Infor SyteLine vs. Dynamics 365 Business Central

Written by

David Budiac

Last updated on

September 18th, 2023

Infor CloudSuite Industrial

Dynamics 365 Business Central

Infor CloudSuite Industrial (formerly SyteLine) is renowned in manufacturing for its strong bill of materials features, customizable reports, and modern design. The ERP’s key components include advanced planning and scheduling, supply chain management, accounting, and quality assurance.

Best For:

CloudSuite Industrial is best for small companies (10-50 employees) and medium-sized distributors and manufacturers (50-500). It supports made-to-order, made-to-stock, and mixed mode operations.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides finance, human resources, operations, marketing, sales, and more functionalities. It is a part of Microsoft’s suite of enterprise applications and integrates seamlessly with services like Office 365, Power BI, and Azure.

Best For:

Dynamics 365 Business Central is best suited for small companies with 10-50 employees and midsize businesses with 50-200. This cloud-based solution fits the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, nonprofit, and professional services industries.

8.5

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

8.8

USER RATING

based on 5 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like that Infor CloudSuite Industrial allows users to create or edit existing BOMs quickly. We also found the Engineering Board feature useful for developing accurate schedules and cost visibility.

However, we’d like to see an expanded QMS with more in-depth corrective action features. Due to its broad feature set and the complexity of navigation, it will require extensive training.

Pros:

Multi-site and multi-company support
Built-in business intelligence
Comprehensive supply chain management
Extensive reporting capabilities

Cons:

Limited QMS module
Difficult upgrades
Steep learning curve for new users

8.3

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

8.5

USER RATING

based on 11 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like Business Central for its user-friendly interface, product integrations, and accounting module. The platform includes audit trails, multi-currency, and multi-language support. It also automates recurring tasks like invoicing and reporting.

However, it’s probably not the best fit if your business does complex manufacturing. We suggest a dedicated manufacturing ERP system for tasks like machine monitoring and shop floor control. Finally, Microsoft doesn’t offer a free version of Dynamics 365.

Pros:

Combined ERP and CRM
Similar interface to MS Word and Outlook
Integrations with Microsoft applications
Creates quotes, orders, and invoices in Outlook
Offers same capabilities on iOS, Android, and Windows devices

Cons:

Not ideal for complex manufacturing needs
May require extensive training
No free version
Clunky third-party integrations
Tedious setup

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $25,000/user (perpetual license)
Client OS Windows, Web

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $70/user/month
Client OS Web

Our editorial review staff has hands-on experience with both Infor ERP and Microsoft Dynamics 365. After thorough testing, we’re here to share our insights to help you better understand these two platforms.

Infor SyteLine Overview

Infor CloudSuite Industrial, formerly known as SyteLine, is best suited for small to medium-sized manufacturing and distribution companies. It’s particularly effective for businesses with 10-500 employees that operate in made-to-order, made-to-stock, and mixed mode operations.

Infor ERP stands out with its advanced planning and scheduling, supply chain management, accounting, and quality assurance features. However, new users may face a steep learning curve due to its broad feature set and complex navigation. Some users have reported difficulties with upgrades.

Dynamics 365 Business Central Overview

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central caters well to small and midsize businesses across a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, nonprofit, and professional services. It’s an ideal choice for businesses with 10-200 employees.

Microsoft Dynamics 365, integrates seamlessly with Microsoft’s suite of enterprise applications like Office 365, Power BI, and Azure. It offers user-friendly interface, audit trails, multi-currency, and multi-language support, and automation of recurring tasks.

On the downside, it may not be the best fit for businesses with complex manufacturing needs. And may require extensive training to master. Some users have found third-party integrations to be clunky and the setup process to be tedious.

Infor SyteLine vs Dynamcis 365: Which is Better for Most Businesses?

While both systems have their merits, Microsoft Dynamics 365 is likely the better choice for most businesses. Its seamless integration with other Microsoft applications, combined with its user-friendly interface and automation of recurring tasks, make it a versatile tool for a variety of industries. Microsoft Dynamics 365 has a subscription-based model, making it more accessible for businesses looking to manage their cash flow.

However, businesses with complex manufacturing needs may find Infor ERP to be a better fit, due to its robust bill of materials and supply chain management features.

If neither of these systems meet your needs, we encourage you to check out our roundup of the best ERP software overall.

Infor CloudSuite Industrial

★★★★★

(5)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$25,000/user (perpetual license)

Client OS

Windows, Web

Deployment

Cloud or On-Premises