ERP Systems

Top 10 Make-to-Stock Manufacturing ERP Systems In 2024

Top 10 Make-to-Stock Manufacturing ERP Systems In 2024

Leave a Comment / Blog, Enterprise Architecture, ERP, Industrial Manufacturing / By / June 23, 2024

Make-to-stock Companies: Contrary to make-to-order enterprises, make-to-stock companies are often consumer-oriented, necessitating robust supply chain planning and potentially eCommerce capabilities. These companies span various sectors, encompassing both discrete and process manufacturing methodologies. Product portfolios may feature consumer staples like food items and household goods, as well as consumer electronics or automobiles. Material inputs can vary widely, particularly from plastics and chemicals to steel and organic ingredients. As long as products are stockpiled for future sale, they fall under the umbrella of make-to-stock operations.

Make-to-stock Manufacturing Business Processes: While many make-to-stock companies may incorporate elements of make-to-order processes, their product offerings typically lack the complexity found in engineer-to-order or project manufacturing setups. Given their retail or eCommerce-centric operations, robust supply chain planning is crucial, influencing the required system architecture and ERP functionalities. Despite simpler manufacturing processes, labor requirements may not be as extensive. Thus, resulting in less complex bills of materials primarily centered on ingredients.

Top 10 Make-to-Stock Manufacturing ERP Systems in 2024

Make-to-stock Manufacturing ERP Needs. The ERP requirements for make-to-stock operations can be influenced by various external systems like POS, S&OP, merchandising, planning, and eCommerce, depending on the system architecture. Given the consumer-centric nature of their products, make-to-stock businesses often rely heavily on logistics processes involving WMS and TMS, distinguishing them significantly from make-to-stock or engineer-to-order models. Unlike these models, make-to-stock processes typically entail less emphasis on configurator, CPQ, CAD, PLM, and PDM, as their products are comparatively simpler. Their bills of materials (BOMs) are less intricate, with fewer sub-assemblies and shorter lead times. Therefore, let’s explore the top 10 make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.



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Criteria

  • Definition of a make-to-stock manufacturing company. These companies in the make-to-stock ecosystem include manufacturers primarily following make-to-stock business mode in a variety of industries, including CPG, food and beverage, chemicals, automotive, aerospace, furniture, or building materials etc. The list considers companies of all sizes in this ecosystem.
  • Overall market share/# of customers. The higher marketshare among make-to-stock companies drives higher rankings on this list.
  • Ownership/funding. The superior financial position of the ERP vendor leads to higher rankings on this list.
  • Quality of development. How modern is the tech stack? How aggressively is the ERP vendor pushing cloud-native functionality for this product? Is the roadmap officially announced? Or uncertain?
  • Community/Ecosystem. How vibrant is the community? Social media groups? In-person user groups? Forums?
  • Depth of native functionality. Last-mile functionality for specific industries natively built into the product?
  • Quality of publicly available product documentation. How well-documented is the product? Is the documentation available publicly? How updated is the demo content available on YouTube?
  • Product share and documented commitment. Is the product share reported separately in financial statements if the ERP vendor is public?
  • Ability to natively support diversified business models. How diverse is the product in supporting multiple business models in the same product?
  • Acquisition strategy aligned with the product: Any recent acquisitions to fill a specific hole for make-to-stock industries? Any official announcements to integrate recently acquired capabilities?
  • User Reviews: How specific are the reviews about this product’s capabilities? How recent and frequent are the reviews?
  • Must be an ERP product: Edge products such as HCM, CRM, eCommerce, MES, or accounting solutions that are not fully integrated to support enterprise-wide capabilities are not qualified for this list.

10. Oracle Cloud ERP

Geared toward large global make-to-stock firms, Oracle Cloud ERP excels with high transaction volumes, especially when Oracle Cloud ERP might be used only as a corporate financial ledger while using other specialized solutions such as QAD or DELMIAWorks at the subsidiary level. With the retail-friendly TMS and WMS system along with the RMS component, Oracle Cloud ERP is especially friendly for make-to-stock businesses. Thus, securing its rank at #10 among the top 10 make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems in 2024.

Strengths
  1. Robust finance capabilities for large, global make-to-stock manufacturers. Capabilities include having five layers of GL restrictions, multiple layers of sub-ledgers, and book closing requirements across divisions, especially relevant for larger make-to-stock businesses with several hierarchies across their retail divisions.
  2. Proven solution with large workloads. Large companies may process millions of GL entries per hour. The transaction volume is especially higher for make-to-stock businesses, especially if these transactions are hosted inside the ERP. 
  3. Ecosystem.  Oracle Cloud ERP has an ecosystem of experienced consultants who have the capabilities to handle the design and architecture of such complex enterprises.
Weaknesses
  1. Expensive consulting is required for make-to-stock integrations. While systems such as WMS, TMS, RMS, and S&OP are likely to be part of the suite, they will still require substantial consulting expertise to enable similar capabilities as might be available out-of-the-box with focused solutions such as DELMIAWorks or QAD.
  2. Limited industry-specific capabilities. Oracle Cloud ERP is likely to have industry-specific compliance required in certain verticals, such as plastic-specific capabilities with DELMIAWorks or automotive ERP capabilities with QAD.
  3. Overwhelming for SMB make-to-stock manufacturers. The enterprise data model and financial layers might be overwhelming for SMB make-to-stock manufacturers.

9. SAP S/4 HANA

Targeting large make-to-stock manufacturing companies with global operations, SAP S/4 HANA excels in handling millions of transactions per hour. The EWM and LE products from SAP are especially friendly for make-to-stock-centric businesses, supporting both embedded or decoupled architecture where make-to-stock businesses might have 3PL components as part of their business processes. Such businesses also require faster processing or movement of goods within warehouses. Despite the pros and cons, it secures its rank at #9 among the make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems in 2024.

Strengths
  1. An enterprise-grade product designed for diverse manufacturing companies, including make-to-stock. The item master, product model, and warehouse architecture can accommodate the needs of most manufacturing business models, including make-to-stock.
  2. The power of HANA to run global operations end-to-end in one system. Our simple test of HANA’s capabilities with 100K serialized goods receipt found it to be faster than most systems out there. SAP S/4 HANA could process it in under 22 seconds, while Oracle cloud ERP took more than 18 mins for the same test. This is especially friendly for verticals such as electronics with serialized product offerings. 
  3. Financial governance and best-of-breed architecture. Financial traceability is built with each transaction, which makes the transactions and SOX governance flows highly traceable. 
Weaknesses
  1. Behind in cloud capabilities. Despite advanced technical capabilities such as AI, the last mile industry capabilities and operational functionality are limited in the cloud version.
  2. Too big for smaller companies. Companies looking for a fully baked suite without internal IT capabilities will find it overwhelming.
  3. Limited last mile capabilities and third-party pre-integrated options. The last-mile capabilities available with other ERP systems, such as QAD or DelmiaWORKS, would not be as strong with SAP S/4 HANA.

8. Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Syteline)

With its primary target market being make-to-order, Infor CloudSuite Industrial would be a great fit for companies with mixed-mode manufacturing processes, especially for products and business models where they would require equal depth in both processes. While Infor Cloud Industrial can cover both, it might not be the best fit for companies that are retail or eCommerce heavy because of its complex product model. It is also not the best fit for companies with complex inventory needs such as metal or plastics. Thus, with the primary target being SMB make-to-stock companies heavier in manufacturing, it ranks at #8 among the top make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems in 2024.

Strengths
  1. Support for both informal engineering processes. This is especially friendly for make-to-stock companies without formal engineering processes or complex products. 
  2. Deep costing layers. While costing might not be the most critical for make-to-stock companies, it might be beneficial for companies with fluctuating costs, such as electrical components or steel manufacturers. 
  3. Field service integration with the core manufacturing processes. Verticals heavier in residential or field services would require tightly embedded field services with the manufacturing processes, making it friendlier for make-to-stock companies with field services operations.
Weaknesses
  1. Disconnected financial reporting experience. Unlike other products, financial reports are not embedded with the product and would require an Excel interface, creating a patchy experience for users. 
  2. Poor user experience and steep learning curve. While marketed as a cloud product, the cloud capabilities, such as enterprise search and opening multiple tabs, are limited, making the experience non-intuitive.
  3. Weak ecosystem and third-party options. Similar to Epicor, Infor CSI takes the suite approach. So it might be harder to find integration with best-of-breed third-party apps.

7. Infor CloudSuite LN/M3

Infor CloudSuite LN and M3 are two completely different products and target upper mid-market make-to-stock companies compared to Infor Cloud Suite Industrial. With the primary target market for LN being complex and engineer-to-order-centric manufacturing business models, it might be a good fit for make-to-stock companies with diverse business models. M3 targets retail, apparel, and chemical manufacturing companies – the majority of them are made-to-stock with heavy retail components. Thus, given their fit for many make-to-stock verticals, it ranks at #7 on our list of top make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Global operations. For LN and M3, there are very few comprehensive manufacturing solutions with a heavy global presence, containing capabilities such as global trade compliance and international supplier collaboration that are uniquely relevant for make-to-stock verticals. 
  2. Last-mile capabilities, along with the breadth of capabilities for diversified manufacturing business models. Make-to-stock with heavier distribution operations would require capabilities such as handling units that are natively built with both products.
  3. Best-of-breed integrations offered out-of-the-box. Most tools that a manufacturer would require, such as HCM, PLM, data lake, ERP, WMS, TMS, and advanced supply chain planning, are all pre-integrated with LN and M3.
Weaknesses
  1. It might not be the best fit as a corporate solution for holding and private equity companies. Make-to-stock companies as diverse as manufacturing, construction, and professional services may not be able to keep all of their entities on one solution and database.
  2. Legacy UI and Experience. Infor LN and M3 are both legacy solutions with technical limitations to provide the cloud-native experience with universal search, mobile experience, etc.
  3. Weak Ecosystem and Marketplace. The consulting base and marketplaces are virtually non-existent for both Infor LN and M3 if you need third-party best-of-breed pre-integrated solutions.

6. Plex

Adopting an MES-first strategy, Plex targets companies in the Toyota and Ford automotive ecosystems. Despite superior technology compared to other solutions on this list, Plex has fewer installs, primarily focusing on the automotive industry. The automotive industry, especially the large OEMs, where Plex is especially known, are generally made-to-stock, requiring joint collaboration with their suppliers, which might be overkill for simpler made-to-order businesses. Plex would be an ideal fit for MES-heavy make-to-stock manufacturers, especially in the automotive ecosystem, emphasizing more operational capabilities than the core ERP needs. Thus, securing its rank at #6 among the top make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Last-mile functionality for Toyota and Ford ecosystems. Tailored for manufacturers in the Toyota ecosystem (i.e., Toyota suppliers), Plex offers distinctive features, especially the compliance requirements that would require substantial consulting efforts on vanilla ERP systems.
  2. MES-first approach. Originating as an integrated MES solution, Plex boasts extensive MES capabilities. This appeals to make-to-stock companies handling processes traditionally within ERP, like quality, scheduling, and asset maintenance, providing a valuable shop floor perspective.
  3. Cloud-native UI and architecture. Similar to cloud-native alternatives like NetSuite or Acumatica, Plex features a cloud-native and mobile-friendly user interface.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited core ERP capabilities. While Plex lacks extensive finance and accounting capabilities for global organizations, it could be a great two-tier solution used at the plant level on top of Oracle and SAP as a corporate system.
  2. Limited make-to-stock manufacturing capabilities. While it might have some make-to-stock capabilities, it might not be the best fit for make-to-stock manufacturing companies requiring mixed-mode manufacturing capabilities.
  3. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. Plex has fewer installations and a minimal marketplace and consulting base compared to other manufacturing ERP systems on this list.

5. Acumatica

Tailored for manufacturing companies in the $10-100 million range, Acumatica suits make-to-stock manufacturers with relatively simpler global operations present in fewer countries. Acumatica has several advantages for make-to-stock manufacturers, including native integration with eCommerce systems and the availability of add-ons on its marketplace to augment its core capabilities. While the product and BOM model is relatively scalable to work even for make-to-order manufacturing, it would be more suitable for make-to-stock because of the missing advanced features such as Kanban or allocation layers, a crucial need for make-to-order operations. Thus, given its pros and cons, it ranks at #5 on our list of top make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Native integration with leading eCommerce platforms. Along with BOMs and manufacturing capabilities that are friendlier for make-to-stock verticals, it integrates natively with leading eCommerce platforms, a requirement for most make-to-stock verticals.
  2. Diverse business models but friendlier for discrete make-to-stock manufacturers. The product can accommodate multiple business models in the same database, making it easier to explore synergies across different business models, and is especially friendlier for discrete make-to-stock verticals because of its BOMs being aligned to discrete manufacturing.
  3. Cloud-native UI. Superior experience for teams using ERP primarily on mobile devices. 
Weaknesses
  1. Pricing. With make-to-stock verticals being consumer-focused, the consumption-based pricing might be more expensive due to the higher number of transactions.
  2. Process manufacturing capabilities. It might not be the best fit for make-to-stock verticals requiring process manufacturing capabilities, which would require thick add-ons, risking implementation.
  3. Limited global capabilities. The current multi-entity functionality might be limiting for make-to-stock companies with operationally connected offshore locations.

4. IQMS/DELMIAWorks

IQMS, tailored for plastics-centric operations, would be uniquely suitable for plastic extrusion make-to-stock manufacturing companies working for large OEMs in the automotive and aerospace verticals. IQMS natively supports the supply chain planning and S&OP operations for plastic-centric verticals. But it might not be the best fit for other discrete-centric make-to-stock verticals. IQMS would be an ideal fit for smaller make-to-stock companies or for larger companies as a subsidiary-level system. Thus, contributing to its placement at #4 among make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Great for plastic-extrusion make-to-stock manufacturers. While limited in its mixed-mode capabilities, it’s especially suitable for plastic-centric make-to-stock industries when it comes to unique scheduling requirements.
  2. S&OP planning capabilities are friendlier for make-to-stock verticals. Make-to-stock, especially process manufacturing such as plastic manufacturing requires unique CAD and PLM capabilities, along with the S&OP planning capabilities included with the suite.
  3. Technology – This is probably the most legacy solution of all on this list, with no announcement if they plan to modernize the technology.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus might be a challenge for make-to-stock companies diversifying their operations and being active with M&A cycles. 
  2. Limited ecosystem. The consulting base is extremely limited with most resellers being CAD resellers, with limited experience in ERP implementation and cross-functional processes.
  3. It is not the right fit for holding and private equity companies as a corporate ledger. It might not be the right fit for make-to-stock companies primarily using it as a corporate financial ledger.

3. Epicor Kinetic

Epicor Kinetic targets small-to-mid-size make-to-stock manufacturers specializing in industries with complex inventory needs, such as automotive, aerospace, metal, fabrication, and medical devices. While the product model is friendlier for formal engineering organizations, the complex inventory layers and distribution planning are included as part of the same solution, making it a fit for certain make-to-stock verticals such as metal, automotive, or medical devices. However, the requirement of formal engineering processes might discourage companies with SKUs without the need for revision numbers. Thus, securing their rank at #3 among the top make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Strong with complex inventory needs. Companies that require multiple attributes that need to be part of the planning and MRP, such as metal, fastener, automotive, and aerospace, would find Epicor Kinetic to be appealing.
  2. Strong support for distribution processes along with manufacturing. Distribution planning requires complex structures for bin numbers, a unique requirement for make-to-stock manufacturing companies that are heavier on distribution.
  3. Microsoft look-and-feel. Epicor has a very similar look and feel to Microsoft ERP products, providing you with the same experience but with much deeper last-mile capabilities where other products might struggle.
Weaknesses
  1. Global financial operations. Unlike larger products that might support more than three layers of financial hierarchies, such as corp, subsidiary, entity, and business units, the limited number of layers would operationally inefficient workarounds, such as using sub-accounts for such traceability.
  2. Support for process manufacturing. While Epicor Kinetic has a module to support process manufacturing, the capabilities are lean to support the operations of pure-play make-to-stock process manufacturers.
  3. Embedded experience with field service and quality. Despite recent acquisitions, the field service capabilities are not as embedded and proven as some of the other products on this list.

2. Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O

Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O excels in localizations where other focused solutions might not be available, providing only a few options for make-to-stock companies. It is uniquely suitable for make-to-stock companies with several TMS and WMS options along with S&OP that closely integrate with MS Dynamics 365 F&O. It can not only support both discrete and process verticals, but it also has very strong support for distribution-heavy operations, making it uniquely suitable for diversified make-to-stock operations. Therefore, given its pros and cons, it ranks at #2 on our list of make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Richer core ERP capabilities for make-to-stock companies in the cloud. Compared to other solutions that might have superior layers for other service-centric verticals, such as Oracle Cloud ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O has a mature cloud version for make-to-stock companies.
  2. Support for both discrete and process verticals as well as complex distribution operations. Unlike other products on this list that can support only a few manufacturing business models, Microsoft Dynamics F&O supports both discrete and process as well as distribution operations.
  3. Powerful ecosystem and marketplace add-ons. Microsoft has a talent and consulting base in countries where finding talent may be a challenge. 
Weaknesses
  1. Limited pre-baked integrations for make-to-stock companies. The integration relevant for make-to-stock companies such as eCommerce and POS are not OEM owned, requiring third-party add-ons.
  2. Too big for smaller companies. The smaller companies would find it overwhelming with the configuration and approval flows built for large enterprises.
  3. Limited last mile capabilities. The last-mile functionality relevant to specific industries, such as plastic or medical, would be substantially limited, requiring third-party add-ons or custom development.

1. QAD

With QAD’s focus being primarily on mid-to-large automotive, electronics manufacturing, and life sciences companies, it is uniquely suitable for make-to-stock companies that are heavy on the supply chain. It might also not be the best fit for companies requiring mixed-mode manufacturing capabilities along with make-to-stock. While they have announced plans to advance their technology stack, the new version might take a while to be fully rolled out and available. Thus, securing its rank at #1 on our list among the top make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Global capabilities. While not as globalized and localized as other larger solutions, such as SAP S/4 HANA or Oracle, QAD is widely localized, supporting several countries that require global synergies and international supplier collaboration and supply chain planning.
  2. Supply chain suite + ERP. Combining capabilities that traditionally resided in a Supply Chain Suite, QAD includes trade compliance, TMS capabilities, and S&OP planning in its core solution. These capabilities are highly applicable for make-to-stock business models.
  3. Integrated best-of-breed capabilities. QAD offers best-of-breed integration that can support not only make-to-stock operations but also other mixed-mode manufacturing operations requiring integrations such as CAD or PLM.
Weaknesses
  1. Diverse business models. QAD’s limited focus poses challenges for holding and private equity companies with aggressive M&A cycles trying to keep all of their entities on one solution.
  2. Global corporate solution. While operationally strong, QAD may not be the best fit for companies seeking a global corporate financial solution.
  3. Weak ecosystem. QAD lacks a robust ecosystem, including limited partners and coverage for third-party add-ons and marketplaces.
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Conclusion

Make-to-stock manufacturing demands specialized inventory and supply chain planning solutions tailored for this sector. Not all manufacturing products are suitable for make-to-stock processes, especially those designed for discrete manufacturing. While a few products offer support for both discrete and process manufacturing along with distribution planning, the majority are geared toward specific business models, complicating the selection of software tailored for make-to-stock operations. Picking the ideal make-to-order manufacturing ERP system requires a meticulous review of transactions and workflows. Also, selecting an ill-suited system could lead to implementation challenges. While this compilation provides helpful guidance, consulting with an independent ERP consultant can significantly improve your implementation outcomes.

FAQs

Top 10 Food & Beverage ERP Systems In 2025 Quadrant

Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems In 2025

Leave a Comment / Blog, Enterprise Architecture, ERP, Food and Beverage / By / February 15, 2025

Food and beverage companies require a distinct ERP strategy due to their unique product development, quality standards, and production processes. This diverse industry includes manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, each needing a customized ERP approach aligned with their specific operations. Even within this sector, product categories such as dairy and frozen foods differ significantly in ERP requirements. Understanding these differences requires analyzing transactions and their interactions with cross-functional datasets.

Food and Beverage Companies’ Business Processes: Unlike other retail segments, planning in this industry presents unique challenges, such as managing expiry dates and tracking lot/serial numbers. Additional complexities stem from constraints like weight serving as the primary Unit of Measure (UoM) and the necessity of catchweight processes. Compliance and quality control also have distinct requirements, with a strong emphasis on adhering to HACCP standards.

Food and Beverage ERP Requirements: Manufacturers in this sector depend on ERP systems that integrate seamlessly with PLM for product development and shop floor management. Many also operate under DTC and DSD business models, requiring an in-house fleet to accommodate unique storage and delivery needs. Scheduling complexities arise from bottlenecks like specialized furnace designs or recipe-driven processes, necessitating batching strategies. For retailers, ERP alignment with product management, merchandising, and planning is essential—similar to other retail sectors but with added complexity due to food and beverage compliance regulations. These industry-specific challenges play a crucial role in shaping ERP functionalities. Looking for the best food and beverage ERP systems in 2025? Check out this list for a great starting point!



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10. ECI Deacom

ECI Deacom targets small food and beverage companies, particularly those heavily involved in eCommerce and DTC. Its processes are tailored to food and beverage or chemical-centric industries. Thus, making it less scalable for diverse food and beverage operations. Despite its strengths, the core ERP layers and data model are not scalable for companies seeking mature ERP capabilities. However, it suits smaller companies transitioning from QuickBooks with constrained implementation budgets. While not universally applicable, its relevance to specific smaller companies in the food and beverage sector earns it the #10 spot on our list of top food and beverage ERP systems.

What makes this ERP system a top choice for food and beverage companies in 2025? How does it excel in e-commerce, DTC, and last-mile delivery? Is it the right fit for your business, and does it support diversified business models? How does its financial backing and technical architecture compare to others? Can it handle supply chain complexities, pricing structures, and formulation management? Discover the answers and see how this ERP stacks up against the competition—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

9. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

MS Dynamics 365 BC targets SMB food and beverage distributors. And it’s especially suitable for food and beverage companies that require depth in supply chain and distribution processes, along with the platform’s flexibility to build last-mile functionality. While it might not have food and beverage capabilities out of the box, the underlying data model is friendlier for food and beverage companies. Because of this reason, the marketplace offers several options for food and beverage companies, including leading solutions such as Aptean Food and Beverage, securing its rank at #9 on our list.

How does this ERP system leverage its extensive ecosystem and add-ons to enhance food and beverage capabilities? What advantages does its native support for packaging serial numbers and lot tracking offer? How well does it handle supply chain complexities, bin allocation, and warehouse management? Can it meet the needs of food and beverage manufacturers despite lacking native formulation management and advanced production features? Are its add-ons as reliable and well-documented as those from OEMs? Get the full breakdown of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other leading solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!



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8. SYSPRO

SYSPRO targets small food and beverage companies, both manufacturers and distributors. It can support both discrete and process manufacturing capabilities for food manufacturers owning a packaging line, requiring both of these business processes in one database. It also has a very strong alignment with eCommerce players prevalent in the food and beverage space, increasing the available integration options. While great for smaller operations, it is not suitable for large food and beverage companies with multiple entities. Despite these considerations, it still maintains the rank at #8 on our list of top food and beverage ERP systems.

How does this ERP system natively support formulation management, setting it apart from primarily discrete-focused solutions? How well can it accommodate diverse business models for smaller food and beverage manufacturers and distributors? What advantages does it offer in supply chain and finance, including unit of measure support, bin number capabilities, inventory valuation, and costing layers? Is it the right choice for larger companies with multi-entity operations, or does it have limitations in data sharing and suite capabilities? Are there any technical challenges users should be aware of? Get the full analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

7. SAP S/4 HANA

SAP S/4 HANA caters to larger food and beverage enterprises, excelling in the large enterprise segment or adopting a best-of-breed approach for diversified capabilities. Its key strength is accommodating various global food and beverage business models within one database, but it may lack deep last-mile capabilities, relying on ISV solutions or elongating implementation times. While this reliance can be cost-prohibitive for SMB food and beverage companies, it aligns with the best-of-breed architecture needs required by large food and beverage companies, essential for transactional decoupling and accommodating diverse departmental needs. Despite these considerations, it maintains its position at #7 on our list of the top food and beverage ERP systems.

How does this ERP system provide superior financial control, traceability, and SOX compliance for large food and beverage companies? How well does it support diversified business models across manufacturing and retail? What advantages do its best-of-breed solutions, like SAP EWM for warehouse management, SAP TMS for transportation, and SAP Hybris for e-commerce, offer to larger enterprises? Does its lack of native last-mile functionality and required add-ons for route accounting and scale integration present challenges? Are its financial control processes overly complex for smaller businesses, making it a better fit for large organizations? Get the full breakdown of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!



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6. Oracle Cloud ERP

Oracle Cloud ERP, much like SAP S/4 HANA, targets larger food and beverage enterprises, excelling in the large enterprise segment or adopting a best-of-breed approach for diversified capabilities. Its strength lies in accommodating global food and beverage business models within one database, though it may lack deep last-mile capabilities, often relying on ISV solutions or extending implementation times. Unlike SAP S/4 HANA, Oracle Cloud ERP boasts higher penetration in the food and beverage verticals due to its existing install base with JD Edwards. The friendly data model and higher win rate make it a preferred choice. Aligned with the best-of-breed architecture, crucial for transactional decoupling, it secures its position at #6 on our list of the top food and beverage ERP systems.

How does this ERP system provide deep capabilities for large food and beverage companies, including international trade management and supply chain planning? What advantages does its vast talent ecosystem and widespread adoption offer for building custom food and beverage-specific functionality? How well does it support diversified business models across distribution and manufacturing? Does its limited last-mile functionality and industry-specific integrations require costly add-ons or custom development? Are its extensive financial control processes a benefit for large enterprises but a challenge for smaller companies? Get the full breakdown of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

5. Infor CloudSuite M3

Infor CloudSuite M3 caters to food and beverage companies in the upper mid-market. Its key strength is that it is a complete pre-integrated suite containing several components, including specialized PLM and a tailored supply chain suite. It’s a great fit for focused food and beverage companies with limited IT budgets but might not be the best fit for companies growing through M&A or with diverse business models. Despite these considerations, it maintains its position at #5 on our list.

How does this ERP system support global operations with robust financial hierarchies and built-in global trade compliance? What advantages does it offer for last-mile capabilities and diversified manufacturing business models, including deep PLM and vendor portal integration? How do its best-of-breed integrations, covering HCM, PLM, WMS, TMS, and advanced supply chain planning, streamline operations for food and beverage companies? Is it a suitable choice for holding or private equity companies with diverse business models, or does it fall short in multi-entity management? Does its legacy UI and weak consulting ecosystem limit its usability and scalability? Get the full breakdown of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

4. QAD

QAD focuses on upper mid-large food and beverage manufacturing companies seeking robust operational functionality beyond larger products like SAP S/4 HANA or Oracle Cloud ERP. However, it may overwhelm smaller companies in the sector. Historically, QAD faced limitations due to its technology, but an upcoming upgrade aims to address this issue. Despite the anticipated improvements, immediate availability remains uncertain, retaining its position at #4 on our list of top food and beverage ERP systems.

How does QAD support diversified business models by combining discrete and process manufacturing for food and beverage and packaging manufacturers? What advantages do its process manufacturing capabilities provide compared to similar products? How well does QAD serve mid- to large-sized food and beverage companies with its international trade management and supply chain capabilities? Does its technical architecture need modernization, and how might that impact its functionality? Is it truly suited for food and beverage manufacturers, given its focus on discrete manufacturing? How does its talent ecosystem compare to larger ERP systems like SAP S/4 HANA or Oracle ERP Cloud, and how might this affect implementation success? Get the full analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

Like Oracle ERP Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations targets food and beverage manufacturers and distributors in the upper-mid market and lower-enterprise range. It is not suitable for smaller to medium-sized manufacturers and distributors. The biggest plus of MS Dynamics 365 F&O would be its marketplace, allowing augmenting core capabilities with third-party add-ons and supporting many diverse business models, retaining its rank at #3 among the top food and beverage ERP systems.

How does this ERP system provide deep capabilities for upper mid-market and lower enterprise food and beverage companies, especially in global operations with talent constraints? How well does it support diversified business models like food processing and packaging line manufacturing? What advantages do its pre-integrated best-of-breed options, such as CRM and field service, offer for streamlining business processes and improving operational efficiency? Does its limited last-mile functionality pose challenges for food and beverage companies managing their own fleets, requiring additional integrations? Are its extensive financial control processes more suited for large organizations, potentially overwhelming smaller companies? Get the full breakdown of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

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2. Aptean Food & Beverage ERP

Aptean food and beverage ERP is a fully flavored pre-integrated suite for food and beverage manufacturers, including all the essential components as part of the suite, such as ERP, WMS, TMS, etc. One of the unique advantages of Aptean Food & Beverage ERP is that it’s built on top of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, therefore overcoming the challenges with the MS Dynamics 365 BC product. The food and beverage-specific IP and integrations created on top of MS 365 BC, along with the support from Aptean would be a huge plus for companies with limited budgets seeking a full suite. Thus, ranking at #2 on our list among the top food and beverage ERP systems.

How does this ERP system excel in food and beverage manufacturing, particularly in formulation management and batch manufacturing? How does its financial backing from a large private equity firm enhance its stability and long-term viability? What advantages does it offer over smaller ERP systems like Deacom or SYSPRO, with its deeper manufacturing and supply chain capabilities? Is it the right fit for businesses with diverse models, or might its customizations and process flows struggle to scale? How well does it integrate with other business models, and could its limited integrations pose a challenge? Does its smaller ecosystem hinder support and scalability compared to larger ERP providers? Get the full analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

1. Sage X3

Sage X3 targets upper-mid to large food and beverage companies with less than $1B in revenue that seeks a replacement for other larger products due to their weaker operational support and overwhelming workflows. It is not as suitable for the smaller food and beverage companies that will have revenue under $50 million or the larger companies with a presence in more than 10-15 countries. While Sage X3 still maintains a large marketshare among food and beverage companies, it’s not receiving as much attention in Sage’s portfolio, which is primarily focused on the smaller segment and serving the accounting community as it is their primary distribution channel.

How does this ERP system serve large food and beverage companies with deep functionality for process manufacturing and distribution? What makes it particularly suitable for process manufacturing companies, and how does it support features like product families? How does its ecosystem of consultants with deep expertise in food and beverage validation enhance its implementation? Is it the right choice for smaller food and beverage companies, or might its complexity and integration requirements be overwhelming? How does its limited pre-integrated best-of-breed options compare to larger ERP systems like SAP S/4 HANA or Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O? Does its smaller ecosystem of consultants and marketplace options hinder its scalability and support? Get the full breakdown of its strengths, weaknesses, and how it compares to other top solutions—download the full Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Systems in 2025 report today!

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FAQs

Top 10 Make-to-Order Manufacturing ERP Systems In 2024

Top 10 Make-to-Order Manufacturing ERP Systems In 2024

Leave a Comment / Blog, Enterprise Architecture, ERP, Industrial Manufacturing / By / March 26, 2024

Make-to-order Companies: In the vast realm of manufacturing, make-to-order companies stand out with their distinct operations. Often grouped alongside make-to-stock, engineer-to-order, and project manufacturing, make-to-order firms operate uniquely. Unlike make-to-stock businesses, they craft products upon order placement, necessitating specialized supply chain processes. While similar to engineer-to-order setups, make-to-order companies typically require less customer interaction and tackle less intricate engineering challenges.

Make-to-order Manufacturing Business Processes: To grasp the dynamics of make-to-order processes, consider the distinction between one-off and planned needs. One-off needs, such as unique machine parts, often drive this approach, catering to specialized requirements. Additionally, factors like product cost and lead time urgency influence whether a product falls under make-to-order or make-to-stock categories. Typically, expensive products favor make-to-order to preserve cash reserves, while urgent customer demands may prompt some make-to-order items to transition to make-to-stock for enhanced service delivery.

Top 10 Make-to-Order Manufacturing ERP Systems In 2024

Make-to-order Manufacturing ERP Needs. Make-to-order businesses require unique SKU strategies, often tailored to their specific processes. Unlike engineer-to-order enterprises, where make-to-order processes might also be required for their parts business, standalone make-to-order firms operate with simpler structures, fewer long-term projects, and reduced planning needs, simplifying the need for mixed-mode manufacturing. Their billing and financial planning requirements are also less complex. Additionally, managing the ecommerce component poses challenges, as it involves configurator processes due to less formalized SKUs, although not as ad-hoc as engineer-to-order setups. Now, let’s explore the top make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems for 2024.



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Criteria

  • Definition of a make-to-order manufacturing company. These companies in the make-to-order ecosystem include manufacturers primarily following make-to-order business mode in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, plastics, and building materials etc. The list considers companies of all sizes in this ecosystem.
  • Overall market share/# of customers. The higher marketshare among make-to-order companies drives higher rankings on this list.
  • Ownership/funding. The superior financial position of the ERP vendor leads to higher rankings on this list.
  • Quality of development. How modern is the tech stack? How aggressively is the ERP vendor pushing cloud-native functionality for this product? Is the roadmap officially announced? Or uncertain?
  • Community/Ecosystem. How vibrant is the community? Social media groups? In-person user groups? Forums?
  • Depth of native functionality. Last-mile functionality for specific industries natively built into the product?
  • Quality of publicly available product documentation. How well-documented is the product? Is the documentation available publicly? How updated is the demo content available on YouTube?
  • Product share and documented commitment. Is the product share reported separately in financial statements if the ERP vendor is public?
  • Ability to natively support diversified business models. How diverse is the product in supporting multiple business models in the same product?
  • Acquisition strategy aligned with the product: Any recent acquisitions to fill a specific hole for make-to-order industries? Any official announcements to integrate recently acquired capabilities?
  • User Reviews: How specific are the reviews about this product’s capabilities? How recent and frequent are the reviews?
  • Must be an ERP product: Edge products such as HCM, CRM, eCommerce, MES, or accounting solutions that are not fully integrated to support enterprise-wide capabilities are not qualified for this list.

10. Plex

Adopting an MES-first strategy, Plex targets companies in the Toyota and Ford automotive ecosystems. Despite superior technology compared to other solutions on this list, Plex has fewer installs, primarily focusing on the automotive industry. The automotive industry, especially the large OEMs, where Plex is especially known, are generally made-to-stock, requiring joint collaboration with their suppliers, which might be overkill for simpler made-to-order businesses. Plex secures its rank at #10 among the top make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems by emphasizing more operational capabilities than the core ERP needs, thus making it an ideal fit for MES-heavy make-to-order manufacturers, especially in the automotive ecosystem.

Strengths
  1. Last-mile functionality for Toyota and Ford ecosystems. Tailored for manufacturers in the Toyota ecosystem (i.e., Toyota suppliers), Plex offers distinctive features, especially the compliance requirements that would require substantial consulting efforts on vanilla ERP systems.
  2. MES-first approach. Originating as an integrated MES solution, Plex boasts extensive MES capabilities. This appeals to make-to-order companies handling processes traditionally within ERP, like quality, scheduling, and asset maintenance, providing a valuable shop floor perspective.
  3. Cloud-native UI and architecture. Similar to cloud-native alternatives like Acumatica or NetSuite, Plex features a cloud-native and mobile-friendly user interface.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited core ERP capabilities. While Plex lacks extensive finance and accounting capabilities for global organizations, it could be a great two-tier solution used at the plant level on top of Oracle and SAP as a corporate system.
  2. Limited make-to-order manufacturing capabilities. While it might have some make-to-order capabilities, it might not be the best fit for make-to-order manufacturing companies requiring mixed-mode manufacturing capabilities.
  3. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. Plex has fewer installations and a minimal marketplace and consulting base compared to other manufacturing ERP systems on this list.

9. IQMS/DELMIAWorks

IQMS, tailored for plastics-centric operations, would be uniquely suitable for plastic extrusion make-to-order manufacturing companies working for large OEMs in the automotive and aerospace verticals. These companies generally have unique workflows, such as maintaining SDS for each client and meeting their quality requirements. Enabling these capabilities on top of vanilla ERP systems might require substantial consulting efforts. IQMS would be an ideal fit for smaller make-to-order companies or for larger companies as a subsidiary-level system, thus contributing to its placement at #9 among make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Great for plastic-extrusion make-to-order manufacturers. While limited in its suite, capabilities for plastic-centric make-to-order industries outshine when it comes to unique scheduling requirements.
  2. Best for make-to-order companies on SolidWorks. With the same company as SolidWorks owning it, tighter and seamless integration of both products, which are built and maintained by the same vendor, is a huge plus.
  3. Technology – This is probably the most legacy solution of all on this list, with no announcement if they plan to modernize the technology.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus might be a challenge for make-to-order companies diversifying their operations and being active with M&A cycles. 
  2. Limited ecosystem. The consulting base is extremely limited with most resellers being CAD resellers, with limited experience in ERP implementation and cross-functional processes.
  3. It is not the right fit for holding and private equity companies as a corporate ledger. While a great subsidiary solution and a solution for pure-play make-to-order plastic-centric manufacturers, it’s not the best fit for companies requiring diverse mixed-mode manufacturing companies or companies with complex business models.

8. QAD

With QAD’s focus being primarily on mid-to-large automotive, electronics manufacturing, and life sciences companies, its scope for make-to-order companies is limited, meaning it might not be the best fit for every make-to-order business model, requiring careful evaluation. It might also not be the best fit for companies requiring mixed-mode manufacturing capabilities along with make-to-order. While they have announced plans to advance their technology stack, the new version might take a while to be fully rolled out and available, securing its rank at #8 on our list among the top make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Global capabilities. While not as globalized and localized as other larger solutions, such as SAP S/4 HANA or Oracle, QAD is as limited as smaller solutions and can accommodate several countries with global synergies in one product/database.
  2. Supply chain suite + ERP. Combining capabilities that traditionally resided in a Supply Chain Suite, QAD includes trade compliance, TMS capabilities, and S&OP planning in its core solution. These capabilities are not generally as applicable for make-to-order business models but might be a great fit for companies that may have other layers in their business model along with make-to-order.
  3. Integrated best-of-breed capabilities. QAD offers best-of-breed integration, such as PLM and TMS, which would require substantial consulting efforts on top of other vanilla ERP systems.
Weaknesses
  1. Diverse business models. QAD’s limited focus poses challenges for holding and private equity companies with aggressive M&A cycles trying to keep all of their entities on one solution.
  2. Global corporate solution. While operationally strong, QAD may not be the best fit for companies seeking a global corporate financial solution.
  3. Weak ecosystem. QAD lacks a robust ecosystem, including limited partners and coverage for third-party add-ons and marketplaces.

7. Oracle Cloud ERP

Geared toward large global manufacturing firms, Oracle Cloud ERP excels with high transaction volumes, especially when Oracle Cloud ERP might be used only as a corporate financial ledger while using other specialized solutions such as Infor LN or Epicor Kinetic at the subsidiary level. Oracle Cloud ERP might have limited last-mile capabilities and integrations required for make-to-order businesses such as CAD, PLM, configurators, or MES. Oracle Cloud ERP would rely on third-party add-ons for such capabilities. Being primarily relevant for larger make-to-order companies. Thus, Oracle Cloud ERP ranks at #7 on our list of top make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Robust finance capabilities for large, global make-to-order manufacturers. Capabilities include having five layers of GL restrictions, multiple layers of sub-ledgers, and book closing requirements across divisions, especially relevant for larger make-to-order businesses primarily interested in using Oracle Cloud ERP as a corporate financial ledger.
  2. Proven solution with large workloads. Large companies may process millions of GL entries per hour. These workloads may be even higher for manufacturing companies. They might need to decouple transactions as a single system might struggle to support, requiring best-of-breed architecture for such companies, an ideal fit for Oracle Cloud ERP.
  3. Ecosystem.  Oracle Cloud ERP has an ecosystem of experienced consultants who have the capabilities to handle the design and architecture of such complex enterprises.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited last-mile capabilities and make-to-order integrations. The last-mile capabilities and specialized integrations relevant for make-to-order businesses might require third-party add-ons.
  2. Not necessarily a manufacturing solution. Oracle Cloud ERP’s concentration in make-to-order businesses is limited, making it a lower priority for make-to-order businesses.
  3. Overwhelming for SMB make-to-order manufacturers. The enterprise data model and financial layers might be overwhelming for SMB make-to-order manufacturers.

6. Acumatica

Tailored for manufacturing companies in the $10-100 million range, Acumatica suits make-to-order manufacturers with simpler operations. While Acumatica has BOMs and manufacturing layers required for make-to-order operations, mature ERP layers such as Kanban or allocation might be limiting compared to other richer manufacturing solutions such as Epicor Kinetic or Infor LN. However, Acumatica might be a better fit for companies with diverse make-to-order business models when they might have flavors of other business models such as eCommerce, field service, or construction. Thus, given its relevance for smaller make-to-order manufacturers, it ranks at #6 on our list of make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Rich BOMs and scalable costing layers. Acumatica BOMs are highly organized and follow logical structure across the screens, making them highly scalable for companies with complex product models.
  2. Diverse capabilities to support the needs of multiple business models. The product can accommodate multiple business models in the same database, making it easier to explore synergies across different business models without requiring isolated operations for heterogeneous operations.
  3. Cloud-native UI and flexible pricing options. Superior experience for teams using ERP primarily on mobile devices. Consumption-based pricing options reduce costs substantially for certain business models, such as seasonal businesses with labor spikes.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited global capabilities. The current multi-entity functionality might be limiting for make-to-order companies with operationally connected offshore locations.
  2. Limited mobile reporting capabilities.  The mobile capabilities are leaner for complex reporting scenarios such as parallel processing or reporting labor or machines separately from the same work center. These capabilities are highly critical for make-to-order operations.
  3. Multiple add-ons may be required for make-to-order manufacturing. Requires several third-party add-ons, such as MES, PLM, and quality, posing integration and communication challenges.

5. SAP S/4 HANA

Targeting large global make-to-order manufacturing companies, SAP S/4 HANA excels in handling millions of transactions per hour, a requirement for companies of Fortune 500 scale. Ideal for large publicly traded companies heavy on financial compliance and governance, it may not suit SMB manufacturing companies without internal IT maturity. SAP S/4 HANA enjoys a unique advantage for MRP-driven companies requiring enterprise-grade workloads intending to keep all of their entities in one database. Thus, ranking at #5 on our list of top make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Enterprise product designed for make-to-order centric companies. The item master, product model, and warehouse architecture are especially friendly for make-to-order businesses because of scalable and modular BOM and costing layers.
  2. The power of HANA to run global operations end-to-end in one system. Our simple test of HANA’s capabilities with 100K serialized goods receipt found it to be faster than most systems out there. SAP S/4 HANA could process it in under 22 seconds, while Oracle cloud ERP took more than 18 mins for the same test. This is especially friendly for large make-to-order businesses aiming to run their consolidated global MRP runs in one system.
  3. Financial governance and best-of-breed architecture. Financial traceability is built with each transaction, which makes the transactions and SOX governance flows highly traceable, especially friendly for publicly-traded make-to-order companies. 
Weaknesses
  1. Behind in cloud capabilities. While SAP has made tremendous advancements, the cloud version is still behind its on-prem variant.
  2. Too big for smaller make-to-order companies. Companies looking for a fully baked suite without internal IT capabilities will find it overwhelming.
  3. Limited last mile Capabilities and third-party pre-integrated options. The last-mile capabilities relevant for make-to-order businesses, such as CAD and PLM integration, would require third-party add-ons.

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O

Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O excels in localizations where other focused solutions might not be available, providing only a few options for make-to-order companies. While Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O has a very rich product model to support complex make-to-order operations, it might not have a complete suite and integrated options as focused solutions, such as Epicor Kinetic or Infor LN, requiring third-party add-ons for these capabilities. Despite being limited with suite capabilities, it will be more suitable for diverse make-to-order operations or companies with uncertain business models because of M&A activity, securing the #4 spot among the top make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Richer core ERP capabilities for make-to-order companies in the cloud. Compared to other solutions that might have superior layers for other service-centric verticals, such as Oracle Cloud ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O has a mature cloud version for make-to-order companies.
  2. Best-of-breed products integrated at the database level. While Microsoft has best-of-breed integration such as CRM or field service, they might not be as directly relevant for make-to-order companies but will be useful for make-to-order companies with diverse business models. 
  3. Powerful ecosystem and marketplace add-ons. Microsoft has a talent and consulting base in countries where finding talent may be a challenge. 
Weaknesses
  1. Limited pre-baked integrations for make-to-order companies. The integration relevant for make-to-order companies such as PLM, CAD, MES, and configurator would require third-party add-ons, increasing communication and integration risks.
  2. Too big for smaller companies. The smaller companies would find it overwhelming with the configuration and approval flows built for large enterprises.
  3. Limited last mile capabilities. The last-mile functionality relevant to specific industry verticals, such as PPAP compliance or AS9100, might require substantial consulting efforts.

3. Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Syteline)

Geared towards SMB make-to-order companies with extensive SKUs and complex subassemblies, Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Syteline) excels with its flexible BOM structure, accommodating both formal and informal manufacturing processes. While it has great capabilities for make-to-order operations, a complex business model requiring other mixed-mode manufacturing capabilities, such as WBS or project-centric manufacturing, might not be as detailed, securing its rank at #3 on our list of make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Support for both informal and formal BOMs and engineering processes. Infor CSI BOMs don’t mandate a revision number, making it easier for companies with relatively unsophisticated data models and engineering processes to use without going through the painful formalization of SKUs and BOMs. 
  2. Detailed and scalable costing layers. Compared to other products with patchy experience, the costing layers are well-designed and scale well, especially for verticals where material pricing may fluctuate, requiring frequent readjustments, such as industries dependent upon steel. 
  3. Field service integration with the core manufacturing processes.  Deep composable serviceable units are built as part of the core solution with complex assemblies and back-and-forth interactions of channels to service units in the field.
Weaknesses
  1. Disconnected financial reporting experience. Unlike other products, financial reports are not embedded with the product. This would require an external Excel interface, creating a patchy experience for users. 
  2. Poor user experience and steep learning curve. While marketed as a cloud product, the cloud capabilities, such as enterprise search and opening multiple tabs, are limited. This makes the experience non-intuitive.
  3. Weak ecosystem and third-party options. Similar to Epicor, Infor CSI takes the suite approach. So it might be harder to find integration with best-of-breed third-party apps.

2. Epicor Kinetic

Epicor Kinetic particularly targets small-to-mid-size make-to-order manufacturers. They particularly specialize in industries with formal manufacturing processes and complex inventory needs, such as automotive, aerospace, metal, fabrication, and medical devices. Epicor is also equally deep with project-centric operations and distribution processes, making it ideal for diverse make-to-order operations. Despite recent developments, Epicor Kinetic might not be the best fit for companies with global financial operations and deep field service operations. Thus, securing its ranks at #2 on our list among make-to-order manufacturing ERP systems.

Strengths
  1. Strong for comapnies with formal manufacturing processes. Mandatory revision numbers and the BOMs driven by revision numbers would be especially appealing for formal engineering organizations familiar with similar formal structures.
  2. Strong with complex inventory needs. Companies that require multiple attributes that need to be part of the planning and MRP, such as metal, fastener, automotive, and aerospace, would find Epicor to be appealing.
  3. Microsoft look-and-feel. Epicor has a very similar look and feel to Microsoft ERP products. Thus, providing you with the same experience but with much deeper last-mile capabilities where other products might struggle.
Weaknesses
  1. Global financial operations. Unlike larger products that might support more than three layers of financial hierarchies, such as corp, subsidiary, entity, and business units, the limited number of layers would operationally inefficient workarounds, such as using sub-accounts for such traceability.
  2. Embedded experience with field service and quality. Despite recent acquisitions, the field service capabilities are not as embedded and proven as some of the other products on this list.
  3. Weak ecosystem and marketplace. Epicor takes a suite approach to its products while selling directly to its customers. This limits the overall consulting and marketplace penetration.

1. Infor CloudSuite LN

Infor CloudSuite LN is a comprehensive manufacturing solution that particularly combines the best of the most focused manufacturing solutions. While there are several solutions on this list that could be a great fit for make-to-order manufacturing, they might struggle with diverse manufacturing operations with flavors of configure-to-order, field service, and project-centric manufacturing. Besides being comprehensive, it also has make-to-order-specific last-mile capabilities and pre-baked integrations such as PLM, CAD, CPQ, and more. Thus, securing its rank at #1 position on our list of the top make-to-order manufacturing ERP solutions.

Strengths
  1. Global operations. Infor LN is the only solution in the market that has sufficient layers of financial hierarchies and global trade compliance functionality pre-baked with products. It supports make-to-order manufacturers exploring global financial and operational synergies. 
  2. Last-mile capabilities along with breadth of capabilities for diversified manufacturing business models. Make-to-order verticals require deeper core capabilities that are tightly embedded as part of product and data models such as PPAP, as well as handling units, several layers of allocation management, and international trade compliance.
  3. Best-of-breed integrations offered out-of-the-box. 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 LN.
Weaknesses
  1. Might not be the best fit as a corporate solution for holding and private equity companies. Holding companies as diverse as make-to-order manufacturing, construction, and professional services may not be able to keep all of their entities on one solution and database.
  2. Legacy UI and Experience. Infor LN is a legacy solution with limited cloud-native capabilities such as universal search, mobile experience, etc.
  3. Weak Ecosystem and Marketplace. The consulting base and marketplaces are virtually non-existent for Infor LN.
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Conclusion

Make-to-order manufacturing stands out among other business models like make-to-stock or engineer-to-order. While key capabilities such as SKUs and BOMs are crucial, they aren’t as standardized or commercialized as in make-to-stock. However, financial processes are typically less complex compared to project manufacturing. This involves intricate revenue recognition and milestone billing for longer-term projects, unlike the relatively shorter runs in make-to-order. Thus, choosing the right ERP system for make-to-order manufacturing demands a thorough examination of transactions and processes. Also, opting for a system unsuited to this model risks implementation setbacks. While this list offers valuable insights, seeking guidance from an independent ERP consultant can greatly enhance your chances of success.

FAQs

Top 10 ERP Systems for Service-centric Industries In 2024

Top 10 ERP Systems For Service-centric Industries In 2024

Leave a Comment / Blog, Distribution, Enterprise Architecture, ERP, Food and Beverage, Retail, Service Companies / By / March 5, 2024

Service-Centric Businesses: Typically devoid of inventory-centric operations, ERP systems for service-centric industries demand distinctive features and architecture. Unlike their product-centric counterparts, which heavily rely on inventory-costing layers and MRP strategies, service-centric industries exhibit even more operational diversity. In some cases, ERP functions confine themselves to managing corporate financial ledgers, while custom software handles the bulk of operational tasks. This diverse industry segment ranges from non-profit organizations to the public sector, and the list goes on with particularly construction, real estate, mining, utilities, energy, consulting, and financial services.

Service-Centric Business Processes: Even within sectors like non-profit organizations, diverse needs demand extensive customizations, also raising questions about the role of ERP in such markets. Despite process variations, aspects like project management, indirect procurement, and scheduling specialized resources remain consistent. For industries like professional services and architectural firms, resource scheduling is paramount, while industries such as construction or real estate may find it less relevant. The nuances and complexities of service-centric industries necessitate an entirely unique ERP strategy for this market segment.

Top 10 ERP Systems for Service-centric Industries In 2024

Service-Centric ERP Needs: PSA (Professional Services Automation) takes center stage in service-centric industries, particularly highlighting skill-based scheduling as a distinctive feature. Its integration with Human Capital Management (HCM) workflows also sets it apart. In contrast, product-centric industries prioritize embeddedness with CAD/PLM or TMS/WMS, crucial for their inventory-centric operations. Despite some inventory presence in service-centric industries, their layers are less complex, leading to occasional confusion with product-centric ERP systems. While project management and project manufacturing may resemble PSA, product-centric systems avoid skill-based resource identification to curb unnecessary overhead. Identifying ERP systems tailored for service-centric industries? This list is an excellent starting point.



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10. Acumatica

Acumatica, primarily a product-centric ERP solution, has recently announced that they are launching an edition tailored for professional services companies. While Acumatica has capabilities relevant for other service-centric verticals, such as subscription billing, its coverage is fairly limited, primarily confined to the corporate financial ledger. Also, as of today, it has very limited global financial capabilities, making it less relevant for globally operated organizations requiring localizations in multiple countries aiming to explore synergies among those entities. Its limitations also substantially extend to non-profit-specific capabilities, but it would be a great fit for construction and mining-centric verticals due to its embedded field service and asset management capabilities. Thus, given its limited relevance to service-centric verticals, it ranks at #10 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Multiple business models in one database. Service companies such as architectural firms and mining companies might find Acumatica attractive if their operations have flavors of product-centric companies such as manufacturing or eCommerce.
  2. Cloud-native, with the experience being very similar to other SaaS products, such as Salesforce or Quickbooks.
  3. Great as the first ERP system. While it would require consulting effort for implementation, the data layers are not as complex as larger ERP systems, making it a great first ERP system for service-centric smaller companies.
Weaknesses
  1. PSA capabilities just released. The PSA module has just been released and may take some time to stabilize, even though it contains a project management module for construction-centric verticals.
  2. Limited global application. Acumatica is relevant only in certain countries where they might have localization supported.
  3. HCM module not embedded. One key requirement for service-centric verticals is particularly embedded HCM and indirect procurement processes, which are substantially limited with Acumatica.

9. Sage Intacct

Service-centric companies seeking their first ERP system find Sage Intacct an ideal fit. While exclusively focusing on service-centric verticals such as non-profit, SaaS, construction, and many more, it highly limits the core ERP capabilities. They would require several add-ons in most of these sectors. Although limited to operational capabilities, it can act as the global financial ledger for global operations with enterprise-grade finance capabilities, such as partner accounting and revenue recognition. Thus, with the limited scope as an ERP requiring add-ons for operational capabilities, it ranks at #9 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Deep service-centric last-mile capabilities. It has one of the strongest service-centric finance and accounting capabilities, also including fund and grants accounting, pre-populated KPIs, and reports.
  2. Globalized and Localized in over 120 countries. It can natively support multi-entity collaboration features of over 120 countries.
  3. Salesforce, HR, and Marketplace Integrations for service-centric industries. Sage owns and maintains Salesforce and payroll integrations, particularly ensuring the quality of development.
Weaknesses
  1. May Require Subscriptions for Best-of-breed CRMs. Primarily an accounting solution. So the solution doesn’t have any CRM capabilities at all, as well as limited supply chain capabilities, even for indirect procurement.  
  2. Will Require Consulting Expertise Compared to Other Smaller Systems. While Sage Intacct maximizes audibility and compliance through its design, successfully utilizing the product would require consulting expertise and internal IT maturity to navigate the added layers.
  3. Not a complete ERP. Would require several bolt-ons, even in verticals where they might have a tailored version. The tailored version would provide best-of-breed finance and accounting capabilities while using add-ons for everything else.

8. Unit4

Unit4 is a purpose-built enterprise-grade ERP for non-profit, public sector, and consulting companies. While ideal for some, tailored workflows would be limiting for other diverse service-centric business models such as healthcare, construction, or mining. Given its limited scope in certain industry verticals, it does not provide the best fit for service companies aiming to streamline several subsidiaries in one solution or for private equity firms streamlining their entire portfolio. Thus, with its limited relevance to certain service-centric industries, it ranks at #8 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Strong HCM and Indirect Procurement Capabilities Pre-integrated and Pre-baked. Tailored to educational institutes and non-profits. 
  2. Non-profit Accounting and PSA Capabilities Offered Out of the Box. The non-profit package includes native capabilities for the fund and grant capabilities with a strong PSA module to manage resources and projects.
  3. Designed to Handle Global Enterprise Workloads. While two versions exist for large enterprises and another for the mid-market, the large one has proven successful with large non-profit institutes seeking alternatives to SAP S/4 HANA or Oracle Cloud ERP.
Weaknesses
  1. Legacy Solution. While rearchitected for the cloud, it’s a legacy solution. So, the user and mobile experience might not be as great as other options born in the cloud.
  2. Limited Install Base in North America. Primarily a European solution with a very limited presence and ecosystem in North America. So, you might struggle to find consulting companies and marketplace add-ons focused on the North American market.
  3. Fit for a limited number of service-centric industries. Because of its tighter alignment with non-profit and public-sector verticals, other industries might find non-profit-specific capabilities overwhelming. It might also not be a fit for diverse organizations seeking capabilities outside of their comfort zone.

7. Deltek

Deltek targets upper-mid and lower-enterprise service-centric industries in construction, government contracting, architecture, and engineering verticals. Companies seeking proprietary integration and embeddedness with government contracting workflows find it an ideal fit. However, these proprietary capabilities might be overwhelming for other diverse industries. Just like Unit4, Deltek serves as a great solution for certain service-centric verticals but might not suit other verticals or companies with diverse business models as effectively. Thus, given its limited relevance for service-centric verticals, it ranks at #7 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Last-mile capabilities for GovCon and construction-centric verticals. Deltek has last-mile capabilities in the construction and GovCon space, requiring substantial development atop vanilla solutions.
  2. Access to the databases and networks relevant to these industries. Deltek has several products in its portfolio with industry databases and networks, providing it a unique advantage over other vendors. 
  3. Multi-entity capabilities. Their multi-entity capabilities are rich, making them suitable for upper mid-market companies seeking one solution to host all of their entities in one database.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus of the solution might be a challenge for service-centric verticals active with M&A cycles, especially for business models outside of Deltek’s expertise. 
  2. Limited ecosystem and consulting base. As of today, their ecosystem and consulting base significantly limit their capabilities.
  3. Limited best-of-breed capabilities. Service-centric industries opting to build best-of-breed architecture might not find as many pre-baked integration options, requiring substantial consulting efforts.

6. IFS

IFS enjoys a unique position for most service-centric verticals with its depth in project-centric organizations. It also particularly excels in workflows tailored for asset-heavy industries, along with possessing depth in field service capabilities. While IFS would suit many service-centric verticals such as construction, energy, and utilities, it might lack operational depth for verticals such as non-profit or the public sector. Since the solution targets larger mid-market and lower enterprise companies, it might be overwhelming for smaller companies. Thus, given its broader application than other focused solutions, it ranks at #6 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Enterprise-grade field service and asset management capabilities. While limited in its suite and focus, their last-mile capabilities are the strongest, particularly relevant for service-centric industries.
  2. The data model is aligned with companies with large programs. Industries such as MRO, Oil, and Gas follow very different project structures and BOMs. And IFS’s data model allows them to manage complex programs without any ad-hoc arrangements.
  3. Technology. While a legacy solution, IFS technology has rearchitected and modernized itself using cloud-native SaaS technologies.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited focus. The limited focus might be a challenge for other service-centric verticals active with M&A cycles. 
  2. Limited ecosystem. Its presence and install base still lag behind other solutions on this list in North America.
  3. It is not the right fit for holding and private equity companies as a corporate ledger. While IFS can provide best-of-breed capabilities in a tier-two architecture or act as the main ERP hosting most enterprise processes, using IFS solely as the corporate financial ledger might not be the best fit.

5. SAP S/4 HANA

SAP S/4 HANA fits well for large globally operated companies with the scale of Fortune 1000 companies. Its data model allows hosting most business models in one solution, but that infinite scalability might also be overwhelming for smaller companies, requiring higher IT maturity and implementation budgets. While capable of hosting most business processes, operations teams at service-centric organizations might not prefer to host their workflows inside ERP systems. Thus, the preference for decentralized architecture at service-centric companies gets it the rank of #5 on this list.

Strengths
  1. Non-profit accounting and PSA capabilities are provided out of the box. Expect a non-profit accounting package including grant and fund reporting with a PSA and skill-based scheduling.
  2. Best-of-breed capabilities pre-integrated. The best-of-breed software, such as Concur, SuccessFactors, and CRM, are pre-integrated with SAP S/4 HANA, a pre-baked integration with the potential to save millions of dollars.
  3. HANA and financial traceability for large, global organizations. Because of the power of HANA, SAP S/4 HANA can process very complex transactions with visual traceability across entities, along with end-to-end traceability, auditability, and approvals of SOX compliance workflows.
Weaknesses
  1. CRM and membership capabilities. CRM workflows might not be fluid enough to meet the unique needs of service-centric companies.
  2. Adoption issues for service-centric verticals. Unlike product-centric organizations, service-centric verticals don’t have as financially embedded transactions, causing efficiency issues with teams if their workflows were to be managed inside complex ERP systems such as SAP S/4 HANA.
  3. Overwhelming for smaller organizations. The data model is designed for large, complex organizations, overwhelming for smaller, service-centric organizations.

4. Oracle Cloud ERP

Oracle Cloud ERP, similar to SAP S/4 HANA, is a great fit for very large globally operated organizations, especially publicly traded companies. It can accommodate most service-centric business models as part of its solution and has tailored capabilities for non-profits along with a PSA solution that is tightly embedded with the standalone HCM solution. Compared to SAP S/4 HANA, Oracle Cloud ERP fluid architecture allows flexibility that service-centric companies need for a decentralized architecture along with an ability to create custom forms and workflows easily. Thus, with the solution aligned with the needs of service-centric companies, Oracle Cloud ERP ranks at #4 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Designed for large service-centric organizations. The embedded HCM and CRM processes are suitable for large service-centric organizations. The P2P workflows are friendlier for the indirect procurement needs of such organizations.
  2. Native capabilities for grant and fund accounting. Expect native capabilities for grant and fund accounting provided as part of the package with very robust budget planning tools pre-integrated and pre-populated, easily merged with external datasets.
  3. Embedded HCM and PSA processes. Expect HCM and PSA to be fully immersed with the ERP, as well as grant and fund compliance processes.
Weaknesses
  1. Custom CRM workflows. While Oracle Cloud ERP might support the needs of membership from the perspective of finance and ASC606, the operational capabilities would require translation of data and process model, requiring expensive consulting and internal IT expertise.
  2. Best-of-breed pre-built integrated options may be limited. Expect substantial efforts in integrating sector-specific CRMs and tools, as options may be limited for specific service-centric organizations.
  3. Overwhelming for smaller organizations. The data model and translations required to be successful with the product may be too overwhelming for companies outgrowing QuickBooks or other smaller ERP systems.

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a great fit for service-centric SMB companies with diversified business models operating globally. Its project management module is uniquely tailored to the needs of professional services organizations with each resource identified. It also has non-profit-centric accounting packages provided out of the box and a best-of-breed CRM that is highly customizable. The MS ecosystem also has very highly talented developers capable of customizing the CRM data model to the most unique service-centric workflows. Thus, given its broader focus on service-centric industries, it ranks at #3 on this list.

Strengths
  1. Designed for global companies. Natively supports global regions and localizations. Ideal fit for countries where the other suite-centric solutions, Deltek or Unit4, might not be present.
  2. Non-profit accounting and PSA capabilities are provided out of the box. Expect a non-profit accounting package including grant and fund reporting with a PSA tailored for service-centric organizations and skill-based scheduling.
  3. Marketplace and ecosystem. Augments core capabilities with a very vibrant marketplace, supporting diverse business models such as oil and gas, energy, and non-profit.
Weaknesses
  1. Financial traceability and SOX compliance. It might not be the most Intuitive for finance leaders. The financial traceability may not be as intuitive as SAP for global, publicly traded service-centric companies.
  2. Technical focus and limited business consulting expertise in the Microsoft ecosystem. The ecosystem has technical companies but with limited business consulting experience, which might drive over-customization and overengineering of Microsoft products, ultimately leading to implementation failure.
  3. Limited Microsoft support for smaller partners. Unlike other ERP companies, Microsoft doesn’t offer any support or control to its smaller partners, leading to implementation issues because of the limited control over its channel.

2. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is a great fit for upper-mid-market and lower-enterprise companies operating globally. It can host a variety of business models in one solution, along with the flexibility of customized workflows for service-centric organizations. MS Dynamics 365 F&O includes an out-of-the-box non-profit accounting package along with best-of-breed capabilities supported through its marketplace. It also has a CRM and field service solution that can be used in conjunction with the ERP solution, making it especially relevant for certain service-centric verticals. Thus, due to its wider applicability for many different business models, it ranks at #2 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Designed for large organizations. Ideal for large, global companies with complex service-centric business models operating in multiple countries.
  2. Non-profit accounting package capabilities are offered out of the box. Embedded non-profit accounting capabilities are offered out of the box.
  3. Data center options and data locations of choice might be available in most countries. With the backing of Azure, complying with regulations such as the Patriots Act may be easier, an issue especially crucial with service-centric companies.
Weaknesses
  1. It may not be the best fit for publicly traded companies. The traceability requirements for publicly traded companies might not be as intuitive.
  2. The CRM data model might not be as fluid for certain service-centric verticals. The CRM data model is not as fluid as other solutions in the market, making it less friendly for business users with a need for customized workflows.
  3. Overwhelming for smaller organizations. The data model and infinite scalability might be overwhelming for smaller organizations seeking simpler solutions easier to configure.

1. NetSuite

NetSuite is a great fit for several service-centric verticals, including non-profit, media, energy, utilities, construction, and oil and gas. It can support not only the lighter commerce processes of service-centric businesses but also complex workflows such as subscription-based business models. NetSuite HCM and PSA provide the unique embeddedness service-based organizations need to support their skill-based operations. The FP&A and indirect procurement processes are uniquely tailored for these industries. Thus, with the introduction of field service and its CPQ being tailored, it is one of the most adopted solutions in service-centric verticals, securing its rank at #1 on this list.

Strengths
  1. An in-built package with fund and grant accounting capabilities is offered out of the box. Expect native capabilities for grant and fund accounting provided as part of the package with very robust budget planning tools for SMB non-profit companies pre-integrated and pre-populated, easily merged with external datasets.
  2. Marketplace and ecosystem. Vibrant marketplaces and ecosystems, with tons of pre-baked integrations and add-ons available for diverse business models.
  3. Ideal for global companies growing through M&A. Supports several diverse and global business models out of the box, making it ideal for companies part of the private equity portfolio and growing through M&A. 
Weaknesses
  1. Limited operational depth for some verticals. The operational depth with solutions such as Unit4 or Deltek for certain verticals might require add-ons or custom development.
  2. Embeddedness with best-of-breed solutions. Service-centric verticals that enjoy using their favorite tools, such as Salesforce or JIRA, might not like to use NetSuite for their operational workflows.
  3. Not a fit for very large service-centric organizations. While NetSuite can support very large multi-entity operations, companies that might be acquiring hundreds of companies each year might find NetSuite to be limiting.
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Conclusion

In contrast to product-centric counterparts, service-centric organizations demand ERP systems with flexibility, given their ad-hoc workflows with limited financial control needs. The limited benefits of ERP processes in service-centric settings can result in adoption challenges, especially in verticals where employee experience matters more than operational efficiency. If you’re choosing an ERP system for service-centric industries, scrutinizing nuances is crucial. When ERP systems seem indistinguishable, the guidance of an independent ERP consultant can be invaluable.

FAQs

Top 10 ERP Systems for Product-centric Industries In 2024

Top 10 ERP Systems for Product-centric Industries In 2024

Leave a Comment / Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Blog, Chemicals, Consumer Goods, Enterprise Architecture, ERP, Food and Beverage, High Tech & Electronics, Industrial Manufacturing, Life Sciences / By / March 5, 2024

Defining Product-centric Industries. Unlike service-centric counterparts, product-centric industries heavily invest in inventory-centric operations rather than human resources and employee experience. This distinction necessitates uniquely tailored ERP systems. For manufacturers, distributors, and the entire manufacturing value chain focused on building and commercializing products, the major differentiator lies in the products they sell. Service-centric providers offering consulting services to these companies form the exception.

Business Models and Processes of Product-centric Industries. Within the product-centric industries segment, diverse business models abound, spanning discrete products to process-centric industries. Differences extend to manufacturing approaches, encompassing make-to-stock, make-to-order, configure-to-order, or project manufacturing. Additional variations arise in industrial or FMCG distribution, introducing nuances between B2B and B2C transactions. While a predominant focus on product-centric processes is common, some industries may intertwine service-centric processes, particularly if offering consulting services alongside products, adding complexity to the overall business model.

Top 10 ERP Systems for Product-centric Industries In 2024

The ERP needs of product-centric industries. Tailoring ERP systems to product-centric industries hinges on their product development and commercialization processes. Varied stakeholders, including customers and suppliers, play crucial roles during the engineering phase, particularly for high-cost products. Retail and distribution models necessitate warehouse-level planning and allocation, while manufacturing-centric models involve joint forecasting and planning with suppliers and retailers. These diverse needs collectively shape the ERP requirements for product-centric industries. If you’re on the lookout for ERP systems tailored to these industries, kickstart your search with this curated list.



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Criteria

  • Overall market share/# of customers. The higher marketshare with product-centric industries drives higher rankings on this list.
  • Ownership/funding. The superior financial position of the ERP vendor leads to higher rankings on this list.
  • Quality of development. How modern is the tech stack? How aggressively is the ERP vendor pushing cloud-native functionality for this product? Is the roadmap officially announced? Or uncertain?
  • Community/Ecosystem. How vibrant is the community? Social media groups? In-person user groups? Forums?
  • Depth of native functionality. Last-mile functionality for specific industries natively built into the product?
  • Quality of publicly available product documentation. How well-documented is the product? Is the documentation available publicly? How updated is the demo content available on YouTube?
  • Product share and documented commitment. Is the product share reported separately in financial statements if the ERP vendor is public?
  • Ability to natively support diversified business models. How diverse is the product to support multiple business models in the same product?
  • Acquisition strategy aligned with the product: Any recent acquisitions to fill a specific hole for product-centric industries? Any official announcements to integrate recently acquired capabilities?
  • User Reviews: How specific are the reviews about this product’s capabilities? How recent and frequent are the reviews?
  • Must be an ERP product: Edge products such as HCM, CRM, eCommerce, MES, or accounting solutions that are not fully integrated to support enterprise-wide capabilities are not qualified for this list.

10. Odoo

Odoo is a great choice for product-centric startups outgrowing QuickBooks or other smaller accounting or CRM packages seeking to integrate their processes, minimizing data siloes. While Odoo is a great ERP system for companies starting on their ERP journey, its data model is leaner and designed to provide basic transactional capabilities. Among product-centric industries, Odoo could be a great fit for retail and commerce-centric startups with diverse business models operating in multiple countries. Odoo is also a superior fit in geographies where other operationally rich solutions might not be available. While great for consumerized products, Odoo might not be the best fit for complex products requiring complicated engineering and product models with deep layers of costing and MRP workloads. Well-adopted among product-centric companies, Odoo ranks at #10 for product-centric industries.

Strengths
  1. Easier for companies outgrowing QuickBooks. The lean data model and workflows make it easier for product-centric startups transitioning from QuickBooks-like solutions. 
  2. Ecosystem and Development Help. The availability of cheaper technical talent globally helps product-centric startups extend or augment core capabilities.
  3. Ideal for diverse product-centric startups. The data and process model supports diverse industries, especially suitable for product-centric companies selling consulting services requiring project management capabilities.
Weaknesses
  1. Mature capabilities are not as pre-baked as larger peers. Mature capabilities such as MRP, allocation, and batch are not as detailed as with other richer ERP systems. 
  2. An open-source ecosystem might lead to inexperienced developers promoting untested and unsecured code, causing cybersecurity issues or operational disruptions.
  3. Requires business consulting help to avoid overengineering by developers. Without access to seasoned ERP consultants, Odoo implementation is likely to run into implementation or adoption challenges.

9. Oracle Cloud ERP

Oracle Cloud ERP is a great choice for global product-centric enterprises. While major penetration of Oracle Cloud ERP is among service-centric verticals, it might be a fit for some product-centric verticals where the operational processes might not be as complex or hosted inside ERP. An example of such verticals would be retail, where the scope of ERP might limited to a corporate financial ledger. Oracle Cloud ERP is also a great choice for product-centric enterprises with evolving business models due to active acquisition cycles. An example of such companies would be either the holding companies or companies part of the PE portfolio requiring streamlining processes on one ERP system across the enterprise globally. Given its relevance and adoption among some verticals for product-centric industries, it ranks at #9 on our list.

Strengths
  1. WMS and TMS Capabilities Bundled with the ERP. Oracle Cloud ERP has WMS and TMS processes tightly embedded as part of the ERP transactions, and it is especially friendly for retail and 3PL-centric operations. 
  2. Proven Solution with Large Workloads. Large product-centric companies may process millions of GL entries per hour. The workload Oracle Cloud ERP is designed to handle.
  3. Ecosystem.  It has an ecosystem of experienced consultants who have the capabilities to handle the design and architecture of such complex enterprises.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited Last-mile Capabilities. The last-mile capabilities for specific product-centric verticals, such as industrial distribution or complex manufacturing, might be expensive to configure and implement.
  2. Not necessarily a Product-centric Solution. While installed with some large enterprises, it’s major focus is on service-centric verticals. 
  3. Overwhelming for SMB product-centric companies. Not a fit for SMB product-centric companies looking for a turn-key solution tailored to the processes of the specific micro-vertical.

8. Epicor Prophet 21

Epicor Prophet 21 is a great choice for industrial distributors seeking deeper operational capabilities with the flexibility of replacing most components offered as part of the Epicor Prophet 21 suite. The requirements for specialized tools or integration with third-party best-of-breed systems might lead to expensive and uncontrollable implementation costs. While Epicor Prophet 21 might be a great choice for smaller pure-play industrial distributors, it might not be the best choice for diverse product-centric companies operating globally. Given its relevance and adoption among industrial distribution companies but with limited application for other diversified product-centric industries, it ranks at #8 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Rich Industrial ERP Distribution Systems Capabilities Provided Out-of-the-box. The system natively supports complex relationships between vendors and suppliers (and buying groups), along with capabilities such as branch accounting, retail-centric material flow, and warehouse architecture.
  2. Best for Prescriptive Architecture. Epicor Prophet 21 is a good fit when you can replace/use the systems provided in the Epicor ecosystem, such as payment providers, POS systems, shipping add-ons, and marketplace integrations. 
  3. Pre-integrated with Other Best-of-breed Industrial B2B Systems. Integration with other best-of-breed industrial eCommerce systems, such as Optimizely or Unilog, is pre-baked.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited Capabilities to Support Diverse Distributors. Only fit for businesses with traditional business models with a limited number of channels. Not fit for modern distributors and DTC-centric businesses.
  2. Legacy Technology. While the new Kinetic experience can offer mature cloud capabilities such as enterprise search, the underlying data model and other cloud capabilities, such as mobile, are still legacy and patchy. 
  3. Ecosystem. Limited number of consultants and partners available to support the product. The marketplace is extremely limited to create the best-of-breed architecture.

7. Acumatica

Acumatica is a great choice for diverse product-centric companies from $10-$100M in revenue operating in a handful of developed countries. It is especially friendly for companies with diverse product-centric business models ranging from manufacturing, retail, and distribution, aiming to explore synergies among these operations. While great for diverse product-centric companies, it might not be the best for companies over $100M seeking mature ERP capabilities, such as complex MRP runs or allocation cycles. But it’s a great fit for smaller companies with limited implementation budgets. Given its relevance for smaller product-centric companies, it ranks at #7 on our list.

Strengths
  1. B2B and B2C Products. Its data model is friendly for B2B businesses, with support for complex customer hierarchies and pricing (and discounting layers). It also supports divisional/branch accounting with warehouse-level pricing and replenishment strategies.
  2. Diverse Capabilities to Support the Needs of Multiple Business Models. Support for hybrid business models in the same product/database, such as manufacturing and distribution (or manufacturing combined with construction, DTC, or field service). 
  3. Cloud-native UI and Flexible Pricing Options. Consumption-based pricing options reduce costs substantially for certain business models, such as seasonal businesses with labor spikes.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited Global Capabilities. The current multi-entity functionality might be limiting for companies with operationally connected offshore locations.
  2. Limited Mobile Reporting Capabilities.  The mobile capabilities are leaner for complex reporting scenarios such as parallel processing. 
  3. Multiple Add-ons may be Required for Regulated Industries and Complex Manufacturing. Requires several add-ons, such as MES, PLM, and quality, posing integration and communication challenges.

6. Epicor Kinetic

Epicor Kinetic is a great choice for companies with complex manufacturing and distribution operations in the industrial verticals. Its product data model is especially friendlier for complex, regulated industries with formal engineering processes. It can also support project-centric manufacturing and distribution-centric operations with the same product. While great for manufacturing, it’s not as great for diverse operations, especially for FMCG or retail-centric product companies. Given its relevance among manufacturing companies but limited applicability for other business models globally, it ranks at #6 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Strong for Companies with Formal Manufacturing Processes. Mandatory revision numbers and the BOMs driven by revision numbers would be especially appealing for formal engineering organizations with their BOMs aligned to Epicor Kinetic’s data model.
  2. Strong with Complex Inventory Needs. Companies requiring multiple attributes that need to be part of the planning and MRP, such as metal, fastener, automotive, and aerospace, would find Epicor Kinetic appealing.
  3. Microsoft Look-and-feel. Epicor has a very similar look and feel to Microsoft ERP products, providing you with the same experience but with much deeper last-mile capabilities where other products might struggle.
Weaknesses
  1. Global Financial Operations. Unlike larger products that might support more than three layers of financial hierarchies, such as corp, subsidiary, entity, and business units, the limited number of layers would require operationally inefficient workarounds, such as using sub-accounts for such traceability.
  2. Embedded Experience with Field Service and Quality. Despite recent acquisitions, the field service capabilities are not as embedded, making it challenging for some product-centric verticals, such as aftermarket, where such capabilities are essential.
  3. Weak Ecosystem and Marketplace. Epicor takes a suite approach to its products while selling directly to its customers, limiting the overall consulting and marketplace penetration.

5. Infor CloudSuite LN/M3

Infor CloudSuite LN and M3 are two completely different products, targeting large manufacturing companies in the upper mid-market and lower enterprise segments. LN targets complex manufacturing products such as rocketships, satellites, or construction machinery. Meanwhile, Infor M3 suits apparel, F&B, and chemical manufacturing. They might be great for pure-play manufacturing capabilities, but they might not be the best fit for other product-centric verticals such as pure-play retail or distribution. Given their relevance for manufacturing companies with limited applicability for other verticals, it ranks at #5 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Global Operations. Only solutions in the market with sufficient financial hierarchies and global trade compliance functionality pre-baked with products to support manufacturers exploring global financial and operational synergies. 
  2. Last-mile Capabilities Along With Breadth of Capabilities for Diversified Manufacturing Business Models. Verticals such as apparel manufacturing require the deeper integration of PLM, vendor portals, and merchandising solutions. Complex manufacturing requires handling units, several layers of allocation management, and international trade compliance.
  3. Best-of-breed Integrations Offered Out-of-the-box. Most tools that a manufacturer would require, such as HCM, PLM, data lake, ERP, WMS, TMS, and advanced supply chain planning, are all pre-integrated with LN and M3.
Weaknesses
  1. Might Not be the Best Fit as a Corporate Solution for Holding and Private Equity Companies. Holding companies as diverse as manufacturing, construction, and professional services may not be able to keep all of their entities on one solution.
  2. Legacy UI and Experience. Infor LN and M3 are both legacy solutions with technical limitations to provide the cloud-native experience with universal search, mobile experience, etc.
  3. Weak Ecosystem and Marketplace. The consulting base and marketplaces are virtually non-existent for both Infor LN and M3.

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a great fit for globally diverse SMB companies seeking to host multiple product-centric business models in one solution. Its data model is especially friendly for FMCG and pharma-centric companies, with an ecosystem containing add-ons to support most business models. With the limited operational depth, it might require several add-ons and might not be the best fit for companies seeking depth with industrial distribution or manufacturing. Given its wider application and broader relevance for several product-centric business models, it ranks at #4 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Rich Distribution ERP Systems Capabilities Natively Supported. Replenishment strategies such as warehouse-level transfers, license plate construction, and bin-level capabilities are supported out-of-the-box for complex distribution businesses.
  2. Cloud-native Architecture. The product has been completely rearchitected using the cloud-native architecture. 
  3. Global Capabilities and Ecosystem. Unlike several products such as Acumatica, which is primarily a North American product, it has support for several European, Asian, and African countries where most products might struggle.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited Capabilities to Support Diverse Product-centric Companies. Only fit for FMCG-centric distributors. The industrial distribution would require add-ons to support capabilities such as buying groups, HVAC code integration, and vendor catalogs.
  2. Unproven Add-ons and Unqualified Consulting Networks. Microsoft partner processes are not as streamlined as other vendors. So it may require the help of an independent ERP consultant to vet the add-ons and architecture in the Microsoft ecosystem.
  3. Ecosystem. While the ecosystem may have options for distribution industries where BC specializes in, it might not have integrations with the best-of-breed eCommerce systems in the industrial distribution space.

3. NetSuite

Like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, NetSuite is a great fit for globally operating SMB companies requiring multiple business models hosted in one solution. With the capabilities built to support operations for both publicly and privately owned companies, its application is much broader compared to other solutions. While great for diverse business models, it might not be the best fit for complex industrial distribution or manufacturing requiring a much thicker add-on. Given its broader application for various business models among product-centric companies, it ranks at #3 on our list.

Strengths
  1. B2C Data Model and Processes. NetSuite’s data model is especially attractive for B2C companies with integration requirements with several B2C channels, such as marketplaces.
  2. Global Capabilities. NetSuite can natively support the localization requirements of more than 100 countries. As well as consolidating and supporting intercompany transactions.
  3. Ecosystem. NetSuite has one of the largest ecosystems with pre-baked integration available to support the integration with multiple digital and physical channels.
Weaknesses
  1. Limited B2B Capabilities. The data model and pricing are not friendly for B2B companies. The pricing layers are not as scalable as other systems, such as Acumatica. NetSuite may struggle with the complex product catalog for industrial distributors.
  2. Limited Capabilities for Diverse Distributors. Distributors with diverse business models with manufacturing, construction, or field service might require several add-ons.
  3. Not Designed for Large Companies. NetSuite may struggle with transactional workload requirements of companies over $1B, especially for transactional businesses aiming to process their end-to-end transactions inside NetSuite.

2. SAP S/4 HANA

SAP S/4 HANA is a great fit for large, global enterprises operating globally, publicly or privately owned. Its product model can support MRP runs of very complex product-centric organizations aiming to find synergies globally, whether in a shared services model or in two-tier settings. While great for larger organizations, it might not be the best fit for smaller companies with limited IT budgets. With one of the strongest capabilities for product-centric companies seeking mature ERP capabilities after outgrowing smaller ERP packages such as Acumatica or NetSuite, it ranks at #2 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Large Workloads. SAP S/4 HANA could process more than 100K serialized goods receipts within 22 secs while Oracle Cloud ERP took more than 18 mins for the same test. SAP S/4 HANA’s design allows companies to process the workload requirements of Fortune 500 when every other system might struggle.
  2. Best-of-breed Architecture for Distributors. SAP’s best-of-breed architecture can support the business model of large distributors, irrespective of whether they are a traditional distributor or a combination of 3PL, which typically has a different warehouse and TMS architecture than traditional distributors.
  3. Financial Traceability and Control. Fortune 500 organizations with shared service models spread in multiple countries would appreciate the financial traceability built at the document level.
Weaknesses
  1. Weak Operational Capabilities for the Cloud. The last-mile capabilities available with some of the mid-market products may require substantial development with SAP S/4 HANA.
  2. Limited Pre-baked Integration. The third-party integration options such as integration with eCommerce platforms, POS systems, channel connectivity, etc may require substantial development efforts.
  3. Overwhelming for Smaller Organizations. The complex workflows built to support the processes of large, complex organizations may overwhelm organizations seeking simpler solutions without unnecessary processes and approval flows.

1. Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O

Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O is a great fit for global companies in the upper mid-market or lower enterprise segment seeking mature cloud ERP capabilities. Unlike smaller ERP systems such as NetSuite or MS Dynamics 365 Business Central F&O would not require as many add-ons, simplifying the implementation and limiting implementation risks. While great for larger global companies, it might not be the best fit for smaller product-centric companies. With its equal depth for both discrete and process-centric verticals, it’s one of the most diverse solutions on this list. Given its wider adoption for several business models among product-centric companies, it ranks at #1 on our list.

Strengths
  1. Operationally Richest Cloud Product for Large Complex Businesses. Businesses that have multiple global entities with complex business models such as discrete and process manufacturing, distribution, and project-based business models would find Microsoft Dynamics F&O attractive.
  2. Cloud-native Architecture. The product has been completely rearchitected using the cloud-native architecture. Cloud capabilities are stronger than competing products for distributors such as SAP S/4 HANA and Oracle ERP Cloud.
  3. Common Data Model and Database-level Integration for Best-of-breed Architecture. Large, complex systems could be frightening to use for sales and field service crews. Microsoft provides pre-baked integration with the best-of-breed CRM and field service products.
Weaknesses
  1. Financial Traceability and Audit Support. Complex global organizations may struggle with financial traceability and SOX compliance capabilities.
  2. Large Workloads. Compared to SAP S/4 HANA, it might not be able to match the performance expectations of large complex organizations where companies may need to process millions of journal entries per hr.
  3. Overwhelming for Smaller Organizations. The complex workflows built to support the processes of large, complex organizations may overwhelm organizations seeking simpler solutions without unnecessary processes and approval flows.
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Conclusion

Despite apparent similarities, ERP systems for product and service industries are distinctly different, creating potential confusion due to shared terminology. Crucially, the inventory requirements diverge significantly between service-centric and product-centric organizations. If you are selecting an ERP System for Product-Centric Industries, be sure to scrutinize the intricacies of inventory layer structures, focusing on alignment with the specific needs of product-centric industries. Opting for an independent ERP consultant is a wise choice, especially if navigating these nuances isn’t part of your daily routine.

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