Choosing the right ERP system is one of the most consequential technology decisions a manufacturing company will make. This comparison examines the three leading mid-market ERP solutions — SAP Business One, Oracle NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central — through the lens of what matters most to manufacturers.
How We Evaluated
This comparison focuses on the criteria that matter to small and mid-size manufacturers: manufacturing-specific functionality, total cost of ownership, implementation speed, and scalability. We compared current 2026 versions of each platform.
At a Glance: Platform Overview
Manufacturing Capabilities Deep Dive
For manufacturers, the production planning and shop floor management capabilities are often the deciding factor.
SAP Business One
- Native multi-level BOM management with unlimited levels
- Built-in MRP with configurable planning horizons
- Production order management with routing and work centers
- Real-time inventory valuation using standard cost, moving average, or FIFO
- Rich ecosystem of manufacturing add-ons (Boyum, WiSys, BPA)
Oracle NetSuite
- Basic BOM and work order management in base product
- Advanced Manufacturing module is an additional cost
- Strong in process manufacturing and assembly
- Limited shop floor control without third-party add-ons
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Basic production BOM and routing capabilities
- MRP available but less sophisticated than SAP B1
- Strong Microsoft ecosystem integration (Excel, Power BI, Teams)
- Manufacturing functionality requires ISV extensions for advanced needs
Total Cost of Ownership: 5-Year Comparison
The true cost of an ERP goes far beyond the license fee. Here is a realistic 5-year TCO comparison for a 25-user manufacturing deployment.
Integration Capabilities
SAP Business One
Open SDK, REST APIs, integration framework with 500+ certified add-ons. Strong SAP ecosystem for growth path to S/4HANA.
Oracle NetSuite
SuiteScript API, SuiteTalk web services, pre-built connectors via SuiteCloud. Strongest in e-commerce integrations.
Dynamics 365 BC
Power Platform integration, AL language extensions, Microsoft Graph API. Deepest integration with Microsoft 365 suite.
Which ERP Is Right for Your Manufacturing Business?
Synesis Can Help You Decide
As an SAP Gold Partner and Microsoft Silver Partner, Synesis International provides objective ERP guidance. We help manufacturers evaluate their specific requirements against each platform's strengths — and we only recommend SAP Business One when it is genuinely the best fit for your business.
