Both Acumatica and NetSuite are powerful ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems that will help you streamline day-to-day business operations. With the right system in place, you can simplify order management, financial planning, supply chain management, warehousing, fulfillment, and more. With so many popular ERP solutions on the market, it's not always easy to know where you should start. This showdown between Acumatica and NetSuite will give you a keen starting point for your search.
Do You Need Customization?
If your business is looking for highly customizable ERP solutions, Acumatica is likely the better pick. Acumatica deployment options are flexible. Although it is built with modern web-based technology for the Cloud, you can also choose to deploy it on-premise or have it hosted at the data center of your choice. Plus, you can easily switch between these models as your needs change, without losing performance and security.
This product also allows for robust customization options through Microsoft Visual Studio. You can update the theme and appearance, customize dashboard reporting, and completely overhaul your workflow. This gives you a product that's designed with your distinct needs in mind. You're not only comfortable with the layout, you're also getting prime functionality from the way the system is organized.
In comparison, NetSuite is far more rigid. This is a solid choice if you're looking for a lot of guidance as far as how to organize your software and set up business practices. However, this product isn't always flexible enough to fit workflows that are already well-established. Make sure you know all of your recurring costs upfront in relation to annual increases.
Are You Comfortable in the Cloud?
NetSuite is available exclusively in the cloud. Cloud ERP systems are popular for many reasons. They provide for greater flexibility, scalability, affordability, and security. In particular, small businesses are often partial to cloud-based solutions because the software and hardware are maintained off-site. This eliminates the need for a large on-site IT staff to keep your ERP running.
Acumatica is available in the cloud, as well, but also has an on-premise option. If you're not certain about the cloud yet, or if you simply want to retain the option to move seamlessly to an on-site system, Acumatica is a more flexible option in this area.
Are You Concerned With Per-User Pricing?
Depending on your business structure, you may find yourself with a large number of people who need access to your ERP system. You don't want to feel limited to a handful of users just for the sake of affordability. If your key employees can't access the ERP, you're losing a great deal of functionality. NetSuite has a user-based pricing structure, which can be limiting for some companies. You can select full-access and limited-access users, paying a different premium for each.
Acumatica offers an unlimited number of users, which is ideal for a company that's looking to scale up soon. You can add as many people as you'd like to your CRM. The pricing structure for Acumatica is based on software usage. You'll pay for the functionality that you get out of the software, not the number of people who have access.
Considering your business's unique needs is the best way to determine which ERP solution is right for you. Think carefully about what you need to get from this system, from the number of employees who will use it to the specific workflows that it should facilitate. Answering these questions will help you understand which option is best for you.