IFS Cloud is a versatile and user-friendly ERP software that offers significant advantages in terms of flexibility, stability, and ease of use. It stands out for its low-code/no-code approach, making it easy to customize and adapt to various business needs.

Best For:

We recommend IFS for organizations in the Aerospace and Defense, Energy Utilities and Resources, Construction and Engineering, Manufacturing, and Service Industries. The software is tailored for sectors requiring robust asset management, service delivery, and industry-specific functionalities.

Katana is a manufacturing ERP to help get inventory control over materials and products in real time. Features allow users to manage orders, raw materials, finished products, production recipes, manufacturing, sales, and stock.

Best For:

Katana Manufacturing ERP is tailored for various industries, from apparel and electronics to food and aerospace. Designed for small to mid-sized manufacturers, it offers a visual platform to seamlessly manage inventory, production, and sales.

10.0

USER RATING

based on 1 user reviews

Our Verdict:

IFS Cloud can be tailored to various industries, making it widely popular. Its ability to seamlessly integrate all business functions such as human capital management and asset management is commendable. The platform’s composable environment ensures adaptability, allowing businesses to select functionalities as per their needs and expand over time.

However, potential users should be aware of some usability concerns. While many appreciate its robust functionality, a few users have found the interface to be less intuitive than desired. This might pose a slight learning curve for newcomers.

Pros:

Responsive customer support
User-friendly interface
Customizable based on features/modules
Integration with 3rd party applications

Cons:

Requires consult call for pricing
Can be a steep learning curve due to wealth of features

8.0

USER RATING

based on 9 user reviews

Our Verdict:

Katana Manufacturing ERP has transparent pricing and real-time inventory and order management. It delivers priority-based production planning, multichannel sales management, manufacturing floor-level control, and product traceability.

On the downside, paid plans include only one full-access. The Essential plan omits batch tracking and shop floor features, and the lack of a mobile app or API options limits its adaptability.

Pros:

Affordable, transparent pricing
Real-time inventory tracking across locations
Data-driven decision-making support
Live inventory management
Responsive live support

Cons:

Only one full-access included in paid plans
Essential plan lacks batch tracking and shop floor operators
No mobile app
No API or hook option for further integration

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $250,000 (perpetual license)
Client OS Windows, Web

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $179/month
Client OS Web

After testing and reviewing by our editorial review staff, we are bringing you a head-to-head comparison of IFS Applications and Katana MRP. Our analysis is based on personal experience and an understanding of both platforms’ features, target markets, and overall performance.

IFS Applications

Produced by IFS North America, IFS Applications is a versatile ERP system that can be tailored to various industries including Aerospace, Defense, Energy, Construction, Manufacturing, and Service Industries. The platform stands out for its ability to integrate all business functions like asset management and human capital management seamlessly. IFS Applications allow you to choose only the functionalities you need and expand over time, providing a high degree of flexibility.

However, it’s worth noting that some users have found the interface less intuitive than desired. A few have also encountered performance issues and found customization options limited.

The deployment model for IFS Applications is either cloud-hosted or on-premises, and it is compatible with Windows and web-based operating systems.

Katana MRP

On the other side, we have Katana MRP, a manufacturing ERP designed for small to mid-sized manufacturers across various industries. Katana MRP stands out for its priority-based production planning, real-time inventory tracking, and data-driven decision-making support.

There are a few downsides to consider. The paid plans only include one full-access user. Moreover, essential features like batch tracking and shop floor operators are omitted in the Essential plan. The lack of a mobile app or API options could also limit its adaptability.

Katana MRP is cloud-hosted and operates on web-based systems.

Which is Better for Most Businesses?

For most businesses, particularly small to mid-sized manufacturers, Katana MRP is likely a better choice. It offers a more affordable solution with real-time inventory control, production planning, and sales management. The transparent pricing and responsive live support make it a user-friendly option.

That being said, larger organizations or those in specific sectors like Aerospace, Defense, and Energy may find the robust asset management, service delivery, and industry-specific functionalities of IFS Applications more suited to their needs.

For an even broader look at ERP solutions, you can check out our roundup of the best ERP software overall.

IFS Cloud

★★★★★

(1)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$250,000 (perpetual license)

Client OS

Windows, Web

Deployment

Cloud or On-Premises

Katana Manufacturing ERP

★★★★★

(9)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$179/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted