Side-by-Side Comparative: aERP vs.
Comparison: aERP vs. Fishbowl + QuickBooks — Manufacturing Focus
1. Manufacturing Needs Today
Fast adaptation to changing demand
Native flexibility, no-code changes on the fly
Limited, manual configurations, or reliance on add-ons
Control over costs
Transparent pricing, no hidden modules
Tiered pricing for Fishbowl and QuickBooks users, add-ons increase costs
Visibility from raw materials to finished goods
Real-time visibility across all stages
Basic tracking, dependent on integration and manual updates
Faster turnaround times
Fast workflows, predictive planning
Manual processes, limited automation
Supplier and distributor integration
Built-in no-code integration
Requires third-party integrations or manual data handling
2. How They Support Modern Manufacturing
AI-Augmented MRP
Included natively
Not available, basic MRP functions only
Capacity Planning
Yes, dynamic planning included
Limited, manual setup required
Multi-location management
Included out of the box
Basic multi-warehouse functionality, setup required
Shop floor automation
Automated workflows (AutoPilot engine)
Manual workflows, limited automation
3. Inventory Management Excellence
Real-time inventory tracking
Included natively
Limited, relies on Fishbowl syncing with QuickBooks
Multi-location inventory
Standard feature
Available, configuration required
Lot/serial tracking
Included
Included in Fishbowl
Predictive reordering alerts
AI-driven AutoPilot
Basic reorder points, no predictive AI
Inventory forecasting
Linked to production schedules
Manual forecasting, no automation
Full audit trail
Yes
Basic, fragmented between systems
4. Supply Chain Optimization & Automation
Vendor performance tracking
Included
Manual tracking or third-party tools
Dynamic lead time management
Built-in
Manual data entry required
AutoPilot-driven purchase recommendations
Native AI-powered
Manual purchasing process
Supplier collaboration portals
Included
Not available natively
Integrated forecasting
Yes
Requires external tools or manual calculations
5. AI & Automation Advantage
Native AI engine
AutoPilot included
No AI capabilities
Smart workflows
Built-in
Manual processes required
Predictive insights
Included
Not available
6. Financial Strength for Manufacturers
Multi-entity, multi-currency
Included
Limited, QuickBooks dependent
Manufacturing cost accounting
Included, with job and plant-level detail
Basic, fragmented across systems
Cash flow management
Integrated with operations
Available in QuickBooks
Integrated accounting
Native, no third-party needed
Dependent on QuickBooks integration
Audit trails & compliance
Included
Fragmented, reliant on QuickBooks records
7. Integration & Customization
No-code customization
Yes, data, UI, workflows
Limited, requires external tools or IT support
Integration options
Built-in no-code hub
Requires third-party integrations
Deployment flexibility
Cloud and on-premises
Cloud-hosting requires extra setup, often desktop-based
8. Portals, Web Stores & CRM
Customer portal
Included
Not available natively
Vendor portal
Included
Not available natively
Integrated web store
Native B2B/B2C
Requires third-party integrations
Built-in CRM
Included
Not included, external CRM required
Customer experience
Real-time updates & self-service
Manual processes, limited integration
9. Pricing & Contract Flexibility
Transparent pricing
Usage-based, fully transparent
Tiered pricing, separate subscriptions required
Contract flexibility
No long-term lock-in, only 3 months' notice
Subscription-based, multiple vendor contracts
Switch without delay
Use now, pay after old contract expires (promo)
Not applicable
10. Implementation & Adoption
Implementation speed
Weeks to few months
Moderate, setup required for integrations
Training ease
Simple, no-code UI
Requires training across multiple systems
Scalability
Scales with business growth
Limited scalability, QuickBooks limits apply
IT burden
Low, business-user driven
Higher, integration maintenance required
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) offers manufacturers a clear upgrade over Fishbowl + QuickBooks by consolidating all critical functions into a single platform with native AI,
automation, and real-time visibility. While Fishbowl + QuickBooks can serve small businesses with basic needs, they require manual processes and external integrations to achieve what aERP provides natively.
aERP enables faster, smarter manufacturing operations with lower operational complexity and greater scalability — all with transparent pricing and flexible contracts.