Two of the most popular ERP solutions in the Asian market are Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Sage 300.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Sage 300 are both ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems that provide solutions for financial management, supply chain, inventory, and sales management. However, they differ in terms of their target markets and pricing.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) whereas Sage 300 is designed for larger enterprises.
We understand that choosing the right business management software solution can be a daunting task.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the functionality of these two solutions.
Cloud-based vs On-premise
Dynamics 365 Business Central is primarily a cloud-based ERP system that is hosted on Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure and can be accessed via the internet.
This deployment option offers businesses several benefits, including automatic updates, easy scalability, and the ability to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection.
Sage 300, on the other hand, is primarily an on-premise ERP system with recent introduction of a cloud-based deployment option. However, the cloud-based option is still in its early stages and does not offer all the features of the on-premises version of Sage 300.
On-premise ERP system is installed and managed on a business’ own servers. This deployment option offers businesses more control over their data and systems, but it requires more technical expertise to install and manage the system. Additionally, the on-premise system requires maintaining hardware and software, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Integration with other Microsoft products
Dynamics 365 Business Central is part of the Microsoft ecosystem and integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Office 365, Power BI, and Power Apps.
This means that you can use all of these products together to streamline your business processes.
For example, you can use Power BI to create dashboards and reports that display real-time data from Dynamics 365 Business Central, giving you greater insight into your business operations.
Sage 300, on the other hand, can integrate with third-party applications but may require additional customisation. This means that it may not be as tightly integrated with Microsoft products like Office 365, Power BI, and Power Apps. This can make it more difficult to share data between systems and can result in data silos within your organisation.
Industry-specific functionality
Business Central offers industry-specific functionality for a range of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, retail and others. This can make it easier for businesses in these industries to implement and use the software.
Sage 300 also offers industry-specific functionality, but it may require more customisation and configuration.
Customisation and Flexibility
Both systems offer customisation options, but Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has more flexible and user-friendly customisation options. Users can easily customise fields, forms, and reports without needing extensive technical skills. Sage 300 requires more technical skills to customise the system, but it offers more customisation options.
You can customise the software to fit your business processes and ensure that you’re getting the most out of the solution.
The system is built on the Dynamics NAV platform, which has a large ecosystem of third-party developers and add-ons that can be easily integrated into Business Central.
Sage 300 also offers customisation options, but they may require more technical expertise and resources.
Scalability
Both solutions are scalable, but Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed to grow with businesses as they expand.
As your business grows, you can add more users, modules, or customisations to the software.
Dynamics 365 Business Central is also designed to integrate with other Microsoft solutions like Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, which can be used for sales, marketing, and customer service.
Sage 300 is better suited for larger businesses with more complex requirements. It may not be as easily scalable as Business Central. If you need to add more users or modules to Sage, it may require additional hardware or software upgrades, which can be costly.
User Interface
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has a modern, user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
Sage 300 has a more traditional, desktop-based interface.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central also offers a mobile app that allows users to access the system from anywhere.
Implementation
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has a faster implementation time compared to Sage 300 due to its cloud-based architecture. Microsoft offers pre-configured templates that can be quickly customised to meet specific business needs.
Sage 300 implementation can take longer and may require more customisation.
Training
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has a more intuitive user interface and requires less training compared to Sage 300. Microsoft also provides online training resources, including tutorials and webinars, to help users get up to speed quickly.
Sage 300 may require more extensive training due to its more complex interface and functionality.
Data security
Both systems offer robust data security features, but Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has better data encryption and backup options. Microsoft also provides regular security updates to protect against cybersecurity threats.
Reporting
Both systems offer reporting functionality, but Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central includes embedded predictive analytics and AI capabilities, providing businesses with insights into customer behaviour and trends. It also has the ability to create custom reports easily.
Sage 300 may require more third-party tools or integration to access similar functionality.
Ease of migration
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed for easy migration from other ERP systems, with a data migration wizard that helps users migrate their data quickly and easily.
Sage 300 migration may require more manual effort and technical skills.
Ease of updates and upgrades
Business Central has a streamlined update and upgrade process, allowing businesses to easily apply updates and stay up-to-date with the latest features and functionality.
Sage 300 updates may be more complex and require more manual intervention.
Support
Business Central is supported by Microsoft, which has a large and experienced support team that can assist businesses with any issues or questions they may have.
Sage 300 is also supported, but it may not have the same level of resources and expertise as Microsoft.
Pricing
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has a monthly subscription-based pricing model that is more flexible and affordable for SMEs. You pay for what you use, and there are no surprises or hidden fees.
Sage 300 pricing is more complex and typically includes a base price for the software and additional costs for modules and users.
Conclusion
As a Microsoft trusted technology partner, we believe that Dynamics 365 Business Central is the best choice for businesses looking for a modern, cloud-based business management software solution.
Dynamics 365 Business Central offers several advantages over Sage 300, including cloud-based hosting, seamless integration with other Microsoft products, industry-specific functionality, customisation and flexibility, scalability, user-friendly interface, faster implementation, lesser training requirement, updated data security, better reporting capabilities, ease of migration, ease of updates and upgrades, better support and cost-effectiveness.
At Winspire Solutions, we specialise in helping businesses like yours to implement Dynamics 365 Business Central and ensure a smooth transition to the cloud.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive with Dynamics 365 Business Central.