Microsoft Dynamics vs NetSuite 

With Microsoft announcing the end-of-life for Microsoft Dynamics GP, many GP customers are considering moving to the cloud. As the #1 Cloud ERP system, NetSuite is a great scalable replacement for organizations with aggressive growth plans. 

Ultimately, the decision to switch from Dynamics GP to NetSuite (or any other ERP solution) should be based on a careful evaluation of your business needs and a thorough comparison of the features and functionalities of each solution. It may also be helpful to work with an experienced ERP provider like GSI who can guide you through the decision-making process and help you implement NetSuite.

 

Why Companies Choose NetSuite Over Dynamics 365  

When Migrating from Microsoft Dynamics GP

1. Unified Business Suite

NetSuite offers a comprehensive cloud-based solution that integrates ERP, financial management, CRM, ecommerce, and inventory management into a single platform. This unified approach allows businesses to manage all core processes from one system, providing real-time data and analytics for informed decision-making. Its scalability and global support make it suitable for businesses of all sizes and locations. Dynamics GP users find NetSuite appealing due to its cloud-based flexibility, reducing the need for extensive IT infrastructure and enhancing operational efficiency. The integrated suite simplifies operations by combining ERP, CRM, and ecommerce, reducing manual data entry and enhancing visibility. Additionally, NetSuite’s real-time financial and operational insights, along with cost efficiency from lower IT expenses, make it an attractive option for businesses looking to modernize and streamline their operations.

2. Cloud-Native Design

NetSuite’s cloud-native design offers significant advantages, including accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection, reduced infrastructure costs, real-time data access, robust security features, and business continuity through automatic backups and disaster recovery solutions. These features make it a flexible and cost-effective solution for businesses, particularly those with remote or distributed teams. Dynamics GP users find the cloud-native design compelling due to reduced maintenance and IT costs, scalability, enhanced security, improved accessibility, and robust disaster recovery options. These benefits help businesses modernize their ERP systems, reduce complexities associated with on-premises solutions, and ensure continuous operations even in emergencies.

3. Real-Time Data

NetSuite’s real-time data capabilities offer immediate insights, embedded analytics, and drill-down functionality, allowing users to access and analyze the most current data without delays. This reduces dependency on IT staff and enhances decision-making by providing timely and actionable insights directly from customizable dashboards. The integration of real-time data across all business functions helps streamline processes and improve overall business performance. Dynamics GP users find NetSuite’s real-time data compelling due to its ability to enhance decision-making, improve business performance, and streamline processes. The cloud-based solution also offers cost efficiency by reducing IT costs associated with maintaining and upgrading on-premise systems. Overall, NetSuite’s real-time data capabilities provide a robust foundation for data-driven decision-making, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to boost operational efficiency and performance.

4. Automatic Upgrades

NetSuite provides biannual updates that are seamlessly integrated into the system, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations. Users are notified in advance, and updates are typically scheduled during off-peak hours. Additionally, NetSuite offers a Release Preview account for users to test new features before they go live, and for those on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, there is the flexibility to schedule or reschedule upgrades as needed. Dynamics GP users find NetSuite’s automatic upgrades compelling because they significantly reduce the IT burden associated with manual upgrades. This feature ensures that users are always on the latest version, benefiting from new features, security patches, and performance improvements without manual intervention. It also leads to cost savings by eliminating the need for additional consulting and IT resources. Regular updates help maintain a secure environment, which is crucial for businesses handling sensitive data.

5. Scalability

NetSuite’s scalability is a key feature that appeals to growing businesses. It can handle high transaction volumes, supports real-time data updates across all modules, and offers a modular design that allows businesses to add or remove features as needed. Additionally, NetSuite efficiently manages concurrent processes, ensuring smooth operations even during peak usage times. Dynamics GP users find NetSuite’s scalability compelling due to its cloud-based nature, which offers virtually unlimited scalability compared to the on-premises constraints of Dynamics GP. This cloud advantage allows for better performance optimization, handling increased data, users, and transactions without significant performance issues. NetSuite’s flexibility and modern ERP capabilities provide a more future-proof solution, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to grow and modernize their operations.

6. SuiteCommerce Platform

NetSuite’s SuiteCommerce platform offers comprehensive e-commerce integration that unifies e-commerce with core business operations like ERP, CRM, and order management. This integration provides real-time visibility across operations, mobile optimization, and automation of data transfer, reducing manual errors and enhancing scalability for both B2B and B2C merchants. Dynamics GP users find e-commerce integration compelling due to its ability to streamline operations by automating data flow, ensuring real-time inventory management, and enhancing customer experience with up-to-date product information. This integration also supports omni-channel commerce, reduces operational costs, and improves efficiency, making it a valuable tool for businesses looking to optimize their e-commerce operations.

7. SaaS Model

NetSuite’s SaaS model offers significant cost efficiency through subscription-based pricing, reduced IT overhead, scalability, and accessibility. Businesses benefit from predictable costs, as they pay a subscription fee instead of a large upfront investment. NetSuite handles all infrastructure, maintenance, and updates, eliminating the need for businesses to manage their own servers and IT staff. Additionally, the cloud-based nature of NetSuite allows for easy scalability and remote access, supporting flexible work environments. Dynamics GP users find the SaaS model compelling for similar reasons. Transitioning to a SaaS solution like Dynamics 365 reduces upfront costs and provides predictable per-user pricing, simplifying financial planning. Automatic updates ensure users always have access to the latest features and security enhancements without additional costs. Moreover, with the SaaS provider managing the infrastructure, internal IT resources can focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance, optimizing overall resource utilization.

8. Customization and Flexibility

NetSuite is highly regarded for its extensive customization and flexibility, which are major draws for Dynamics GP users. The SuiteCloud Platform allows for easy customization with intuitive tools, while SuiteScript and SuiteFlow enable advanced automation and integration. Users can personalize the interface to fit their needs, and the platform is designed to scale with business growth, ensuring customizations remain effective with updates. Dynamics GP users find NetSuite compelling due to its cloud-based flexibility, reducing the need for extensive IT support and offering greater accessibility. The integrated suite combines ERP, CRM, and e-commerce capabilities, providing a unified platform that enhances visibility and decision-making. Additionally, NetSuite’s extensive functionality and third-party integrations allow businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs, making it a versatile and future-proof solution.

9. Global Reach

NetSuite’s global reach is a significant advantage, especially for businesses transitioning from Microsoft Dynamics GP. With robust multi-currency and multi-language support, compliance with international regulations, and a strong global presence, NetSuite enables seamless operations across different regions. Its cloud-based architecture supports scalability, making it ideal for businesses expanding into new markets. Dynamics GP users find NetSuite compelling due to its unified cloud solution that integrates ERP, CRM, Ecommerce, and more into a single platform, reducing complexity and costs. NetSuite offers real-time financial and operational visibility, a lower total cost of ownership, and the flexibility to scale and customize the system. Additionally, its ability to manage global operations and financial consolidations in real-time simplifies the complexities of running a multinational business.

10. User Experience (UX)

NetSuite’s user experience is designed to be intuitive, flexible, and efficient, making it particularly appealing to users of Microsoft Dynamics GP. Key features include an intuitive interface, customizable dashboards, mobile accessibility, real-time data access, and integrated solutions for CRM, eCommerce, and ERP. These elements collectively reduce the learning curve, enhance productivity, and provide a seamless user experience. Dynamics GP users find NetSuite compelling due to its cloud-native architecture, ease of access, integrated CRM and eCommerce solutions, automatic upgrades, and scalability. Unlike Dynamics GP, which requires manual updates and third-party integrations, NetSuite offers a modern, efficient, and user-friendly ERP solution that supports remote and hybrid work environments, ensuring businesses can grow and adapt with ease.

Should I Switch to NetSuite or Microsoft Dynamics 365?

Here are some factors to consider when evaluating whether to use Microsoft Dynamics 365 or NetSuite:

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was launched in April 2018 and is a relatively young product. Unlike NetSuite, this solution was not built in the cloud and instead was rearchitected from NAV, an on-premise solution. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is hosted by Mirocosoft on Azure. NetSuite is the most mature cloud solution on the market, and was born in the cloud and built for it.  

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has weak reporting capabilities including limited filter options in pre-built reports, narrow slice and dice capabilities and lack of ability to drill down to the level of specific transactions. NetSuite is known for it's robust reporting capabilities that allows users to generate a wide range of reports to support swift decision-making and business analysis. NetSuite's reporting functionality is highly customizable, allowing users to create reports tailored to their specific needs.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is not designed to be a multi-country solution, so it lacks a native financial consolidation capability. A separate database is needed for each country a company has a subsidiary in (3rd party apps are usually used to fill this gap). One of the key features of NetSuite is its ability to manage multiple subsidiaries, allowing businesses to manage their operations across different locations, business units, and legal entities within a single unified system. 

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Challenges Facing Microsoft Dynamics GP Clients and How GSI Can Help

Challenge

Disparate systems

Solution

One central system, making scaling up and gaining full visibility across your organization a reality

Challenge

Wasting time and money on manual processes

Solution

Powerful automation capabilities that can streamline and automate manual processes such as order management, accounting and financials, inventory management, procurement, e-commerce, project management, reporting, and more

Challenge

IT complexity 

Solution

A single, cloud-based platform, that can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection

Challenge

Limited or no eCommerce options

Solution

Unifies front and back-end systems, removes manual processes, and creates a unique and engaging experience that's optimized for mobile

Challenge

Insufficient customer engagement

Solution

Drives positive customer interactions, creates a competitive advantage and builds loyalty over time

How Long Does It Take to Implement NetSuite?

The time it takes to implement NetSuite can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size and complexity of the organization, the level of customization required, and the availability of resources for the implementation.

NetSuite is a robust and flexible platform that can be customized to meet the specific needs of an organization. However, this can also make the implementation process more complex and time-consuming.

Here are some general steps that are typically involved in a NetSuite implementation:

Discovery and Analysis: This involves working with the implementation partner to understand the organization's business processes and requirements.

Configuration and Customization: This involves setting up NetSuite to meet the specific needs of the organization, which may include configuring account structures, creating custom fields, and setting up workflows.

Data Migration: This involves extracting data from the organization's existing systems and converting it into a format that is compatible with NetSuite.

Testing: This involves testing the system to ensure that it is functioning as expected and identifying and resolving any issues.

Training: This involves training users on how to use the new system.

The duration of the implementation will depend on the complexity of these steps and the resources available. A basic implementation can take as little as a few weeks, while more complex implementations can take several months or longer. It is important to work with experienced NetSuite implementation partner like GSI to ensure a successful implementation and a smooth transition to the new system.

Ask NetSuite Experts a Question

Working with GSI NetSuite Experts

The GSI NetSuite team consists of former CFOs, CEOs, supply chain experts, accountants -- people with real business experience. 

Most of our consultants are also accountants. We take an accounting-first approach to every implementation, where we see many other firms starting with customizations or "changing" NetSuite. 
We challenge our clients with a real-world understanding of how business process changes within the software will affect the overall business. 

We have a senior-level, 100% US based implementation team. Our consultants average 10+ years of experience in the NetSuite ecosystem. 

In addition to new implementations, we offer other services, including:

NetSuite License Resale to get you the best deal on your NetSuite licenses and renewals. Click here to get a free NetSuite price quote!
NetSuite SuiteCare Support - our #1 rated NetSuite support offering  staffed with dedicated resources that perform a business-first discovery of your organization in efforts to become familiar with your account and make better informed consulting recommendations.
NetSuite SuiteAlign Project Rescue - for NetSuite implementations gone wrong that need to get back on track ASAP. 

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