Side-by-Side Comparative: aERP vs.
Comparison: aERP vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central — Manufacturing Focus
1. Manufacturing Needs Today
Fast adaptation to changing demand
Native flexibility, no-code changes on the fly
Requires developer effort or use of Power Platform tools
Control over costs
Transparent pricing, no hidden modules
Subscription-based modular pricing, can escalate with scale/customizations
Visibility from raw materials to finished goods
Real-time visibility across all stages
Available but requires setup and integration effort
Faster turnaround times
Fast workflows, predictive planning
Depends on automation setup, Power Automate required
Supplier and distributor integration
Built-in no-code integration
Possible via Power Platform and connectors, but needs setup
2. How They Support Modern Manufacturing
AI-Augmented MRP
Included natively
Rules-based, external automation required
Capacity Planning
Yes, dynamic planning included
Available but setup depends on manufacturing modules
Multi-location management
Included out of the box
Available, requires correct configuration
Shop floor automation
Automated workflows (AutoPilot engine)
Needs Power Automate or partner extensions
3. Inventory Management Excellence
Real-time inventory tracking
Included natively
Included, requires proper setup
Multi-location inventory
Standard feature
Available
Lot/serial tracking
Included
Included
Predictive reordering alerts
AI-driven AutoPilot
Rules-based reorder policies
Inventory forecasting
Linked to production schedules
Requires external forecasting tools or Power BI
4. Supply Chain Optimization & Automation
Vendor performance tracking
Included
Requires Power BI or external tools
Dynamic lead time management
Built-in
Requires setup and Power Automate workflows
AutoPilot-driven purchase recommendations
Native AI-powered
Rules-based, manual setup via extensions
Supplier collaboration portals
Included
Requires third-party solutions or Power Apps
Integrated forecasting
Yes
Requires Power BI integration or external tools
5. AI & Automation Advantage
Native AI engine
AutoPilot included
No native AI, relies on Power Automate and Power BI
Smart workflows
Built-in
Requires setup with Power Automate
Predictive insights
Included
Requires external tools like Power BI
6. Financial Strength for Manufacturers
Multi-entity, multi-currency
Included
Included
Manufacturing cost accounting
Included, with job and plant-level detail
Available, configuration required
Cash flow management
Integrated with operations
Included, strong capabilities
Integrated accounting
Native, no third-party needed
Core feature
Audit trails & compliance
Included
Included
7. Integration & Customization
No-code customization
Yes, data, UI, workflows
Requires Power Apps or developer extensions
Integration options
Built-in no-code hub
Extensive, but setup via Power Platform
Deployment flexibility
Cloud and on-premises
Cloud-first, hybrid available with complexity
8. Portals, Web Stores & CRM
Customer portal
Included
Requires Power Apps or third-party apps
Vendor portal
Included
Requires third-party or custom Power Platform apps
Integrated web store
Native B2B/B2C
Requires integration with Microsoft e-commerce tools
Built-in CRM
Included
Included, Dynamics 365 integration available
Customer experience
Real-time updates & self-service
Possible, depends on setup and tools
9. Pricing & Contract Flexibility
Transparent pricing
Usage-based, fully transparent
Tiered pricing, modular costs add up
Contract flexibility
No long-term lock-in, only 3 months' notice
Typically annual subscription terms
Switch without delay
Use now, pay after old contract expires (promo)
Not applicable
10. Implementation & Adoption
Implementation speed
Weeks to few months
3–6 months or more depending on complexity
Training ease
Simple, no-code UI
Requires user training for Power Platform and integrations
Scalability
Scales with business growth
Strong scalability
IT burden
Low, business-user driven
Higher, requires IT/admin or consultant involvement
Final Summary:
Inventory Management
AI-powered, predictive, fully integrated
Supply Chain Optimization
Dynamic automation, vendor portals included
AI & Automation
Native AutoPilot engine
Financial Management
Manufacturing-specific cost tracking
Integration & Customization
No-code, fast changes without IT dependency
CRM & Portals
Built-in, real-time customer/vendor access
Pricing & Contracts
Transparent, flexible, switch now/pay later
Implementation Speed
Fast deployment and user adoption
Conclusion:
Active ERP (aERP) gives manufacturing companies clear advantages over Microsoft Business Central, especially in flexibility, automation, and supply chain responsiveness.
While Microsoft offers a broad ecosystem, it depends heavily on Power Platform extensions and IT resources. In contrast,
aERP's native no-code platform and AI automation deliver faster time-to-value, lower operational complexity, and transparent pricing with flexible contract terms.