When it comes to the management of complex business operations, the software that an organization chooses is a matter of concern, because the software choice is what ultimately undermines business success. With SMEs, this decision is much more challenging as they juggle between the budget limitations and bigger contenders converting into a serious requirement for proficiency and cost-effective design.
With various ERP solutions accessible in the market place, picking the correct one requires thinking about numerous variables. For SMEs, one central point is the decision among local and cloud hosting. A cloud-facilitated ERP offers numerous benefits for SMEs compared to a traditional/ conventional ERP that is hosted on a local server. One such significant benefit is the adaptability and flexibility factor. A cloud-based ERP often seems more adaptable and flexible alongside ready to adjust towards a developing and consistently changing business workflow. Initial and support fees are likewise much lower with a cloud-facilitated ERP arrangement as they are often accounted for within license fees.
Soon after the decision settlement over the cloud-based ERP vs Traditional ERP, the next tricky part for business is to make choice over Proprietary and Open Source ERP. However, it is not easy for the business to make that decision without proper knowledge. This pressure to decide is all higher while the company is for the first time getting introduced to an ERP system.
Licensed and proprietary ERP software may get you with abundant functionalities glamouring its extensiveness. However, a company should focus on the usability aspect and the scalability of the plan. Usually, the license price and upgrade prices are a huge waste, as your business organization may not be using every feature that is available in the ERP software. This is often a problem with proprietary software. On the other hand, an open-source software/Odoo saves you from spending unwanted expenditures. With open-source, you get the flexibility to select only what you need for your business.
The bright side of open source ERP doesn’t stop here. It is more to uncover. Nowadays the open-source ERP program has a higher rating with regards to the quality in the coding since these programs see zealous software code developers working for it. We need to break the misconception that only paid software codes to satisfy your company’s requirements. As thousands of developers are consistently working together in updating and further enhancing the quality of the open-source, today the framework sounds more receptive towards a quick resolution to critical issues. Moreover, there are multiple open source ERP choices and that brings massive competition in this industry. This competition enhances the features since the program needs to become competent.
Have a quick look at the comparison between open source ERP and proprietary ERP.
| Open Source ERP | Proprietary ERP |
Active and Healthy Community Regular security updates and bug fixes stabilizing the solution. Makes it possible for the community to identify bugs and fix them. | Community Could Be Dying Regular security updates and bug fixes may not be that feasible comparing to an open-source. Also, a quick resolution to critical issues and fixing them will be limited. |
Lower Cost of Ownership Generally, the only capital expense for customization and implementation, and no or relatively low licensing costs. Sunk costs for maintenance and support. | Higher Cost of Ownership Costs will include operational expenses primarily licensing costs, and capital expenses in addition to the sunk cost for maintenance and support. |
Minimal Reliance Open source is diverse, distributed, and has a dynamic community working on it, thus minimal reliance on a single vendor. In addition, erases the fear of orphaned product, vendor abandons, and termination of support. | Higher Dependency Proprietary software users are more or less at the whim of the vendor. In addition, once the software is integrated into the enterprise’s system, changing vendors would likely be an expensive procedure. |
Open Standards The community adheres to open standards when it comes to communication and data formats. This makes open source highly interoperable. | Opacity The closed source can neither be modified nor debugged by users. You would be able to report errors and dump stacks to vendors, however, will have to wait to get it fixed from them. |
Odoo vs Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics comes as part of the Microsoft Dynamics family of ERP software. The software can be hosted in Microsoft Azure Cloud. Microsoft Dynamics comes with a perpetual license and a subscription license for the service provider.
Odoo is open-source programming that aims to provide an easy to use, comprehensive business tool. In excess of 16,000 applications meeting different industry needs, Odoo has surpassed the reaches of Microsoft Dynamics in many places explicitly intended to illuminate both SME and large complex business needs. Also, there is an excess of 30 main applications in Odoo, that is consistently updated meeting different industry needs.
Odoo vs Microsoft Dynamics AX feature-wise comparison.
Inventory Management
1. General
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Multi-Warehouse | | |
| Storage Locations (Bins) | | |
| Bin Replenishment | | |
| Mobile Device Support | | |
| Multi-Company | | |
| Multi-Currency | | |
| Multi-Language |
| |
| Automatic ASN (Advanced Shipping Notice) | | |
| Package Management / Cartoning | | |
| Freight Carrier Integration | | |
| Manage Consignee Stocks | | |
| EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) | Available through a third-party software | |
| Products | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Non-Stocked Inventory | | |
| Multiple Variants | | |
| Multiple Units of Measure | | |
| Inter-class UoM Conversion * | | |
| Variant Matrix | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Lots / Serials | | |
| Up / Down Traceability | | |
| 360° Traceability * | | |
| Expiration Dates | | |
| Cycle Counting | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Inventory Forecasts | | |
| Inventory Valuations | | |
| ABC Analysis | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| QR Code Support | Odoo can read QR codes, but third-party software is required to print them. | |
| RFID Support | Available through third-party add-ons. | |
| Lots / Serial Numbers | | |
| Receptions | | |
| Picking | | |
| Internal Moves | | |
| Delivery Orders | | |
| Inventory Adjustments | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| FIFO / LIFO | | |
| Customizable Routes * | | |
| Putaway Strategies | | |
| Wave Picking | | |
| Batch Picking | | |
| Zone Picking | | |
| Cluster Picking | | |
| Cross-Docking | | |
| Putaway Location By Size, Weight, & Capacity | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Vendor Data Management | | |
| Vendor Pricelist Management | | |
| Inbound Quality Control | | |
| Drop shipping | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Purchase Requests | | |
| Purchase Orders | | |
| Purchase Approval Workflow | | |
| Request for Quotations | | |
| Contracts / Purchase Agreement | | |
3. Automated Procurements
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Minimum Stock Rules* | | |
| Make-to-Order | | |
| Master Production Schedule | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Master Data | | |
| Multi-Level BoM | | |
| Byproducts / Coproducts | | |
| Routings | | |
| Subassemblies | | |
| One BoM for Multiple Product Variants | | |
| BoM versions | | |
| Multiple BoM / Routing * | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Demand Forecasting | | |
| MRP I Scheduler | | |
| MRP II Scheduler * | | |
| Master Production Schedule | | |
| Gantt Chart Scheduling w / Drag & Drop | | |
| Kanban Planning | | |
| Production Calendar | | |
| Infinite Capacity Scheduling | | |
| Finite Capacity Scheduling | | |
| Available to Promise | | |
| Multiple Scheduling Plans | | |
| Delivery Date Calculation (Backwards Scheduling) | | |
| Production Order Splitting / Merging | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Manufacturing / Production Order | | |
| Job Tracking | | |
| Work Orders / Operations | | |
| Automated Time Tracking | | |
| Disassembly Orders | | |
| Subcontract Manufacturing | | |
| Rework / Repair | | |
| Scrap | | |
| Disposal Strategies | | |
| Kits | | |
| Edit Individual Production BoMs | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Perpetual Inventory Valuation * | | |
| Periodic Inventory Valuation * | | |
| Standard Price | | |
| FIFO | | |
| Landed Costs | | |
| Actual Production Labor | | |
| Production Order Costing | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Shop Floor Terminals | | |
| Production Activities | | |
| Non-Production Activities * | | |
| Time Tracking | | |
| Messages on Work Orders | | |
| Barcode Support | | |
| Equipment / Machine Management | | |
| Work Instructions on Work Orders | | |
| Maintenance Requests from Shop Floor Terminal | | |
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Schedule Management | | |
| Touchscreen Attendance | | |
| Timesheets | | |
| Breaks | | |
| Overtime | | |
| Vacation / Injury | | |
5. Reporting and Forecasting
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Overall Equipment Efficiency | | |
| Work Time | | |
| Demand Forecast | | |
| Maintenance KPIs | | |
| Production Costs Analysis | | |
| Up / Downstream Traceability | | |
| Analytic Accounting | | |
| CSV Export | | |
| Dynamic Pivot Tables | | |
| Dashboards | | |
| Save Custom Reports | | |
Maintenance
1. Scheduling and Request Handling
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Schedule Preventive Maintenance | | |
| Maintenance Kanban | | |
| Maintenance Calendar | | |
| Shop Floor Integration | | |
| Multiple Teams / Sites | | |
| Asset Management | | |
| Subcontract Repair | | |
| Job Tracking | | |
2. Parts Management
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
|
| Inventory Management | | |
| Purchasing Integration | | |
| Rotating Asset Location | | |
| Equipment Serial Numbers | | |
| Equipment Maintenance History | | |
Dealer Portal | | |
QMS
1. Quality Control
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| At Reception | | |
| In-Process | | |
| Before Delivery | | |
| Inventory Quarantine | | |
2. Quality Checks
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Quality Control Plan | | |
| Pass / Fail Checks | | |
| Measurement Checks | | |
| Quality Alerts / Nonconformance Documents | | |
| Print Nonconformance Documents | | |
| Corrective Actions | | |
2. ISO9001 Tools
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Documentation Management | | |
| Customer Satisfaction Surveys | | |
| Customer Complaints Management | | |
| Traceability of Operations | | |
| Resources Management | | |
3. Reports
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Nonconformance Costs | Mostly included as part of OEE Report | |
4. Product Lifecycle Management
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) | | |
| BoM Version Management | | |
| Routing Version Management | | |
| MRP Integration | | |
| Centralized BoM Management | | |
5. ECO Management
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| Approval Workflows | | |
| BoM Version Difference Viewer | | |
| Bulk BoM Updates | | |
| Notification Mechanism | | |
| Project eMail Gateway | | |
| ECO Costing | | |
6. Third-Party CAD Integrations
Features |
Odoo | Microsoft Dynamics AX |
| AutoCAD | | |
| SolidWorks | | |
| Autodesk | | |
For an infographic representation visit Odoo vs ms dynamics
You can refer to our previous blogs for a detailed comparison of Odoo with other ERP Softwares in the Market
1. Odoo Vs ERPNext
2. Odoo Vs NetSuite
3. Odoo Vs SugarCRM
4. Odoo Vs SAP
5. Odoo Vs Tally
6. Odoo Vs Zoho CRM