NetSuite vs Acumatica

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Our analysts compared NetSuite vs Acumatica based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Manufacturing Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

NetSuite ERP is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed to automate and streamline core business processes. It manages all aspects of a company's operations, including financials, accounting, inventory, supply chain, and customer relationship management (CRM). NetSuite is best suited for mid-sized and large businesses with complex needs who require a comprehensive solution to manage their growth. Key benefits include improved visibility, real-time data access, increased efficiency, and enhanced collaboration. Popular features include order management, project management, financial reporting, and business intelligence. User reviews praise NetSuite's scalability, flexibility, and ease of use. However, some users mention the initial implementation cost and learning curve as drawbacks. Pricing is tiered based on the number of users and modules required. Monthly subscription fees can range from $999 to $4,999 per month. Additionally, one-time implementation fees may apply.

Pros
  • Scalable
  • Flexible
  • Easy to use
  • Real-time data
  • Improved visibility
Cons
  • High cost
  • Steep learning curve
  • Limited customization
  • Integration issues
  • Vendor lock-in
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Acumatica is cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. It handles core business processes like financials, manufacturing, payroll, service management, order management and customer relationship management (CRM) for medium-sized companies and large enterprises.

A standout feature is its open architecture, making it easy to customize and connect to existing apps. Data security functions include multi-factor authorization (MFA) and IP access restrictions.

Recent reviews are positive about its user-friendly interface, scalability and functionality. While costing more than some basic ERP software, Acumatica offers robust features like project management, advanced reporting and inventory control, making it a good choice for growing businesses seeking to centralize and automate operations.

Compared to its competitors, users appreciate its flexibility and accessibility. However, its extensive customization options is a double-edged sword, requiring developer knowledge for complex modifications and integrations. While Acumatica's breadth of functionality is impressive, it can present a steeper learning curve for users new to the platform.

Acumatica offers a subscription-based model based on depth of functionality. This pricing structure allows unlimited user access to the system. The final price depends on added modules, consumption levels (including storage and transaction volumes) and licensing costs.
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$999/User, Monthly
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$4,000 Monthly
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Customization and visibility: The ability for clients to develop solutions that are tailored to their own business needs is a driving benefit of NetSuite ERP. The tool also provides visibility across workflows, which provides heightened transparency across departments. 
  • Built-in workflows: Built-in workflows are helpful because they allow for the automation or streamlining of various business tasks, therefore improving productivity. This benefit includes more accurate financial management and omnichannel engagement. 
  • Control over business processes: NetSuite ERP gives companies more control over business processes. For example, the program contains a supply chain portal that makes sure your customers benefit from the same experience, no matter where exactly they decide to convert within the sales funnel. 
  • Real-time insights: Real-time data is a key benefit that, when paired with NetSuite ERP’s personalized dashboards, can help your company develop insights more quickly. This can reduce the amount of time you spend filtering and sorting data to develop actionable solutions for your business. 
  • Easily accessible: NetSuite ERP is a cloud-based solution, meaning that as long as you have internet access, you can use it. This means you won’t have to be tied to your desktop computer to work with its suite of tools, which gives you the freedom to work where and when you want. 
  • Relatively low cost of ownership: Cost is an essential factor to consider when implementing an ERP solution, which is why NetSuite ERP seeks to lower its price by eliminating IT expenses (both initially and on an ongoing basis.) It also provides automatic updates so that you don’t have to pay extra for maintenance. 
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  • Focus on User Experience: Acumatica contains a range of automated capabilities for creating tax filing reports, billing and invoicing, calculating realized gains and losses, and managing taxes. The user-friendly experience coupled with fewer manual processes foster quick user adoption.
  • Access Everything in One Place: Review all business functions, databases and workflows in one place. Personalized dashboards fix the generalized view problem and let users see vital information.
  • Get Real-Time Visibility: Real-time visibility into business processes helps reduce inconsistencies and communication errors.
  • Support Global Operations: Set up shop in various locations and support transactions across multiple currencies.
  • Maintain Financial Health: Gain better control over your company’s financials by either segmenting or centralizing accounting among various locations and entities.
  • Comply With Complex Tax Regulations: Reduce tax headaches by accounting for use, sales, withholding and other considerations. Avoid penalties and fines with built-in tax management capabilities that ensure adherence to tax guidelines.
  • Choose From a Strong Partner Ecosystem: Acumatica has a vast network of partners offering industry-specific solutions and implementation services. Get the right options to align the system with your specific business needs.
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  • Sales Order Management: The sales order management tool provides automation that works to reduce manual errors and to speed up the billing and order management process. It is also integrated with other business functions such as finance and fulfillment. 
  • Source Management: This tool helps ensure compliance during the purchasing process through its centralized supply portal. It also has forecasting abilities that are able to recalculate predictions based on actual fluctuations. 
  • Warehouse Management: The warehouse management feature streamlines warehouse operations by decreasing overhead and cycle times. It can also improve rates of on-time delivery, therefore improving customer retention and ultimately boosting revenue. 
  • Production Management: The production management tool is integrated with CAD and PLM functionality. This feature assists in the development of quotes, tracking of contract renewals and cost estimation. 
  • Manufacturing Accounting: All of the basic features of accounting are present in this tool, from invoicing to forecasting. It can also help your company determine the amount of taxes you need to pay based on factors such as location and revenue. 
  • Transportation and Logistics: This tool is well-integrated with IoT functionality, as it lets you see in real-time where your transportation units are located. The logistic side of this tool provides inventory estimation based on historical data to help you decide what to order more of and what to order less of. 
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  • Financial Management: Manage accounting, budgeting, financial reporting and cash management on one platform. In addition to core functions like general ledgers, accounts receivables and payables, it offers automated bank reconciliations and multi-currency to support efficiency and global operations.
  • Distribution Management: Manage sales, inventory, and purchasing processes with one module. Top features include order management, inventory control and warehouse management. Its ability to handle complex inventory valuation methods and real-time inventory visibility sets it apart.
  • Order Management: Get better control over the entire order-to-cash process. From order entry and tracking to fulfillment and invoicing, it provides complete visibility and control.
  • Built-In CRM: Build and maintain strong customer relationships. Use sales force automation, marketing automation and customer service management tools to make every interaction meaningful. Integrated sales forecasting, lead scoring and customer lifecycle management drive sales growth and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Manufacturing: Get real-time visibility into shop floor activities. Create and manage multiple work centers. Manage everything from bills of materials (BOM) creation to work order management based on job dispatch lists.
  • Service Management: Use an extensive service management toolkit that includes service request creation, service contract management and installation management features. Enhance service delivery and improve technician productivity by offering a technical portal to start and end appointments.
  • Inventory Management: Capture key inventory details like class ID and item types. These support cycle routing with better visibility into stock levels. Build kits to stock with the option to disassemble kits into smaller components.
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Product Ranking

#3

among all
Manufacturing Software

#2

among all
Manufacturing Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

57
67
74
91
0
17
44
76
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Warehouse Management
Platform Capabilities
Inventory Management
Platform Capabilities
Inventory Management
Bill of Materials (BOM) and Routing
Integrations and Extensibility

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

NetSuite
Acumatica
+ Add Product + Add Product
Bill Of Materials (BOM) And Routing Computer-aided Design And Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAD And CAM) Management Engineering Change Control Inventory Management Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Product Configuration Production Planning Production Scheduling Quality Management Recipe And Formula Management Reports And Dashboards Shop Floor Control Warehouse Management Work In Process (WIP) Work Order Management 74 0 44 86 64 77 97 42 80 67 30 0 64 40 100 17 43 91 17 76 93 46 83 100 62 70 78 43 49 82 50 82 17 33 0 25 50 75 100
75%
0%
25%
88%
6%
6%
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44%
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56%
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86%
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86%
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36%
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73%
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80%
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86%
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14%
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42%
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83%
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83%
44%
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56%
33%
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67%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

44%
17%
39%
83%
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17%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 6448 reviews
Great User Sentiment 2062 reviews
81%
of users recommend this product

NetSuite has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 81% when considering 6448 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

89%
of users recommend this product

Acumatica has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 2062 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

4.9 (20)
5.0 (13)
4.0 (3489)
4.5 (1217)
4.2 (1600)
4.5 (126)
4.4 (125)
4.3 (110)
4.0 (1214)
4.4 (596)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated NetSuite and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Warehouse Management.

Warehouse Management Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Acumatica and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Mobile Capabilities and Platform Capabilities.

Mobile Capabilities Award
Platform Capabilities Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Real-time data and visibility: Gain immediate insights into your business performance with real-time access to all your data.
Improved efficiency and automation: Automate routine tasks and streamline workflows to boost productivity across your organization.
Enhanced collaboration: Break down departmental silos and foster better communication across teams.
Scalability and flexibility: Adapt NetSuite to your unique needs and accommodate your business growth.
Comprehensive features: Manage all aspects of your business operations with a single platform.
Improved decision-making: Get data-driven insights to make informed and strategic decisions.
Strong customer support: Reliable support is available through multiple channels to ensure your success.
High security and compliance: Secure your data and meet industry regulations with robust security features.
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User-Friendly: While there were some mixed reviews concerning disjointed navigation and the need for in-depth end-user training, 75% of reviewers said that Acumatica is easy to use.
Reporting: Over 50% of users were in favor of Acumatica’s reporting. Those who were not in favor said that the reporting feature required IT assistance to generate specialized reports, as the custom report tool isn’t friendly for those without developer knowledge.
Customization: Nearly three-fourths of reviews that mentioned customization applauded the vast amount of opportunities for customization, while one-fourth of reviewers complained that users need IT assistance to complete customizations.
Functionality: Acumatica provides robust functionality — almost 82% of reviewers said the system came with every tool they needed and more. Reviewers also mentioned that yearly updates are rolled out, so functionality is always improving.
Integration: Of the users that mentioned integration in their review, 100% were satisfied with the connectivity to other systems.
Cloud-Based Scalability: Easily adapt to business growth by adding modules or users without data disruption or complex upgrades.
Seamless Integrations: Connect with various third-party tools and platforms through open APIs and connectors, streamlining data flow and operations.
Centralized Data: Consolidate all business information in one system, improving data accuracy, accessibility and reporting capabilities.
Mobile App Access: Manage key tasks and access data on the go with the mobile app, boosting productivity and flexibility.
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High cost: NetSuite's initial implementation and ongoing maintenance fees can be significant, especially for small businesses.
Steep learning curve: The platform's extensive features require significant training and user adoption efforts.
Limited customization options: While customizable, NetSuite requires technical expertise and can be costly compared to competitors.
Vendor lock-in concerns: Switching to a different ERP provider can be challenging due to potential data migration issues and dependence on NetSuite's proprietary features.
Integration challenges with certain applications: While NetSuite offers pre-built integrations, connecting with niche or less popular applications might require complex manual data entry or third-party solutions.
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Support: Almost 70% of reviews concerning support were negative, given that Acumatica requires users to partner with a third party for support. In addition, there were some grievances surrounding the “Help” documentation.
Implementation: Between long implementation cycles and a requirement for a VAR to implement the system, 75% of reviewers said that they weren’t happy with the process.
Higher Cost Than Basic Options: Initial investment and per-application pricing can be steeper than some basic accounting software, especially for smaller businesses.
Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Needs: Extensive customization and advanced features may require dedicated IT resources or consultant support, increasing implementation costs.
Limited Industry-Specific Features: May lack specialized modules or functionalities for highly regulated or niche industries.
Reporting Customization Restrictions: While customizable, financial reporting options might not offer the depth and drill-down capabilities of dedicated reporting tools.
Occasional System Bugs & Glitches: 80% of users who mentioned platform speed report occasional bugs and glitches, requiring troubleshooting and potential downtime.
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User reviews for NetSuite ERP paint a mixed picture, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. Many users praise its comprehensive features and real-time data visibility, reporting improvements in efficiency and collaboration. One user commented, "NetSuite has transformed our business by automating tedious tasks and providing us with a single source of truth for all our data." Another added, "The collaboration features are fantastic – we can now work together seamlessly across different departments, which has boosted productivity significantly." However, users also raise concerns about the complexity of the platform and its high cost. Some find the learning curve steep and the customization options limited compared to competitors like SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics 365. One user noted, "NetSuite was initially overwhelming for our team due to its complexity. We had to invest heavily in training just to get started." Another commented, "The cost was a major barrier for us. We found other ERP solutions that offered similar features at a fraction of the price." The issue of vendor lock-in is another recurring concern among users. Switching to a different ERP system can be challenging due to data migration issues and dependence on NetSuite's proprietary features. One user expressed their apprehension, "We're worried about getting locked into NetSuite's ecosystem. Switching to another provider seems like a huge headache." Overall, user reviews suggest that NetSuite ERP is a powerful and feature-rich solution but comes with a steep learning curve and high cost. While it may be the perfect fit for large organizations with complex needs and significant resources, smaller businesses might find it overwhelming and expensive. When evaluating NetSuite, it's crucial to carefully consider your specific needs, budget, and technical expertise before making a decision.

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User reviews, coupled with our extensive research, confirm Acumatica’s reputation for flexibility and scalability. Still, certain features and overall performance have drawn mixed reviews.First, the positives. A majority of user reviews highlight Acumatica’s functionality and its ease of use. Popular mentions include the quoting and billing, accounts location, and inventory management features. Other honorable mentions are the accounts payable and invoice routing tools.Reviewers specifically mention that managing administrative functions is a breeze and accessible from anywhere. One user even mentioned that their business is retiring other legacy systems because Acumatica fulfills those needs by offering tools to manage various business functions on one platform with complete access to past data.For those who swear by Excel, Acumatica offers a comforting bridge with its robust Excel integration. The export to Excel feature is available on every grid. No more tedious manual transfers.However, drawbacks like the less-than-ideal calendar feature and tricky project management tools have been noted. Users say that project management, while capable of managing multiple projects at once, could have fewer steps.The platform’s performance can be a hiccup. Multiple users experienced glitches, especially when dealing with large datasets or navigating through generic inquiries. The system also logs out after 60 minutes of idle time. Defining user inactivity timeout is only available for Acumatica 2023 R1 and beyond.Beyond user reviews, our research team delved into the strengths and weaknesses of Acumatica. According to our research, it’s the best in the game for order and service management.Acumatica's biggest differentiator lies in its open architecture and customization options. Unlike some competitors with limited customization or reliance on pre-built modules, Acumatica lets you tailor the platform to their specific workflows and processes.The caveat is that molding the platform will take time and a great deal of expertise (either through internal IT or external support). Implementation will get drawn out, and expediting this process without proper alignment with your business needs will deter you from getting complete value for the amount you pay.The timeline and pricing might not be suitable for smaller firms or startups. Some users also wished the private cloud perpetual (PCP) licensing model wasn't discontinued. We suggest looking for other options if you don’t want to pay a monthly recurring fee.So, is Acumatica right for you?Acumatica is a strong contender if your business demands a highly adaptable system and you're prepared to invest time and resources in customization. However, if you prioritize rapid implementation and lightning-fast performance, you might want to explore other options.

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