There are many different enterprise resource planning systems available. Finding what system that best fits your business can be difficult but with a little research you can find the system that best benefits your unique business. I will look at some of the top systems available including Microsoft Dynamics AX, Oracle, and SAP.

1.Microsoft Dynamics AX

There are many benefits to this system. First of all, it has an architecture that is multilayered which makes it very user-friendly for everyone and can adapt to a changing business. If you have other Microsoft programs on your computer, such as Word, Excel and Outlook, it works seamlessly with them allowing for an easy transfer of information. Collaboration both external and internal is quite easy with this system as companies can share information with each part of the business quite simply.

For large, international businesses the system works very well due to multi-language and multi-currency capabilities. Microsoft Dynamics AX now meets regulatory requirements for 36 countries. Not only does Microsoft Dynamics AX work with larger companies but it also works equally well with companies that have only one location. Global ERP support also comes with the system to answer any question or solve any problem that may come up. If you have Microsoft Dynamics AX 3.0, 4.0 or AX 2009, there is a simple upgrade to all of the new features. The 2012 R3 and upcoming AX 7 version has over 1000 enhancements over previous versions.

Today there are many reasons that why companies are now turning to Microsoft Dynamics AX is that

# It has a shorter implementation due to the familiar nature of Microsoft products with an average implementation time of 13 months which is several months shorter than its competitors. The system also allows users to make changes more rapidly

# Dynamics AX has low cost of implementation as that of SAP (which has the highest) followed by Oracle.

# Customization of Dynamics AX is easier that of Oracle and SAP which is the lowest of all

# Dynamics AX provides the highest ROI over its biggest rivals

# It is very easy for AX to get integrated with other software, followed by CRM, Oracle and then SAP

# It is seen that Dynamics AX offers highest performance

According to a recent survey by Panorama Consulting Solutions, Microsoft Dynamics AX had the shortest implementation time comparing it to Oracle and SAP. While there are many benefits to Microsoft Dynamics AX, there a few negatives as well. One of the more recent complaints is that the system has moved towards larger companies and left smaller companies behind. Having a strong cloud ERP option is also something that can be improved in AX 7.

2.Oracle:E-Business Suite

E-Business Suite is one of the leading competitors to Microsoft Dynamics AX. One of the benefits of this system is that they integrate many different modules very seamlessly into one system allowing for easy use. The Oracle system also allows for customization similar to that of Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Another strength of the system is the automation of many processes, so that manual data entry by employees is no longer required from other systems. Rather, employees can focus on other areas to spend their time on, making the company much stronger.

A very nice feature that Oracle has that when inventory falls below a certain point, the system creates a purchase order for the item in question. The system then notifies managers the next morning keeping the people in power with up-to-date information. One of the disadvantages of the Oracle system is that it tends to be less user-friendly to smaller businesses where as Microsoft Dynamics AX works well with both types of businesses. The E-Business Tax module does not particularly well if you are not operating overseas. Another weakness is that of the sales module which is quite important. Many customers tend to use other sales modules or try to make their own.

3.SAP’s Business One

SAP is a company that has been around for quite some time and owns quite a large share of the market. In other words, they know the ERP market very well. In 2012, SAP owned roughly a quarter of the market, according to Forbes. Despite being such a large company they also do business with companies with fewer than 1000 employees which shows their diverse client base. They work with businesses in over 45 countries. One of the areas that SAP has excelled at for many years is business intelligence. They have a very integrated and user friendly system which includes dashboards, report writing, and data warehousing.

If you are not familiar with SAP software it tends to take longer to pick up and the implementation process tends to take longer than other alternatives. Not only does the implementation take longer but it also tends to be more expensive than other systems. Another negative about ERP software is that it demands many upgrades which can be come costly.

Conclusion
For small to mid-size companies as well as for large companies now, the AX ERP (Microsoft Dynamics) is an extremely good choice, with its acceptance and rapid growth in the last few years. But, organizations should not completely rely on survey data for making ERP implementation decisions as the survey study does not differentiate company size, project needs as such other factors. However, whichever ERP system you choose it is important to find out what is best for the type of business that you run. Dynamics AX, Oracle, and SAP all have their advantages and can benefit your business if implemented correctly.

Sunbridge is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner offering services in AX (Axapta), NAV (Navision) and CRM Pune Maharashtra India