via a meta-analysis of available online materials and reports,
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© 2021 | Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA 32

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