Microsoft Product Comparison

 

Compare Microsoft ERP Solutions:
Dynamics 365, Dynamics NAV And Dynamics GP

How do you know which Microsoft Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution is right for your business? Will it work for your industry? Can it manage multiple locations or global operations? Are you looking to transition from Dynamics GP to a true cloud ERP system?

While the best first step is to speak to our Dynamics experts to assess your needs, this page provides the major differences between  the Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions to help you find the best fit. They all offer tight integration, powerful functionality and flexibility to scale—but we’ve provided comparisons by important factors such as company size, industry, global capabilities and deployment options.

SPEAK TO A DYNAMICS EXPERT

 

Dynamics 365 Finance Vs. Dynamics 365 Business Central

We have many customers, particularly coming from Dynamics GP and Dynamics NAV, interested in building a cloud-based infrastructure on Dynamics 365 but not sure which solution is the right direction. Since D365 offers two approaches to ERP, it’s worth a brief explanation of each platform.

Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management

Previously Dynamics 365 for Finance & Operations, 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 such as Finance, Supply Chain Management, Sales, Customer Service, Commerce and more. This gives midsize to large organizations powerful capabilities and unmatched flexibility to tailor the solution to specific requirements.

Learn more about Dynamics 365 Finance 

Learn more about Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management 

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 such as Finance, Supply Chain Management, Sales and Customer Service. 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.

Learn more about Dynamics 365 Business Central

What’s on the roadmap for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform?

Access Microsoft’s Release Planner, a user-friendly way to see what is included in the upcoming release and what features will be available this month, as well as recently added features for to your favorite Microsoft solution.

 

View Release Planner

Dynamics Solutions: Side-by-side Comparison

Review the below chart to understand the major differences.

Feel free to contact us for a recommendation to help you determine which solution would best fit your company's needs.  

Company Size

Microsoft
Dynamics GP

Small to Midsize Business (SMB)

Microsoft
Dynamics NAV 2018

New licenses are no longer available 

Small to Midsize, or Divisions of Enterprise companies 

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

New licenses are no longer available 

5 to 750

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management

20+

Microsoft
Dynamics 365
Business Central

5 to 250

Global Operations

Microsoft
Dynamics GP

Supports global businesses that have a less complex organizational structure

Microsoft
Dynamics NAV 2018

New licenses are no longer available 

Supports global businesses that have a less complex organizational structure.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

New licenses are no longer available 

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 Finance & 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 manufacturers, field service, and project accounting with purchase of Extended Pack

Microsoft
Dynamics NAV 2018

New licenses are no longer available 

Integrated ERP solution designed for discrete manufacturing. Will handle other modes with add-ons.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

New licenses are no longer available 

Multi-company is handled within separate companies and intercompany functionality is available.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management

Operate Multi-company within 1 database with 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-premise or cloud hosting

Microsoft
Dynamics NAV 2018

New licenses are no longer available 

On-premise, hosted or Cloud options available as well as hybrid cloud deployments. Anywhere, Anyhow, Anytime.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

New licenses are no longer available

Browser, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows Clickonce

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

Multicurrency, multilanguage, country-specific localizations in separate databases with multi-company consolidations to one database.

Microsoft
Dynamics NAV 2018

New licenses are no longer available 

Multicurrency, multilanguage, country-specific localizations in separate databases with multi-company consolidations to one database.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management

Multicurrency, multilanguage, country-specific localization and multi-company within one database.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365
Business Central

Multicurrency, multilanguage, 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

New licenses are no longer available 

Dynamics NAV has a moderate to low cost to implement and maintain.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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-premise 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

New licenses are no longer available 

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 Finance & 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 a extensions model.  Microsoft AppSource offers a complete liberal of prebuilt 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

New licenses are no longer available 

NAV offers a role-based interface with charting and dashboards throughout and also standard integration with Power BI.

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

New licenses are no longer available 

Cortana Intelligence, Power Apps, Flow, Azure IoT, Common Data Model

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

New licenses are no longer available 

Distribution 

E-Commerce Retailers
(B2B and B2C) 

Manufacturing 

Rental Companies 

Home Builders

Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Finance & 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

Are you trying to determine your total cost of ownership?

 

When determining whether the cloud is the right approach, many prospects ask about the total cost of ownership. One of the most cited advantages of cloud computing is the cost savings that can result from minimizing your onsite hardware and the resources required to maintain it. While the savings can be significant up front, over time cloud computing can be just as costly as on-prem deployments that have a substantial implementation cost. With on-premise deployments, you need to keep in mind several factors in addition to the software. These include IT infrastructure, maintenance, support, and regular upgrades.  

Are you trying to determine which deployment method is right for your business? Would you like to compare the cost of an on-prem ERP solution vs. cloud deployment? Would you like to compare the cost of ownership over 3, 7, and 10 years to determine the best approach for your company? 

TAKE THE QUIZ

Featured Dynamics Comparison Resources

Is it time to look at your current ERP system?

Do you need expert advice to help your company move forward? 

 

Western Computer can help you identify applications and processes on your current ERP system that 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

Value-added Western Computer Services

Western Computer’s consulting team offers deep industry and technical expertise across the above industries.  We can provide a long-term roadmap for your Dynamics solution. 

View full listing of WC Custom Solutions

 

Why Partner with Western Computer? We “Speak” Microsoft Dynamics

As one of the leading Microsoft Dynamics partners in the US, our experts thoroughly understand the differences between Dynamics products and how they work in various industries. By reviewing your organization’s specific requirements, we can help you choose and implement the Microsoft Dynamics solution that will provide impactful results and improve your bottom line.

We are here to empower our customers to get the biggest competitive advantage possible using state-of-the-art technology. With 35 years experience, we have the know-how to recommend the best option to modernize your business - from hosted, in the cloud, to a hybrid mix. Every business is unique, so let’s discuss options that are the best fit for your organization.