Best ERP Software

An ERP solution can provide unparalleled visibility into the effectiveness of your business operations, from supply chain management to identifying missed revenue opportunities. Acumatica stands out as the top choice due to its affordability and range of editions suitable for businesses of any size.

The Best ERP Software for Most

Acumatica tops our list due to its usage-based pricing, which makes it an affordable option for small businesses while still providing the essential features needed to streamline business operations. Additionally, the software offers industry-specific solutions that are ready-to-go out of the box. With features such as financial management, business intelligence, and inventory management, Acumatica provides businesses with everything they need to improve cash flow, boost productivity, and implement better business practices. This means that businesses won’t have to pay for a bunch of features they don’t need.

The 7 Best ERP Software Options to Consider:

1. Acumatica – Best for most
2. Oracle NetSuite – Best ERP solution for scalability
3. Infor – Best industry-specific ERP solutions
4. IQMS – Best ERP software for manufacturing
5. Epicor – Most versatile and flexible ERP software
6. Deltek – Best ERP software for small businesses
7. OSAS Traverse – Best ERP software for accounting

Is Your Business Ready for ERP Software? The Signs to Look Out For

In the past, ERP software was primarily used by large corporations with complex needs. However, modern cloud deployment has made it more accessible to small and midsize businesses as well. Investing in ERP software is a smart choice for any business looking to manage operations from a single platform, and becomes increasingly crucial as the company grows.

While using multiple platforms for various business functions is manageable for small businesses, it becomes a challenge at scale. Bouncing back and forth between tools can be a waste of time, especially if they don’t work well together. If your software stack doesn’t flow together, is taking up too much time, or causing you to miss out on opportunities, investing in an effective ERP solution should be considered.

That being said, if you’re a very small business or startup and are not struggling to manage operations using various tools, it may be too early to invest in ERP software. It’s important to carefully evaluate your needs and the potential benefits of an ERP solution before making any investments.

#1 – Acumatica — The Best ERP Software for Most

Acumatica is a versatile cloud-based ERP solution that offers numerous software editions for businesses of all sizes, ensuring there is a solution to fit your specific needs. Its adaptability, flexibility, and ease of implementation make it a great option for small and mid-sized businesses that are scaling faster than they can manage on their own. With specialty solutions for various industries and tools for a wide range of use cases, including financial management, project accounting, inventory management, and order management, you can streamline all aspects of your business in one centralized location.

As your business grows, Acumatica grows with you, and you only have to pay for the features you need, with usage-based pricing to keep costs low. Additionally, businesses that switch to or implement Acumatica typically experience increased productivity, cash flow, and improved responses to dynamic market changes, making it a beneficial investment even for those who have never used ERP software before.

Pricing for Acumatica is based on the applications and resources used, rather than the number of users, making it more affordable for larger teams. While pricing isn’t available online, interested businesses can schedule a demo and request a quote to get started today.

#2 – Oracle NetSuite — The Best ERP Software For Scalability

Oracle NetSuite is a well-respected name in the business software space, synonymous with high quality and enterprise-grade scalability. While often associated with megacorporations, NetSuite is also a common tool used by tech companies making their IPOs over the last decade. Whether you’re already a large business or looking to grow quickly in the near future, NetSuite can help streamline and automate business processes to accelerate growth.

With built-in business intelligence, NetSuite provides deep insight into your entire business and facilitates meaningful business decisions. It offers capabilities for accounting and finances, order processing, inventory management, supply chain, warehouses, and production, allowing you to eliminate human error, get more done in less time, and boost quality across your entire workflow. The software is also wildly customizable and easy to use, with an intuitive user interface that doesn’t get in your way.

As the original ERP software, NetSuite has streamlined the deployment process and is updated twice annually based on user feedback, making it a constant companion as your company grows and evolves. For fast-scaling businesses, Oracle NetSuite is our top recommendation.

#3 – Infor — The Best Industry-Specific ERP Solutions

Infor has one of the most extensive ERP product catalogs on the market, trusted by over 68,000 organizations globally. Their solutions are designed to accommodate both small and large businesses, with industry-specific cloud ERP tools that can improve mission-critical operations, boost productivity, and streamline business processes. Infor offers ERP solutions for dozens of industries, including distribution, fashion, retail, automotive, defense and aerospace, construction and engineering, government, healthcare, professional services, education, electronics, travel and hospitality, and more.

In addition to personalized pages, role-based interfaces, and embedded analytics, Infor ERP software offers features such as agile innovation, optimized purchasing, and warranty tracking. The possibilities for customization and functionality are extensive.

Infor provides exceptional customer support and 24/7 access to the ERP solution via mobile, but the deployment process could take up to 16 weeks, which is expected for larger organizations. However, pricing information is not available online, so interested businesses must contact their sales team to learn more and start the process.

#4 – IQMS — The Best ERP Software For Manufacturers

Unlike other software providers that try to accommodate a wide range of business types, IQMS focuses exclusively on manufacturing, offering specific solutions for automotive, medical, aerospace and defense, packaging, and more. With dozens of manufacturing-specific modules, IQMS helps optimize and streamline operations, providing end-to-end visibility and control with a shop-floor-first approach to enterprise resource planning.

IQMS offers the largest number of manufacturing-specific modules in the industry, minimizing the need for third-party integrations. The software is available as an on-premise or cloud-based deployment, making it adaptable to the needs of any business.

As an IQMS customer, you can expect lower inventory costs, maximized plant floor output, quick return on investment (ROI), efficient team communications, on-time deliveries based on demand, compliance management, reduced costs associated with rejects and scrap, improved efficiency, and a shop-floor-first approach. Whether you’re looking for manufacturing ERP software or manufacturing execution software (MES), IQMS is an excellent choice for businesses of any size.

#5 – Epicor — The Best Versatile ERP Software

Epicor is a highly flexible and customizable ERP solution that supports a wide range of industries, including retail, distribution, lumber and building materials, and manufacturing. The platform can be deployed as cloud-based SaaS or on-premises, and Epicor also offers solutions based on business needs, such as supply chain management, planning and scheduling, ecommerce and POS, customer relationship management, data management, business intelligence and analytics, enterprise content management, and manufacturing execution system (MES).

Epicor is also IoT-enabled, allowing businesses to monitor their facilities in real-time using data from IoT sensors or PLCs. Whether you’re a B2B or B2C, Epicor is one of the best ERP solutions available today, offering exceptional support and additional services, such as consulting.

#6 – Deltek — Best ERP Software For Small Business

Deltek is a trusted provider of business software solutions, serving over 30,000 organizations globally with an extensive list of offerings across various categories.

Unlike most ERP software designed for larger enterprises, Deltek specializes in ERP and PSA software for small businesses. These tools automate crucial business operations and eliminate barriers between departments, providing advanced reporting and real-time visibility into your organization.

Deltek has specific ERP software to address the unique needs of small businesses, including solutions for government contracting, manufacturing, architecture and engineering, agency management, business development, human capital management, and customer relationship management.

The full list of capabilities is impressive, especially for small businesses. While larger organizations may find some tools limiting, Deltek offers additional products for enterprises, such as commercial enterprise professional services.

Overall, Deltek is an ideal choice for fast-growing small-to-midsize businesses looking for customized solutions.

#7 – OSAS Traverse — Best ERP Software For Accounting

OSAS is a highly flexible ERP solution that provides tools to manage various business processes within a single system. Its popular choice, OSAS Traverse, is ideal for nonprofits, field service industries, food businesses, service repair organizations, and businesses in the cannabis field.

OSAS Traverse stands out with its accounting solutions with integrated ERP functionality. You’ll benefit from ERP accounting applications like general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking, bank reconciliation, fixed assets, human resources, and payroll.

OSAS has tools to accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to mid-size organizations and enterprises. If you’re a smaller business looking to upgrade from QuickBooks to a more advanced accounting system with integrated ERP capabilities, OSAS Traverse should be at the top of your list.

Deploying OSAS Traverse is easy with the option to choose between an on-premises or cloud-based solution. Additionally, the software is customizable based on your business needs. You can add-on applications for CRM, electronic data interchange, project costing, point of sale, and more to create a tailored solution that meets your unique business requirements.

Methodology For Choosing The Best ERP Software

Choosing the best ERP software for your business can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. To help you evaluate your options, we’ve put together this buying guide with key features and considerations.

Industry-specific Solutions

While some ERP solutions claim to be a “one-size-fits-all” tool, it’s best to choose a provider with specific solutions for your industry. Look for ERP software that’s built to meet the unique needs of your business.

Business

Needs Most businesses won’t require every single application or business function offered by ERP software. Choose a provider that offers flexibility and customization options to meet your specific needs, such as human capital management, order management, financial planning, and fulfillment.

Organization Size

ERP software is not just for global enterprises. Providers offer solutions for businesses of all sizes, from small to large. Choose a software that fits your organization’s needs, especially if you’re a fast-growing company to avoid outgrowing the software and switching in a few years.

Deployment Options

Cloud-based ERP solutions are becoming the norm and are usually more affordable for small-to-midsize organizations. However, some businesses and industries are better suited for on-premises deployment. Choose a provider that offers the deployment option that best fits your business.

Summary

Our top overall recommendation for ERP software is Acumatica due to its flexibility to support the needs of businesses of all sizes in various industries. However, we recognize that Acumatica may not be the best fit for everyone. If you have specific needs, you can use the recommendations and methodology outlined in this guide to find the best ERP software for your business.