Compare Microsoft Dynamics GP, AX, NAV, & Dynamics 365

How do you know which Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution is right for your business?

Our team can help you compare each product in-depth. To get you started, we outline the major differences between Microsoft Dynamics GP, AX, NAV, & Dynamics 365. Then we compare specific factors such as target company size, industry fit, global capabilities, and deployment options to help you find the best option for your business.

DYNAMICS 365 FINANCE VS. DYNAMICS 365 BUSINESS CENTRAL

We have many customers, particularly coming from Dynamics GP and Dynamics NAV, that are interested in building a cloud-based infrastructure on Dynamics 365 but they are not sure which solution is the right direction. Since Dynamics 365 offers two approaches to ERP, it is worth a brief explanation of each platform.

Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management

This solution is designed to provide the most advanced functionality with the freedom to scale it to your exact needs. You choose from a wide selection of applications. This gives midsize to large organizations powerful capabilities and unmatched flexibility to tailor the solution to specific requirements.

Dynamics 365 Business Central

Designed for small to medium-sized businesses, Business Central is a comprehensive ERP solution that includes all your core functionality built-in. It is integrated and ready to go, at one monthly price. Business Central is offered in two versions—Essentials or Premium—so you still have some flexibility to choose functionality and add applications to fit your business.

Explore Microsoft Dynamics ERP Solutions

Here is an overview of the fit for each of the four Microsoft Dynamics solutions.

Target Company Size

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Small to Midsize Business (SMB).
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Small to Midsize, or Divisions of Enterprise companies.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Midsize to Large Enterprises.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Small to Midsize Business (SMB).

Target User Range

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - 3 to 250.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - 5 to 750.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - 20+.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - 5 to 750.

Global Operations

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Supports global businesses that have a less complex organizational structure.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Supports global businesses that have a less complex organizational structure.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Supports international organizations, multi-plant, and multi-schedule.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Supports global businesses that have a less complex organizational structure.

Industries

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Professional Services Industries, Wholesale & Distribution, Packaged Goods, Food & Beverage, Laboratories, Healthcare.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Dynamics NAV is flexible and highly customizable. Because of the very large installed base and availability of add-on enhancements, it supports a huge variety of industries.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Manufacturing, Distribution, Public Sector, Retail, Project-Based including Professional Service industries.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Discrete manufacturing, service management, project management, supply chain management.

Manufacturing Modes

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Integrated ERP solution for discrete and process manufactures, field service, and project accounting with purchase of Extended Pack.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Integrated ERP solution designed for discrete manufacturing. Will handle other modes and add-ons.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Designed to be a complete solution for discrete, job shop, process, lean and mixed-mode manufacturing.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Integrated ERP solution for discrete manufacturers.

Multi-Company

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Multi-company and intercompany functionality are standard.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Multi-company is handled within separate companies and intercompany functionality is available.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Multi-company within one database and easy interoperability between companies.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Intercompany is available in Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Service Deployment Options

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Perpetual or subscription licensing with either on-premises or cloud hosting.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - On-premise, hosted or Cloud options available as well as hybrid cloud deployments. Anywhere, Anyhow, Anytime.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Cloud-based. (Cloud-connected on-premise option coming.) Anywhere, Anyhow, Anytime.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central- Cloud-based, On-premise, and hosted.

Client Deployment Options

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Browser, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows Clickonce
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Browser, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows Clickonce.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Browser, iOS, Android.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Browser, iOS, Android, Windows Clickonce.

Ease of International Functionality and Interoperability

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Multi-currency, multi-language, country-specific localizations in separate databases with multi-company consolidations to one database.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Multi-currency, multi-language, country-specific localizations in separate databases with multi-company consolidations to one database.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Multi-currency, multi-language, country-specific localizations, and multi-company consolidations within one database.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Multi-currency, multi-language, country-specific localizations in separate databases with multi-company consolidations to one database (based on availability).

Implementations

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Moderate to low cost to implement and maintain. On-premise is more costly to maintain than cloud.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Dynamics NAV has a moderate to low cost to implement and maintain.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management- Dynamics 365 Operations is functionally rich requiring more decisions during the implementation process but is much faster to implement than traditional on-premises ERP applications.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Dynamics 365 Business Central is quick to implement and easy to use.

Development & Technical Tools

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Integration Suite and Customization Suite including eConnect, Visual Studio, WebServices, and Dexterity with purchase of Customization Pack.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - NAV offers an integrated development environment where NAV can be configured and customized. Reports are designed and rendered using SQL Server toolsets. Customizations to NAV can be developed using NAV’s event subscription model; this ensures smooth upgrades to future versions.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Full lifecycle services tools to administer, manage, and deploy architecture, database, and code base. Full development tools using Visual Studio and SQL.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Business Central offers a modern development environment using Visual Studio to build, manage, and deploy code in an extensions model. Microsoft AppSource offers a complete liberal of pre-built extensions that you can add as your business grows.

Business Intelligence

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Business analyzer, Microsoft Power BI dashboard, numerous SQL reports.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - NAV offers a role-based interface with charting and dashboards throughout and also standard integration with Power BI.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Microsoft Power BI as well as several other business intelligence applications in AppSource.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Microsoft Power BI as well as several other business intelligence applications in AppSource.

Additional Capabilities

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Human Resources and Payroll are standard with additional capabilities with Extended HR & Payroll pack; built-in workflow engine; public-sector encumbrance and grant management, electronic banking suite, Power Apps, Flow, Azure IoT.
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - Cortana Intelligence, Power Apps, Flow, Azure IoT, Common Data Model .
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management - Cortana Intelligence, Power Apps, Flow, Azure IoT, Common Data Model.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Cortana Intelligence, Power Apps, Flow, Azure IoT, Common Data Model.

Our Focus

• Microsoft Dynamics GP
  • Transitioning to Dynamics 365
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018
  • Distribution
  • E-Commerce Retailers (B2B and B2C)
  • Manufacturing
  • Rental Companies
  • Home Builders
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financial & Supply Chain Management
  • Manufacturing
  • Engineer to Order
  • Configure to Order
  • Discrete
  • Process
  • Lean
  • Project-Based Services and Manufacturing Companies
  • Distribution
    • WMS
    • TMS
  • E-Commerce Retailers (B2B and B2C)
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
  • Manufacturing
  • Distribution
  • Project-Based Services
  • Service Management Companies

Western Computer can help you identify how your current ERP system may be holding you back. Our consultants apply industry-specific business knowledge as well as software expertise to identify areas where your organization can benefit from modernized systems - and we'll help you chart the path to get there.

Contact us today to speak to a Microsoft Dynamics expert.

By Western Computer, www.westerncomputer.com