By Frank Nardi
Automation and centralization are more than just buzzwords. As companies scale, they receive an influx in customer, sales, and inventory data, making it difficult to stay organized and manage without automated tasks and a central management system.
To manage this influx of information, many companies invest in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems created to provide simple, integrated organization solutions. NetSuite’s API integrations and modularization make it a popular choice for many organizations, but what NetSuite alternatives are available for businesses seeking industry-specific, affordable, or customizable solutions?
Before investing in an ERP solution or inventory management system (IMS), consider your business’s financial, supply chain, and inventory management needs. With plenty of options available, we’ve compiled a list of the 12 best NetSuite alternatives on the market, their pros and cons, and their key features so you can make an informed purchasing decision.
While NetSuite offers a full collection of tools, integrations, and functions, it may not be the right system for every business. If NetSuite’s features and functions do not represent your business’s values, it may be best to look for an alternative ERP or IMS solution.
Many users claim NetSuite does not prioritize these elements:
These three factors may be the last straw for many businesses. For organizations that require ease of use, transparency, and affordability, one of the following 12 NetSuite alternatives may offer a stronger, more equipped solution.
Both Cin7 products offer dynamic solutions and modules for various inventory management and ERP needs. Cin7 Core prioritizes automation for tasks like data entry, reordering, and other inventory management processes. The core solution’s tool suite helps users consolidate data, centralize order management, and manage sales from anywhere.
Cin7 is also the best NetSuite alternative for businesses needing native EDI and 3PL fulfillment integrations and a centralized system for sales, financial, and warehouse management. Designed to keep business data contained in an easily accessible and organized location, Cin7 Omni is an outstanding IMS solution for SMBs.
NetSuite vs. CIN7: With transparent features and add-ons, full functionality across various platforms, and simplistic pricing, Cin7 is a top-tier NetSuite alternative designed to help businesses of various sizes centralize management systems.
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With a comprehensive, customizable approach to ERP, Acumatica’s customer-friendly licensing is a breath of fresh air. With a focus on mobility and accessibility, Acumatica allows users to access their data and management systems from anywhere on any device.
With industry-specific functionalities, Acumatica caters its design to users’ needs. Tailored tools for manufacturing, distribution, retail, service, and other fields allow businesses to create a system that fills gaps rather than requiring organizations to fit a pre-built system. Plus, its custom pricing allows small businesses and individual users to deploy solutions and scale when needed.
NetSuite vs. Acumatica: While NetSuite’s CMS options outrank Acumatica’s, the latter excels in its accessibility and customization. A higher level of programming knowledge is necessary to build Acumatica programs from scratch, but it’s great for businesses that need complex systems.
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As one of the best order management software platforms available, Brightpearl offers users a robust retail-focused ERP solution. Specifically designed for e-commerce, retail, and wholesale businesses, including omnichannel companies, this NetSuite alternative is outmatched in its retail-specific native integrations and post-purchase management systems.
Brightpearl’s automated warehouse, order fulfillment, and accounting management practices are virtually unmatched in the retail industry. Plus, users can quickly implement and deploy the system, allowing them to take advantage of the solution’s real-time performance analytics almost immediately.
NetSuite vs. Brightpearl: Brightpearl’s extensive retail-specific solutions offer more in-depth and real-time inventory, sales, customer, and supply chain data than NetSuite’s tool suite. Plus, the solution boasts near-nonexistent project creep, stellar expert services, an open API library, and integration opportunities with systems like Shopify, Amazon, and eBay.
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A strong option for manufacturing and distribution companies alike, Epicor has been widely acknowledged as a leading ERP solution by organizations like the SIIA CODiE Awards. For more than 50 years across 150 countries, Epicor has provided businesses with high-quality sales, finance, and resource management systems.
Customers often use Epicor’s ERP solution to optimize internal processes, scale capabilities and management systems, and maximize revenue. With innovative strategies and an emphasis on collaboration, Epicor prioritizes the customer experience across all system facets. Plus, its on-premise, hybrid, and cloud deployment capabilities allow customers to be flexible with where, when, and how they engage systems.
NetSuite vs. Epicor: With multiple products to develop and maintain, Epicor’s systems are less streamlined than NetSuite’s. However, its focus on customer needs allows this alternative to prioritize flexibility, deployment models, and updates to high-trafficked management systems.
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Recently retooled for the cloud, IFS Cloud is a stellar NetSuite alternative for enterprise-level companies with complex management needs. More than 4,000 customers use IFS Cloud to manage their field services, enterprise assets, and finances.
IFS Cloud boasts impressive security and a high-quality user experience, and its affordability speaks for itself. The system’s solutions for managing production processes and workforce scheduling for complex enterprise-level customers are unparalleled. Plus, its ability to support large-scale manufacturing, financial, and services operations for companies earning between $100 million and $5 billion in yearly revenue vastly outshines NetSuite.
NetSuite vs. IFS Cloud: Despite its impressive abilities, IFS Cloud is not designed to support small-scale business operations. However, its full-scale functionalities help simplify complex management solutions, automate inventory systems, and support enterprise asset management.
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With comprehensive functionalities for sales and marketing management and supply chain resilience, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a top-tier NetSuite alternative. Its Microsoft-centric functions can be used separately or bundled and integrated seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 products.
Users can customize the system’s automation tools, and the system supports multichannel inventory management. This solution is also supported on all device types, including desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. A mobile application with system-specific capabilities and a secure, two-week implementation and deployment schedule are available.
NetSuite vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Similar to NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is not primarily retail-focused. However, the cloud-based system’s extensive tracking, onboarding, and financial management solution is designed to support medium and small business manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
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Fostering an innovative and driven community, Odoo’s open-source IMS system is ideal for businesses of various sizes; however, it’s a stellar solution for enterprise customers. Odoo encourages personalization, and its modular system is perfect for customizing solutions to solve industry-specific needs.
This NetSuite alternative is cost-effective, allowing businesses to invest in modules as they please without sacrificing effective solutions and optimized management. Odoo’s unified model allows the system to support multiple applications at once, and its customizable features and functions also help organizations implement cross-departmental solutions without interfering with system access or upgrades.
NetSuite vs. Odoo: NetSuite’s robust customer support allows for quick troubleshooting, but Odoo’s open-source software supports community-driven innovation. Plus, the system’s standard platform is free and easily customizable.
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By utilizing AI, Oracle ERP Cloud provides real-time data, automated management processes, and a comprehensive tool suite for enterprise customers. NetSuite and Oracle ERP Cloud share the same parent company, so their functionality options are similar, with Oracle focusing on finance, analytics, and project and revenue management.
Oracle ERP Cloud also boasts a powerful warehouse management solution, built-in industry standards, and ERP best practices to help businesses compete with and excel beyond competitors.
NetSuite vs. Oracle ERP Cloud: Oracle ERP Cloud is a stellar NetSuite alternative, although its overall implementation can be time-consuming and extensive. Premium and advanced support options are available for various functions, including payroll, grants, and logistics management.
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Acknowledged as a valuable ERP system by users and awarded a Top Rated Award by TrustRadius, Sage Intacct is a strong NetSuite alternative for businesses of all sizes. While Sage Intacct was originally designed to support small businesses needing extensive accounting systems, its AI-powered accounting, reporting dashboards, and HR and payroll management systems now support all types of manufacturing-focused businesses.
Sage Intacct prides itself on its multi-dimensional reporting, automated task management, and powerful APIs, all of which help businesses streamline financial management and unlock growth opportunities. The cloud-based company’s batch processing and tool suite also help businesses tackle core and complex financial management tasks for billing, forecasting, and general accounting.
NetSuite vs. Sage Intacct: Sage Intacct offers an in-depth financial system with multi-dimensional reporting for greater accounting and manufacturing understanding. Despite its recommendations and awards, it’s less functional as a comprehensive ERP system than NetSuite and other alternatives.
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Salesforce is consistently recognized by Gartner as one of the top leaders in the CRM Customer Engagement Center (CEC) space. With various “clouds,” Salesforce allows users to customize their systems with marketing, IT, e-commerce, and service management functionalities.
Salesforce also boasts integrations with various companies, which helps users prioritize procurement, data organization, customer and contact management, and service management. Plus, automated workflows and an AI assistant accelerate tasks and keep enterprise tasks moving forward.
NetSuite vs. Salesforce: Salesforce is a great option for small businesses or those with tight budgets. However, additional features can increase the cost of Salesforce, while NetSuite is a comprehensive solution from the get-go.
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SAP provides an on-premise ERP system for businesses of all sizes. The software solution’s extensive suite of tools is designed to help businesses prioritize in-depth finance and service management. To provide these services for all company types, SAP offers three ERP system tiers:
Whether a business is just starting or expanding its enterprise-level systems, SAP is supportive, adaptable, and powerful. SAP’s deployment timelines can be relatively short — even for more complex solutions — and the system’s advanced technology is designed to help businesses scale quickly and effectively.
NetSuite vs. SAP: NetSuite’s user-friendly software outshines SAP’s system options, but this alternative’s mobile access, predictive business analytics, and configuration options position it as a top-tier NetSuite alternative.
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Managing core business processes like inventory, production, and accounting, SYSPRO stands as both an on-site and cloud-based NetSuite alternative. With customizable functions, this alternative’s systems can be designed to meet the needs of small-, medium-, and enterprise-sized businesses.
SYSPRO’s integration capabilities and robust reporting give manufacturing and distribution companies insight into their financial habits, asset usage, and production planning. Plus, the system’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive industry modules of inventory, supply chain, and manufacturing management support optimized procurement and distribution across multiple platforms.
NetSuite vs. SYSPRO: As a NetSuite alternative, SYSPRO offers industry- and operation-specific solutions for supply chain, production, and inventory management. While NetSuite’s functionalities may span farther, SYSPRO’s solutions are uniquely designed to target specific needs.
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Not all ERP and IMS systems are created equally. When searching for a NetSuite alternative, it’s important to know what features and functions to prioritize when making a purchasing decision. Consider these five factors when choosing an ERP or IMS system:
Considered one of the best NetSuite alternatives, Cin7 is a powerful IMS solution with multiple platforms for optimal performance. Our ability to empower small, medium, and large businesses to prioritize centralized management and real-time data increases scalability and revenue growth. Plus, an integrated management and point of sale (POS) system is vital to organized inventory, sales, and order fulfillment systems, which can make or break a business.
Searching for the best NetSuite alternative and still have questions? Our experts have provided answers to some of the most common questions below.
The best NetSuite alternative depends on a business’s needs. Many users consider Cin7 to be a great NetSuite alternative because of its centralized management, real-time analytics, task automation, and 3PL fulfillment options. Additional alternatives to NetSuite include Oracle ERP Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, SAP, and Sage Intacct.
NetSuite is still a relevant ERP system, especially for medium- and large-sized businesses. However, some companies looking for a one-stop management solution with accounting, HR, and payroll options may prefer a NetSuite alternative.
Many users choose NetSuite over competitors because of its comprehensive management solutions. Some NetSuite alternatives offer more flexible system options, but NetSuite still stands as one of the most extensive enterprise management systems available.
Determining whether SAP or NetSuite is better depends on what your business needs its ERP system to provide. If you’re looking for mobile access, predictive business analytics, and customization options, SAP may be a great solution. However, NetSuite may have the upper hand in terms of scalability, reporting, and cloud deployment.
Frank has extensive experience in the IMS and ERP industry and is passionate about helping businesses succeed. He is committed to providing innovative products and solutions to help customers reach their full potential.
