Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 ERP Independent Review 2024

Last Updated on July 10, 2024 by Shrestha Dash

Acumatica stands out among three cloud-native ERP vendors particularly focusing on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), alongside NetSuite and Sage Intacct. On the other hand, Infor CloudSuite M3 targets companies surpassing entry-level ERP systems like Acumatica, Infor CSI, or NetSuite. It also delivers mature capabilities for intricate manufacturing and distribution operations. Acumatica, however, caters well to companies with revenues ranging from $10-100 million, offering limited native localization features yet suitable synergies for global operations. Whereas, Infor CloudSuite M3 is successful in the upper mid-market, targeting the $250M – $750M revenue range.

Infor CloudSuite M3 provides a superior suite experience akin to SAP and Oracle, featuring enterprise-grade best-of-breed functionalities, including PLM, WMS, WFM, BI, and a Supply Chain collaboration platform. Whereas, Acumatica’s strength lies in its multi-branch capabilities and tailored support for various business models such as manufacturing, distribution, construction, and field service.

Infor CloudSuite M3 boasts extensive features tailored for process and apparel manufacturing, covering industries such as fashion, F&B, and chemicals. It is also adept at facilitating advanced global operations, particularly for companies spanning multiple countries seeking to optimize cost synergies globally. On the other hand, Acumatica serves as an excellent entry-level system for companies transitioning from QuickBooks or smaller point systems seeking seamless cross-functional integration. Choosing between Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 requires a detailed examination, and thus, this comparison offers valuable insights for ERP selection projects. Therefore, let’s explore further.

Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 ERP Independent Review 2024


The 2025 Digital Transformation Report

Thinking of embarking on a ERP journey and looking for a digital transformation report? Want to learn the best practices of digital transformation? Then, you have come to the right place.

AcumaticaInfor CloudSuite M3
Started in20082006 (Acquired by Infor)
Ownership byEQT Partners in 2019Koch Industries
No. of customers 10,000+1000+

What is Acumatica?

Acumatica is one of three cloud-native ERP solutions particularly similar to NetSuite and Sage Intacct. It has extensive multi-branch capabilities, particularly making it friendlier for retail-centric operations. It can also host multiple business models as part of the same database spanning manufacturing, distribution, construction, and field service. Thus, making it friendlier for diverse manufacturing or distribution-centric operations. Because of its limited global operational capabilities, it primarily targets US and UK-based companies. Thus, positioned as an ideal choice for companies within the $10-100 million revenue range, the majority of Acumatica’s customer base falls under this category.

Desiring a user experience akin to Odoo or Quickbooks, Acumatica ERP also offers versatility to accommodate various business models: distribution, manufacturing, or construction-focused. Although Acumatica has limitations in mature features like dimensional inventory or allocation, it is an excellent initial system for companies looking to streamline inventory or costs. With transactional processing and some mature capabilities, such as batch transactional processing, Acumatica is positioned as a valuable choice for businesses venturing into their first or second ERP solution.

Acumatica ERP is a fit for companies seeking cloud-native experience, particularly emphasizing features like enterprise search and mobility over deeper operational capabilities. Despite its focus on small businesses, Acumatica lacks robust globalization and localization features, catering to a limited number of countries by default. This simplicity, however, benefits smaller companies by avoiding unnecessary layers of multi-entity operations. Although targeting small businesses, Acumatica ERP surpasses Odoo or Zoho with the flexibility of its data layers, necessitating consulting help for implementation. The perceived benefit of Acumatica’s pricing is also a challenge, as it’s notoriously difficult to understand and predict.

What Is Infor CloudSuite M3?

Infor CloudSuite M3, is one of Infor’s flagship solutions, catering to distinct micro-verticals across various industries. Sharing similar suites with Infor LN and built on the Infor OS platform, it is successful in the upper mid-market, targeting the $250M – $750M revenue range. Positioned for companies surpassing entry-level ERP systems like Acumatica, Infor CSI, or NetSuite, this solution delivers mature capabilities for intricate manufacturing and distribution operations. Infor CloudSuite M3 provides a superior suite experience akin to SAP and Oracle, featuring enterprise-grade best-of-breed functionalities, including PLM, WMS, WFM, BI, and a Supply Chain collaboration platform.

Infor CloudSuite M3 boasts extensive features tailored for process manufacturing and apparel manufacturing, covering industries such as fashion, F&B, and chemicals. It is also adept at facilitating advanced global operations, particularly for companies spanning multiple countries seeking to optimize cost synergies globally. The native capabilities of Infor M3 address global trade and compliance concerns, which are crucial for international business operations.

While Infor CloudSuite M3 serves as an excellent operational solution for a 2-tier architecture for enterprise companies, its limited focus on certain industries might not be the best fit for enterprise companies diversifying their operations or aggressive with their M&A strategy. The intricate data model and Bill of Materials (BOM) demand significant internal expertise and external advisory assistance to extract operational efficiencies. Notably, the technology landscape for Infor CloudSuite M3 remains somewhat patchy and less modern compared to its competitors. Furthermore, the ecosystem and consulting support for this solution is relatively limited. Despite these challenges, Infor CloudSuite M3 stands out as a robust manufacturing solution for upper mid-market companies with budget constraints.

Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 Comparison

Navigating the choice between Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 is a significant decision for businesses particularly looking for operational efficiency and strategic alignment. Thus, this section delves into the comprehensive comparison of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 across various critical dimensions.

AcumaticaInfor CloudSuite M3
Global Operational CapabilitiesLimited multi-entity capabilities.Robust financial hierarchies and global trade compliance functionality integrated.
Diverse CapabilitiesOperationally rich for smaller companies.Supports diversified manufacturing business models.
Best-of-breed CapabilitiesLimited, relying on third-party add-ons.Best-of-breed integrations provided out-of-the-box.
Last-mile Capabilities May require add-ons for specific micro-verticals.Last-mile capabilities along with breadth of capabilities for diversified manufacturing business models.
Operational FunctionalitiesEmphasizes cloud-native experience but offers deeper operational capabilities and integration for smaller operations in fewer countries.Infor CloudSuite M3 is a legacy solution with limited cloud-natve capabilities such as universal search, mobile experience, etc.
Integration CapabilitiesNatively-integrated WMS functionality, lacks pre-integrated best-of-breed CRM, supports only embedded CRM.Tools such as HCM, PLM, data lake, ERP, WMS, TMS, and advanced supply chain planning, are all pre-integrated.
Manufacturing Capabilities Suitable for light manufacturing, limited mature capabilities such as allocation and Kanban.Delivers mature capabilities for apparel, F&B, and chemical manufacturing.
Pricing ModelConsumption-based, named, and concurrent but requires long-term contracts.Subscription-based
Key Modules1. Financial Management
2. Construction Management
3. CRM
4. Distribution Management
5. Service Management
6. Manufacturing Management 
7. Project Accounting Management
8. Payroll
9. Retail e-Commerce Management
10. Reporting, Dashboard and BI
1. Financial Management
2. Manufacturing Operations
3. Enterprise Asset Management
4. Supply Chain Management
5. Customer Sales and Service
6. Application Foundation

Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 Feature Comparison

Both platforms offer a plethora of features and functionalities designed to streamline business operations and enhance efficiency. In this feature comparison, we delve into particularly the distinct capabilities of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 across various critical dimensions, providing insights to aid businesses in making informed decisions regarding their ERP selection. Thus, this section discusses features under each of the following modules, particularly financial management, supply chain management, and manufacturing management.

Financial Management Comparison

In this section, we are discussing a detailed comparison of the financial management capabilities particularly offered by Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3.

AcumaticaInfor CloudSuite M3
Financial ManagementGeneral LedgerDesigned to support ledgers limited to support one country. Limited multi-ledger capabilities.Enables organizations to manage financial transactions, maintain accurate balances, and generate complete financial statements.
Accounts Receivable and Accounts PayableThe AR and AP might be limited to just one country with limited synergies among vendors from different countries.Supports analysis across all accounting dimensions, including non-reconciled data for the AP model.
Cash Flow ManagementManages day-to-day transactions, cash balances, funds transfers, and bank account reconciliations for smaller operations.Provides complete control over accounts receivable and cash flow processes, unifying all AR information to monitor cash collection and enhance productivity and efficiency.
Currency ManagementCreates estimates for new or existing items, convert to bills of material, production orders.Enables currency conversion for better monetary analysis, allowing amounts to be expressed in transaction, division, and company currencies, with a default exchange rate type for conversions.
Tax ManagementProvides centralized tax configuration, management, and reporting.Ensures accurate VAT calculation and recording for each country, automating tax calculations based on recipient location and country-specific rules, and maintaining financial compliance.

Supply Chain Management Comparison

In this comparison, we explore and analyze the supply chain management capabilities of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3, shedding light particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.

AcumaticaInfor CloudSuite M3
Supply Chain ManagementWarehouse ManagementProvides real-time inventory visibility and streamlines warehouse operations.Optimizes operations with inventory management, labor management, 3PL billing, and 3D visualization, enhancing efficiency and interactivity.
Service ManagementEnables quick service needs capture, assignment, and real-time tracking, with features like contract management and appointment schedules.Offers work order processing, maintenance, material management, and operation reporting, aiding global manufacturers, distributors, and after-sales service providers in managing complex value chains efficiently.
Inventory Management Simplifies inventory processes with flexible item management and quality traceability.Provides advanced statistical forecasting and stock recommendations for efficient inventory management, as well as supplier and customer rebate management to maintain high margins.
Purchase Order ManagementStreamlines procurement processes with policy enforcement and process controls.Includes automation, vendor payment tracking, payment scheduling, check printing, open purchase order alerts, document management, direct ACH bill payment, and vendor records
Requisition ManagementOrganizes complex distribution processes involving multiple products and suppliers.Automates procurement processes from requisition to payment, including supplier selection, purchase order management, and invoice matching.

Manufacturing Management Comparison

In this comparison, we explore and analyze the manufacturing management capabilities of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3, shedding light, particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.

AcumaticaInfor CloudSuite M3
Manufacturing ManagementProduction Planning Assists manufacturers in addressing production demand with the agility to adjust to fluctuating schedules, unforeseen equipment malfunctions, delayed deliveries from suppliers, and other unexpected occurrences affecting operations on the factory floor.Supports planning in both multi-facility and single-facility production environments, managing critical materials at the facility level.
BOM and RoutingLets you efficiently plan and manage inventories, costs and manufacturing processes.Defines the product structure and assembly sequence, listing components and specifying the operations, work centers, and machines required for manufacturing.
Advanced Planning and SchedulingLets you create a more streamlined and accurate production scheduled, better enforce delivery dates and optimize for capacity.Generates real-time projections by comparing demands against a long-term plan, optimizing production resources, reducing costs, improving performance, and synchronizing supply chain operations.

Pros of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3

When evaluating ERP solutions, understanding the distinct advantages of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 is crucial. In this section, we are particularly exploring the strengths of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 across various dimensions. Thus, shedding light on their respective capabilities and functionalities.

Acumatica Infor CloudSuite M3
Great 1st or 2nd ERP choice particularly due to limited layers and mature capabilities for larger companies.Ideal for upper mid-market companies or as subsidiary solutions in a two-tier setting for private equity-owned or holding companies.
Accommodates different business models spread in fewer countries under one database.It can support the most complex manufacturing business models, WBS-centric manufacturing, or support for attributes with MRP planning.
Great fit for SMB B2B businesses with complex product mixes.Most tools that make-to manufacturer would require, such as HCM, PLM, data lake, ERP, WMS, TMS, and advanced supply chain planning, are all pre-integrated with Infor CloudSuite M3.
Born in the cloud with consistent design principles across the application.While most smaller solutions might require ad-hoc arrangements for global financial operations, Infor CloudSuite M3 has them natively built.

Cons of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3

Just like recognizing strengths is important, it’s also crucial to weigh the specific drawbacks of Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3. Therefore, in this section, we will delve into the limitations and challenges associated with Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 across various operational and financial dimensions.

Acumatica Infor CloudSuite M3
Limited capabilities when multiple countries with different currencies and sub-ledgers need to be hosted as part of the same solution.The limited focus on certain business models poses the risk of requiring other ERP systems to support complex and diverse business operations.
Not fit for companies with over $100 million in revenue.Private equity and holding companies requiring global solutions with a tier-2 solution at the subsidiary level might not be the best use of Infor CloudSuite M3’s strengths.
The mobile capabilities are leaner for complex reporting scenarios such as parallel processing or reporting labor.Infor CloudSuite M3 is a legacy solution with limited cloud-native capabilities such as universal search, mobile experience, etc
Consumption-based pricing requires consulting expertise to estimate transactions as the pricing is not as predictable.The consulting base and marketplaces are virtually non-existent for Infor CloudSuite M3.
The last-mile capabilities required for manufacturing or industrial distribution may not as strong as purpose-built solutions such as Infor or Epicor but comparable to vanilla solutions such as SAP S/4 HANA.Verticals such as apparel manufacturing demand deeper integration of PLM, vendor portals, and merchandising solutions to effectively manage their unique processes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, selecting the right ERP system is pivotal for businesses aiming to optimize their operational efficiency and strategic alignment. Acumatica vs Infor CloudSuite M3 both offer unique strengths tailored to different market segments and business needs. Acumatica shines as an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses, particularly those transitioning from simpler systems like QuickBooks. Its cloud-native design and multi-branch capabilities cater well to manufacturing, distribution, construction, and also field service operations within the $10-100 million revenue range. However, its limited global capabilities and complex pricing model may present challenges for larger enterprises or those with extensive international operations.

On the other hand, Infor CloudSuite M3 targets upper mid-market companies, excelling in process and apparel manufacturing industries. Its robust suite of best-of-breed functionalities, including PLM, WMS, and supply chain collaboration, particularly makes it a strong contender for companies within the $250-750 million revenue range. Despite its comprehensive capabilities, Infor CloudSuite M3’s legacy architecture and limited cloud-native features might not appeal to companies seeking modern, scalable ERP solutions.

To get a 360-degree view of feature comparisons, it’s essential to explore not only Acumatica vs. Infor CloudSuite M3 but also insights from other analyses such as Acumatica vs. NetSuite, SAP S/4 HANA, Oracle Cloud ERP, MS Dynamics 365 F&O, and MS Dynamics 365 BC. Also, seeking assistance from an independent ERP consultant can significantly aid the decision-making process, offering specialized advice and direction tailored to the specific needs of the business.

+

ERP Implementation Failure Recovery

Learn how Frederick Wildman struggled with Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP implementation failure even after spending over $5M and what options they had for recovery.

FAQs

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Send this to a friend