ERP Vendor Comparison

Exercise No. 1. Vendor Setup

a)

How
are the systems similar? Identify the similarities.

b)

How
are the systems different? Identify the differences.

c)

Whi
ch system has more head room?

d)

Whi
ch system do you prefer? Why?

I performed the vendor setup in 4 systems:

1. Microsoft Dynamics AX
2. Sage 300 ERP
3. SysPro
4. Epicor
For the purpose of the vendor comparison, I use Microsoft Dynamics AX and Sage 300 ERP
Systems, using Contoso Entertainment System US (USMF) in Microsoft Dynamics AX and
Sample Company in Sage 300.

a) Similarities between Microsoft Dynamics AX and Sage 300:

Accounts Payable: Both systems Accounts Payable Module allows us to automate our vendor
payments. They helps us to accurately track and manage accounts payable details to supply
company decision makers, external analysts, and stakeholders with key information on company
liabilities.
Adding a New Vendor: From the perspective of power user or admin, there are various
modules displayed on the left side of the menu. For setting up a vendor, both systems consist of
Accounts Payable module. On the right-hand side pane, we can see all the options available
with this module of the system.
Search Vendor Function: Both systems make searching for vendors intuitive. It is also easy to
search for any vendor through the vendor search button in the Vendor ribbon in Microsoft
Dynamics AX. We can select any vendor an edit it by simply selection and edit function.
Typically, it load complete vendor profile form the MS SQL Database into the various vendor
field that we can edit and save after we are done.

b) Differences:
Microsoft Dynamics AX

Sage 300

Size and Complexity

It is a Tier 1 ERP. It is fully integrated

ERP solution. Powerful enough for midsized to large coporations, yet simple
enough to learn and use. It can typically
be used by large organizations with a
global presence
and
complicated
operational structures. Having said that,
it has agility to accommodate many types
of businesses industries through its
flexible technical platform.

It is Tier 2 ERP. Sage 300 ERP is

the name for the mid market
Sage ERP line of enterprise
management and accounting
applications primarily serving
small
and
medium-sized
businesses.

Look and Feel

It is a familiar Microsoft Ribbon User

Interface. Almost every current user of
Microsoft Office is familiar with this
interface. That said, familiarity with user
interface doesnt mean is a simple
system.

Sage 300 ERP presents a clean

and classic windows interface
with two panes navigation
window. We can find all the
modules on the left pane. We
can access these individually on
the left panel. Each module can
be expanded by clicking on the
folder icon that resembles folders
in a classic windows application.
The application reminded me of
classic windows 95 and 98.

Microsoft Dynamics AX

Sage 300

Vendor Sections
Organization

To Add a new vendor, we click the new

Vendor button in the Accounts Payable
Module. There are various sections in
new vendor set up, such as General
Information,
Addresses,
Contact
Information, Vendor Profile, Purchasing
Demographics, Invoice and delivery
options, Purchase order defaults,
Payment options, Tax 1099, Retail and
Financial dimension. We can expand and
collapse these sections. To simplify the
clutter, we can hide extraneous sections
and focus only on the sections we are
interested in. We can explore a lot of
options here. After we are done editing
the vendor we can save through a
familiar save option under File menu
item.

To create new Vendor, we select

A/P Vendor from the left panes
Accounts Payable Module, select
new from file menu item. The
sections of new vendor window
are very limited and tabbed. It
contains sections such as
Address, Contact, Invoicing
Statistics, Activity and
Comments. Tabs lets us easily
go in the appropriate section of
the vendor. After we are done
editing the vendor, we press the
Add button on the bottom of the
window.

Vendor Listing

Vendor listings from the All vendors

sections is simple and intuitive, where
you can go from one vendor to another
using selection of vendors from the list.

Vendor listing is not intuitive. In

fact to go from one vendor to the
next you have to use next symbol
on the vendor window.

c) Microsoft Dynamics AX has more head room with a larger dashboard and a lot of options. A
lot of head room is available to companies contemplating the extension of their activities.
Besides the basic general ledger, CRM, Accounts Receivable, Inventory Management,
Administration, Human Resource, Payroll Management and Sales & Marketing Modules, it
consists of many other important modules such as Production, Call center, Project Accounting,
Retail, Transportation management, Warehouse Management, Trade Allowance management,
Procurement and Sourcing etc. It can be further extended to included Balance Scorecards,
Shop Floor Control, Service Management and Environment Management. It makes it easy to
navigate the Microsoft Dynamics AX client user interface. There is a lot of help available in
Microsoft help portals such as on MSDN and on Technet website in order to help facilitate the
learning curve for corporate users. Moreover the development teams in IT department can make

full use of the customization options available, that consist of both front-end like enterprise
portal, business logic like Application Object Server and back-end like MS SQL Server.
d) I prefer Microsoft Dynamics AX from the perspective of Accounts Payable Vendor Section
because the vendor fields and functions are more detailed and customizable than they are in
Sage 300.
The vendor sections are limited in Sage 300 to Address, Contact, Processing , Invoicing, Activity
and Comments. While in MS Dynamics AX, they are properly categorized in collapsable panes
and are much more detailed such as General Information, Addresses, Contact Information,
Vendor Profile, Purchasing Demographics, Invoice and delivery options, Purchase order
defaults, Payment options, Tax 1099, Retail and Financial dimension. When the user first logs in
MS Dynamics AX, he sees a role center, and all the modules available in the left pane. This
home page serves as quick glance at the information that is important to the user. Manager can
drill down the information that would help them make timely and relevant decisions.

Screenshots: Microsoft Dynamics AX

Screenshot of Sage 300

Screenshot of SysPro

Screenshots of Epicor