Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3 ERP Independent Review 2024

Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3 ERP Independent Review 2024

Oracle ERP Cloud remains a top choice for large companies across diverse industries, particularly media, telecommunications, construction, energy, oil and gas, and healthcare. Despite the need for internal IT expertise, it is also suitable for companies with a need to integrate various third-party software systems. 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.

Oracle Cloud ERP particularly caters to companies needing ledger-level security and hierarchical financial reporting. 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.

Infor CloudSuite M3 also 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. Choosing between Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3 requires a detailed examination, and thus, this comparison offers valuable insights for ERP selection projects. Therefore, let’s explore further.

Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor 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.

Oracle Cloud ERPInfor CloudSuite M3
Started in20122006 (Acquired by Infor)
Ownership byOracle Koch Industries
No. of customers 10,000+1000+

What is Oracle Cloud ERP?

Oracle ERP Cloud remains a top choice for large companies across diverse industries, including media, telecommunications, construction, energy, oil and gas, and healthcare (post-acquisition of Cerner). It is particularly suitable for organizations with substantial internal IT expertise and a requirement for integrating various proprietary and third-party software systems, such as patient claims management or utility billing solutions.

Oracle ERP Cloud is well-suited for global companies using it as their corporate financial ledger while employing other systems at the subsidiary level. Its robust financial capabilities cater to companies needing ledger-level security and hierarchical financial reporting, such as LOB, functions, or funds. Additionally, it seamlessly integrates a powerful HCM solution along with a natively integrated EPM solution.

Oracle ERP Cloud excels in risk management, advertising, and Cx cloud, particularly catering to industries like financial services and insurance. While it is a superior fit for service-centric industries, its success in product-centric industries has been limited. Often used as a corporate ledger, it might deploy another operationally rich solution at the subsidiary level in certain industries. Despite its strength for large enterprises, Oracle ERP Cloud is not the ideal choice for SMB customers.

What Is Infor CloudSuite M3?

Infor CloudSuite M3, is one of Infor’s flagship solutions, catering to particularly distinct micro-verticals across various industries. Sharing similar suites with Infor LN and also 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 also distribution operations. Infor CloudSuite M3 provides a superior suite experience akin to SAP and Oracle thus, 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 particularly 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 also 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.

Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3 Comparison

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

Oracle Cloud ERPInfor CloudSuite M3
Global Operational CapabilitiesEnterprise-grade multi-entity capabilities worldwide.Robust financial hierarchies and global trade compliance functionality integrated.
Diverse CapabilitiesSupports varied business models, may need third-party add-ons for industry specifics.Supports diversified manufacturing business models.
Best-of-breed CapabilitiesSuite includes HCM, CPQ, WMS, RMS, TMS.Best-of-breed integrations provided out-of-the-box.
Last-mile Capabilities Requires add-ons for micro-verticals.Last-mile capabilities along with breadth of capabilities for diversified manufacturing business models.
Operational FunctionalitiesDeeper supply chain and logistics capabilities.Infor CloudSuite M3 is a legacy solution with limited cloud-natve capabilities such as universal search, mobile experience, etc.
Integration CapabilitiesEnterprise-grade integration suite with pre-integrated components.Tools such as HCM, PLM, data lake, ERP, WMS, TMS, and advanced supply chain planning, are all pre-integrated.
Manufacturing Capabilities Best value for global manufacturing companies using it as the corporate financial ledger or in conjunction with another solution at the subsidiary level.Delivers mature capabilities for apparel, F&B, and chemical manufacturing.
Pricing ModelNamed-user basedSubscription-based
Key Modules1. Financial Management
2. Project Management
3. Procurement
4. Risk Management and Compliance
5. Enterprise Performance Management
6. Supply Chain and Manufacturing
7. ERP Analytics
1. Financial Management
2. Manufacturing Operations
3. Enterprise Asset Management
4. Supply Chain Management
5. Customer Sales and Service
6. Application Foundation

Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor 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 Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor 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 Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3. By examining their respective strengths and functionalities, particularly in managing financial processes. Businesses can therefore gain valuable insights to determine the best-suited ERP solution for their financial management needs.

Oracle Cloud ERPInfor CloudSuite M3
Financial ManagementGeneral LedgerEnterprise-grade ledgers to support multi-country operations at the global level with layers of sub-ledgers and complex closing process.Enables organizations to manage financial transactions, maintain accurate balances, and generate complete financial statements.
Accounts Receivable and Accounts PayableSupport for complex, global AR and AP processes, including shared services.Supports analysis across all accounting dimensions, including non-reconciled data for the AP model.
Cash Flow ManagementEnterprise-grade capabilities for cash and treasury management.Provides complete control over accounts receivable and cash flow processes, unifying all AR information to monitor cash collection and enhance productivity and efficiency.
Currency ManagementEnterprise-grade capabilities for currency management, including support for complex currency processes such as hedging.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 Management Global and enterprise-grade tax management capabilities, with support for most countries in the world.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 Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3, shedding light particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Oracle Cloud ERPInfor CloudSuite M3
Supply Chain ManagementWarehouse ManagementStreamlines warehouse operations, enhances inventory management, and ensures seamless multichannel fulfillment, end-to-end inventory visibility, and integration with advanced features for efficient resource allocation and workflow optimization.Optimizes operations with inventory management, labor management, 3PL billing, and 3D visualization, enhancing efficiency and interactivity.
Service ManagementEnsures efficient and effective service delivery through features like service request management, incident handling, and knowledge management.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 Enables efficient management of goods flow, including inbound, within the warehouse, and outbound, while also supporting consigned inventory capabilities.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 Management Helps organizations digitally manage and process purchase orders for supply chain and procurement activities, improving efficiency and reducing overhead costs.Includes automation, vendor payment tracking, payment scheduling, check printing, open purchase order alerts, document management, direct ACH bill payment, and vendor records
Requisition Management Ability to manage complex requisition management processes of globally complex enterprises.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 Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3, shedding light, particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Oracle Cloud ERPInfor CloudSuite M3
Manufacturing ManagementProduction PlanningOffers production planning capabilities including capacity planning, MRP, shop floor control, and demand planning.Supports planning in both multi-facility and single-facility production environments, managing critical materials at the facility level.
BOM and RoutingAllows you to define lists of components associated with a parent item and outlines step-by-step operations required for manufacturing an assembly.Defines the product structure and assembly sequence, listing components and specifying the operations, work centers, and machines required for manufacturing.
Advanced Planning and Scheduling Plans all supply chain facilities, supporting both short-term detailed scheduling and long-term aggregate planning within a single plan. It also considers finite capacity constraints and offers holistic optimization capabilities.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 Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3

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

Oracle Cloud ERPInfor CloudSuite M3
The product architecture supports the needs of large, complex financial organizations with deep sub-ledger hierarchies.Ideal for upper mid-market companies or as subsidiary solutions in a two-tier setting for private equity-owned or holding companies.
Oracle Cloud ERP has an ecosystem of experienced consultants capable of handling the architecture of such complex enterprises.It can support the most complex manufacturing business models, WBS-centric manufacturing, or support for attributes with MRP planning.
The embedded HCM and CRM processes are suitable for large non-profit organizations. The P2P workflows are friendlier for the indirect procurement needs of non-profit organizations.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.
The workload Oracle Cloud ERP is designed to process millions of GL entries per hour.While most smaller solutions might require ad-hoc arrangements for global financial operations, Infor CloudSuite M3 has them natively built.

Cons Of Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3

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

Oracle Cloud ERPInfor CloudSuite M3
Transactional and financial traceability may not be intuitive for large enterprises.The limited focus on certain business models poses the risk of requiring other ERP systems to support complex and diverse business operations.
Data model and translations could overwhelm companies transitioning from QuickBooks.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.
Complex MRP runs might pose challenges for costing and scheduling.Infor CloudSuite M3 is a legacy solution with limited cloud-native capabilities such as universal search, mobile experience, etc
Customization and configuration may take longer due to unnecessary functionality.The consulting base and marketplaces are virtually non-existent for Infor CloudSuite M3.
P2P processes, CPQ, and manufacturing capabilities may not suit product-centric organizations.Verticals such as apparel manufacturing demand deeper integration of PLM, vendor portals, and merchandising solutions to effectively manage their unique processes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing between Oracle Cloud ERP vs Infor M3 depends on the organization’s specific needs and scale. Oracle Cloud ERP is ideal for particularly large enterprises with extensive IT infrastructure and global operations, offering robust financial management, seamless integration, and industry-specific solutions. It also excels in sectors like media, telecommunications, construction, energy, and healthcare, providing sophisticated ledger-level security and financial reporting. However, it might not be the best fit for SMBs or product-centric enterprises.

Infor CloudSuite M3 is tailored for upper mid-market companies and subsidiaries, particularly in process and apparel manufacturing industries like fashion, F&B, and chemicals. Its mature capabilities in manufacturing and distribution, along with pre-integrated tools for HCM, PLM, and ERP, make it suitable for optimizing global operations. Despite its strengths, Infor CloudSuite M3 has a less modern technology landscape and smaller ecosystem, which may not suit enterprises with diverse operational needs or aggressive M&A strategies.

To get a 360-degree view of feature comparisons, it’s essential to explore not only Oracle Cloud ERP vs. Infor CloudSuite M3 but also insights from other analyses such as Oracle Cloud ERP vs. NetSuite, SAP S/4 HANA, Acumatica, MS Dynamics 365 F&O, MS Dynamics 365 BC, and Infor CloudSuite LN. 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