IT

Best ERP Software

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With the right ERP solution in place, you get unprecedented visibility into what’s working and what’s not—from ensuring the efficacy of your supply chain to spotting missed revenue opportunities and everything in between. After diving deep into the top options on the market, Acumatica is our top pick because it’s one of the most affordable options in the category and comes in multiple editions to serve businesses of all shapes and sizes.

The Best ERP Software for Most

Acumatica

Acumatica

Best for Most

Multiple software editions to accommodate businesses of all shapes and sizes. It's especially beneficial for growing small and midmarket organizations because pricing based on usage, not per-user. Choose from construction, manufacturing, distribution, field service, and general business solutions.

Acumatica ranks highest on our list because its usage-based pricing makes it more affordable and accessible for smaller businesses without sacrificing the essential features you need to streamline business operations.

There are also numerous industry-specific solutions you can start with that are ready to go out of the box. From financial management and business intelligence to inventory management and everything in between, Acumatica delivers everything you need to realize improved cash flow, boosted productivity, and better business practices across the board without paying for a bunch of features you’re never going to use.

The 7 Best ERP Software Options to Consider:

  1. Acumatica – Best for most
  2. Oracle NetSuite – Best ERP solution for scalability
  3. Infor – Best industry-specific ERP solutions
  4. IQMS – Best ERP software for manufacturing
  5. Epicor – Most versatile and flexible ERP software
  6. Deltek – Best ERP software for small businesses
  7. OSAS Traverse – Best ERP software for accounting

When It Makes Sense to Invest into ERP Software

Historically, ERP software was reserved for large corporations with complex needs. But modern cloud deployment makes it more accessible to small and midsize businesses as well.

And it’s a smart choice for any business looking to manage operations from a single platform. In fact, investing becomes more crucial as your company grows. So, it’s an excellent idea to have the operational foundation you need to bolster that growth.

As a small business, using multiple platforms for various business functions is manageable. But at scale, bouncing back and forth between tools poses a challenge.

It can also be a huge waste of time, especially if the tools you’re using don’t work well together.

If day-to-day management is no longer working for you, you frequently miss out on opportunities because your software stack doesn’t flow together, or it’s taking up too much of your time, you should carefully consider investing in an effective ERP solution.

However, if you’re a very small business or startup and you’re not necessarily struggling using various tools to manage operations, it may be too early to invest in ERP software.

#1 – Acumatica — The Best ERP Software for Most

Acumatica

Acumatica

Best for Most

Multiple software editions to accommodate businesses of all shapes and sizes. It's especially beneficial for growing small and midmarket organizations because pricing based on usage, not per-user. Choose from construction, manufacturing, distribution, field service, and general business solutions.

If you’re looking for a better way to manage your business, Acumatica is the way to go. With numerous software editions for businesses of all shapes and sizes, there’s no shortage of solutions. Whether you’re a small team, a midmarket business, or an enterprise company with thousands of locations across the world, you’ll enjoy usage-based pricing to keep costs low.

However, its adaptability, flexibility, and ease of implementation make it an excellent option for small and midmarket organizations that plan to or are currently scaling faster than they can manage on their own.

There are also specialty solutions for different types of businesses, including distribution, field services, manufacturing, construction, retail-commerce, and general business solutions for other industries.

No matter how you do business, Acumatica’s cloud-based ERP solution offers high-end features for everyone.

Within those categories, Acumatica has tools for a wide range of use cases, including financial management, project accounting, business intelligence, inventory management, and order management to name a few.

From managing customers to finances, material purchasing, appointments, teams, and more, you get everything you need to streamline operations in one centralized location.

As your business grows and your needs change, you can add additional functionality to your ERP solution. As you grow, it grows alongside you and you only have to pay what you need. It’s usage-based pricing also makes it more affordable for larger teams with hundreds of users. You never have to pay to add more users, so you can easily onboard the entire team.

Typical businesses switching to or implementing Acumatica for the first time benefit from increased productivity company-wide increased cash flow, and improved responses to dynamic market changes. So, it’s beneficial even if you’ve never used ERP software before.

Pricing for Acumatica depends on the applications and resources you use, not on the number of users. So, pricing isn’t available online.

Schedule a demo and request a quote to get started today!

#2 – Oracle NetSuite — The Best ERP Software For Scalability

Oracle NetSuite

Oracle NetSuite

Best For Scalability

Oracle NetSuite is a top choice for fast-growing tech companies. It comes with built-in business intelligence and automation features that help prepare your business for explosive growth. It also scales alongside you as you grow, so you never have to worry about outgrowing your ERP software provider.

Oracle NetSuite is a well-respected name in the business software space. Like the rest of Oracle’s solutions, Netsuite is synonymous with high quality and enterprise-grade scalability. It’s also considered the first true ERP solution.

But that doesn’t mean NetSuite’s cloud ERP solution is only for megacorporations. In fact, Oracle’s software is one of the most common tools used by tech companies making their IPOs over the last decade.

Whether you’re already large and in charge or looking to grow quickly in the near future, you can’t go wrong.

With NetSuite, you’ll be able to streamline and automate business processes, giving you the additional resources to accelerate growth for your business. As such, it helps put processes and tools in place to bolster your business for continuous growth.

The software comes with built-in business intelligence, providing you with the data and visual analytics required to make meaningful business decisions, too.

So not only does it prepare you for growth, but it also helps facilitate it as well.

From accounting and finances to order processing, inventory management, supply chain, warehouses, and production, Netsuite delivers deep insight into your entire business.

Aside from visibility, it also helps you build out automations to eliminate human error, get more done in less time, and boost quality across your entire workflow from material sourcing to the time a finished product leaves your hands.

You can even use it to manage more than one business without having to purchase more than one ERP solution.

But for all this power, it’s important to note how easy this software is to use. In fact, it’s refreshingly simple. With NetSuite, it’s easy to generate reports and search them, a cinch to build automated workflows, and wildly customizable to fit your needs. So, even though it scales as you do, the intuitive user interface doesn’t get in your way.

The depth of capability in this software means it can be your constant companion as your company grows and evolves.

As the original ERP software, the company’s taken info and data from thousands of deployments over the years to streamline the process and make it as easy as possible to get started.

Plus, Oracle delivers twice-annual updates to the software, every year, and even polls users on features and improvements they’d like to see in further updates. As you grow and need more from your ERP solution, you can rest easy knowing Oracle Netsuite and match just about any challenge you have.

For fast-scaling businesses, Oracle NetSuite is our top recommendation. 

#3 – Infor — The Best Industry-Specific ERP Solutions

Infor

Infor

Best Industry-Specific ERP

Infor provides custom solutions for various industries, including retail, automotive, aerospace, construction, fashion, travel, healthcare, and government to name a few. The cloud-based software is trusted by SMBs and global enterprises alike all around the world, so you know you're in good hands.

Infor has one of the most extensive ERP product catalogs on the market. And it’s trusted by more than 68,000 organizations across the globe.

On top of that, their solutions are designed to accommodate SMBs and enterprises alike. 

With Infor’s industry-specific cloud ERP tools, businesses across a wide range of categories can improve mission-critical operations, boost productivity, and streamline business processes.

Infor has ERP solutions for dozens of industries, including:

  • Distribution
  • Fashion
  • Retail
  • Automotive
  • Defense and aerospace
  • Construction and engineering
  • Government
  • Healthcare
  • Professional services
  • Education
  • Electronics
  • Travel and hospitality

The list seriously could go on for miles.

Other highlights of the Infor ERP software include personalized pages, role-based interfaces, embedded analytics, agile innovation, optimized purchasing, warranty tracking, and more.

The possibilities are incredibly extensive, to say the least. 

Infor also provides exceptional customer support and 24/7 access to your ERP solution via mobile. The deployment process could take up to 16 weeks, but that’s expected for larger organizations. 

However, don’t expect to sign up and get started immediately. Their prices aren’t available online, so contact their sales team to kick off the process and learn more today!

#4 – IQMS — The Best ERP Software For Manufacturers

IQMS

IQMS

Best For Manufacturing

ERP software built specifically for manufacturing companies across hundreds of industries with dozens of industry-specific modules available. As one of the only manufacturing-specific ERP tools, you know you're getting nothing but the best. IQMS spares no detail.

Unlike other software providers that try to accommodate a wide range of business types, IQMS focuses on a single type of business—manufacturing.

IQMS offers specific solutions within the manufacturing category, including automotive manufacturing, medical manufacturing, aerospace and defense manufacturing, packaging, process-specific BOMs, stamping, contract manufacturing, and more.

So, regardless of your industry, you’ll find the perfect solution.

IQMS also offers dozens of manufacturing-specific modules to take your ERP software even further, including tons of other tools to optimize and streamline your entire operation.

And at the end of the day, the entire solution is built for end-to-end visibility and control, with a shop-floor-first approach to enterprise resource planning.

As such, it’s a smart choice if you’re interested in easy scalability, improved efficiency and productivity, less downtime, and enhanced visibility.

Plus, IQMS offers the largest number of manufacturing-specific modules in the industry. which helps minimize the number of third-party integrations required to streamline operations.

And it’s available as an on-premise or cloud-based deployment to match your business’s needs.

As an IQMS customer, you get various benefits including things like:

  • Lower inventory costs
  • Maximized plant floor output
  • Quick return on investment (ROI)
  • Efficient team communications
  • Efficient planning and scheduling
  • On-time deliveries based on demand
  • Compliance management
  • Reduced costs associated with rejects, scrap, and poor quality
  • Improved efficiency and a shop-floor-first approach

If you’re in the market for manufacturing ERP software or manufacturing execution software (MES), IQMS is an excellent choice, regardless of your operation’s size.

#5 – Epicor — The Best Versatile ERP Software

Epicor

Epicor

Best For Versatility

Epicor’s ERP solution is designed to accommodate a wide range of business needs and industries, and it's one of the most customizable options on our list. Whether you're looking for an on-premise or cloud solution, Epicor has all of the extra bells and whistles you won't find with other providers.

Epicor is a top choice for anyone that needs a highly flexible and customizable ERP solution. The platform supports a wide range of industries, including retail, distribution, lumber and building materials, manufacturing, and more.

With Epicor, you’ll have the option to deploy the software as cloud-based SaaS or on-premises. 

In addition to the industry-specific ERP software from Epicor, the provider also offers solutions based on business needs.

  • Supply chain management
  • Planning and scheduling
  • Ecommerce and POS
  • Customer relationship management
  • Data management
  • Business intelligence and analytics
  • Enterprise content management
  • Manufacturing execution system (MES)
  • Financial management

Epicor is IoT-enabled as well. This gives you the ability to monitor your facilities in real-time using data from IoT sensors or PLCs.

For B2Bs and B2Cs alike, Epicor is one of the best ERP solutions on the market today. They also offer exceptional support and additional services, like consulting.

#6 – Deltek — Best ERP Software For Small Business

Deltek

Deltek

Best For Small Business

Think ERP solutions are reserved soley for large companies and enterprises? Think again. Deltek is one of few ERP software providers that focuses on small companies looking for a better way to break down barriers between departments, no matter how small they are. Get everything you need in one package, today!

Deltek is a well-known name in the business software space. It’s trusted by 30,000+ organizations worldwide. The company has an extensive list of business solutions in various categories. 

While most ERP software on the market is designed for larger enterprises, Deltek has solutions built specifically for small businesses.

Deltek specializes in ERP and PSA (professional services automation) software. These tools are designed to automate crucial business operations while eliminating barriers between departments. You’ll also benefit from advanced reporting and real-time visibility into all aspects of your organization. 

Surprisingly, Deltek doesn’t just have one cookie-cutter solution for all small businesses. They have specific ERP software to address certain small business needs. Examples include:

  • Costpoint for government contracting
  • Costpoint for manufacturing
  • Accounting and project management for architecture and engineering
  • Agency management solutions
  • Business development
  • Human capital management
  • Customer relationship management

The full list of capabilities is quite impressive, especially for small businesses. 

Larger organizations will find some of these tools a bit limiting. Deltek does have a handful of other products for enterprises like commercial enterprise professional services. But overall, it’s a better choice for fast-growing small-to-midsize businesses. 

#7 – OSAS Traverse — Best ERP Software For Accounting

OSAS Traverse

OSAS

Best Accounting ERP

OSAS Traverse is perfect for businesses that want an ERP solution with a primary focus on financials. Outgrown QuickBooks and looking for something that lives up to your dynamic and demanding envrionment? OSAS is your new best friend, regardless of your industry, the size of your business, and the size of your wallet.

OSAS is another highly flexible ERP solution. They provide tools to manage a variety of business processes within a single system. 

OSAS Traverse is a popular choice for nonprofits, field service industries, food businesses, service repair organizations, and businesses in the cannabis field. 

The software really stands out from the crowd with its accounting solutions with integrated ERP functionality. With OSAS Traverse, you’ll benefit from ERP accounting applications like:

  • General ledger
  • Accounts payable
  • Accounts receivable
  • Banking
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Fixed assets
  • Human resources
  • Payroll

OSAS has tools to accommodate small businesses, mid-size organizations, and enterprises alike. If you’re a smaller business that wants to upgrade from QuickBooks to a more advanced accounting system with integrated ERP capabilities, OSAS Traverse should be at the top of your list. 

OSAS Traverse is easy to deploy—choose between an on-premises or cloud-based solution.  

I like OSAS because they let you customize the software based on your needs. You can add-on applications for things like CRM, electronic data interchange, project costing, point of sale, and more. 

Methodology For Choosing The Best ERP Software

Navigating the waters to find the best ERP software for your business can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. Fortunately for you, we’ve put together this buying guide to help you recognize exactly what you should be evaluating.

The feature sets and considerations below should be the driving force behind your software selection. 

Industry

While there is a handful of “general business” ERP solutions out there, I can’t say that we recommend those. Enterprise resource planning isn’t really a one-size-fits-all tool. 

The top ERP software providers have specific solutions for different industries. It’s definitely in your best interest to find an ERP software that’s built for your industry. 

Business Needs

What exactly are you looking for within an ERP solution? Most of you probably won’t need every single application or business function under the sun. So look for software that gives you the flexibility to customize your software based on business needs.

From human capital management to order management, financial planning, fulfillment, and more, there are dozens of business-specific needs within the ERP category. 

Organization Size

When it comes to enterprise resource planning, most people automatically assume that the software is only designed for global enterprises. But there are actually solutions out there to accommodate a broad range of business sizes, from small to large. 

Make sure the software you’re evaluating fits the needs of your business size. This is especially true for fast-growing companies. You don’t want to outgrow the software and be forced to switch in a couple of years.

Deployment

Do you want ERP software as a cloud-based SaaS? Or would you prefer on-premises deployment?

Cloud ERP has become the new normal. This is definitely a better option for small-to-midsize organizations as well. Plus, cloud deployment is usually more affordable than an on-site solution.

With that said, some businesses and industries are better off with an on-premises solution. Not every ERP software provider offers this option. So keep that in mind as you’re shopping around. 

Acumatica

Acumatica

Best for Most

Multiple software editions to accommodate businesses of all shapes and sizes. It's especially beneficial for growing small and midmarket organizations because pricing based on usage, not per-user. Choose from construction, manufacturing, distribution, field service, and general business solutions.

Summary

What’s the best ERP software? Acumatica is our top overall recommendation. It’s flexible enough to support the needs of businesses of all sizes in various industries. 

But Acumatica isn’t for everyone. For those of you with specific needs, you can use the recommendations and methodology outlined in this guide to find the best ERP software for your business. 


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