Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. SYSPRO

Written by

David Budiac

Last updated on

September 20th, 2023

SYSPRO

Dynamics 365 Business Central

SYSPRO is a major developer in the ERP world. Since 1978, it’s built a solid reputation in the manufacturing and distribution sectors. SYSPRO is an ERP software designed for discrete manufacturing and mixed-mode operations.

Best For:

Small and mid-sized businesses with 10 to 500 employees. It serves various industries, including automotive, cannabis, chemicals, electronics, fabricated metal, and food and beverage.

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.

8.9

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

9.1

USER RATING

based on 15 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like SYSPRO for its user-friendliness, accessibility across devices, and extensive AI and IoT integrations. It also offers hybrid, on-prem, and cloud options and supports parallel accounting for global regulations.

We don’t like that SYSPRO requires 3rd party add-ons for functions like EDI and shipping notifications. It also lacks customization flexibility and doesn’t include payroll or HR modules. Additionally, there are limited training resources available.

Pros:

Mostly straight-forward and user-friendly
Built with over 40 years of manufacturer and distributor expertise
Integration with AI, MI, IoT, and Cloud-hosting
Offers hybrid on-prem and cloud platform
Parallel accounting supports both IFRS and global local regulations

Cons:

3rd party add-ons may be necessary, like EDI and shipping notifications
Difficult to customize
No payroll or HR modules
Few training resources available

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 $199/user/month
Client OS Windows, Web

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

Our editorial review team has thoroughly tested both Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and SYSPRO. From our hands-on experience, we’ve drawn some conclusions that can help you decide whether the accounting or manufacturing solution is better suited for your business.

Target Market

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an ideal fit for small to mid-sized businesses with 10-200 employees. It’s particularly useful for companies in most industries, including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, nonprofits, and professional services.

In contrast, SYSPRO is designed mainly for manufacturers and distributors, especially mixed-mode operations. It has a strong presence in specific industries such as automotive, cannabis, chemicals, electronics, fabricated metals, and food.

Features and Usability

Dynamics 365 Business Central shines with its user-friendly interface, similar to familiar Microsoft products like Word and Outlook. It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft applications and even allows for task automation, like invoicing and reporting. However, it might not be the best fit for businesses with complex manufacturing needs and could require extensive training for some users.

SYSPRO offers a straightforward and user-friendly experience that’s accessible from any device. It stands out with its AI, MI, IoT, and Cloud-hosting integrations, and also supports hybrid on-prem and cloud platform deployments. However, it has fewer training resources available and might require third-party add-ons for functions like EDI and shipping notifications.

Dynamics 365 vs SYSPRO: Which is Better for Most Businesses?

Dynamics 365 and SYSPRO serve two very different market segments: accounting and manufacturing.

For most businesses, we recommend Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Its user-friendliness, seamless integration with other Microsoft applications, and cost-effectiveness make it a solid choice for many companies, particularly small to mid-sized businesses.

However, if your business requires complex manufacturing functionalities, SYSPRO might be a better option, especially given its extensive AI and IoT integrations and hybrid deployment options.

To explore more ERP solutions and find the one that fits your business best, check out our roundup of the best ERP software.

SYSPRO

★★★★★

(15)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$199/user/month

Client OS

Windows, Web

Deployment

Cloud or On-Premises