Best Cloud-Based (SaaS) ERP Systems for Manufacturing and Distribution
A comprehensive independent review and comparison of best Cloud-Based (SaaS) ERP software systems for Manufacturing and Distribution Businesses. Click to expand for an introduction to cloud ERP software solutions and SaaS.
Understanding Cloud ERP Solutions
Cloud ERP software is a type of enterprise resource planning software that stores and processes data on a centralized remote server operated by the ERP provider. Typically, it uses a SaaS architecture, which means a business pays a monthly or yearly premium to use the software rather than purchasing it outright.
Although they can include a wide variety of features, most cloud ERP suites for manufacturers and distributors include modules for some or all of these key business processes:
Logistics and supply chain management
Inventory management and demand forecasting
Customer relationship management
Procurement management
Project management
Financial management
Automation and machine learning
Business intelligence management
Human resources management
Cloud ERP vs. On-Premises ERP
On-premises ERP systems were once the only option for businesses seeking to implement ERP software, but cloud ERP systems now offer a robust and extremely popular alternative, particularly for small businesses. These are some of the many benefits of cloud ERP that make it such an appealing choice for many business owners:
Faster and simpler ERP implementation process
Real time synchronization and data visibility
Native mobile apps that make it easy to integrate mobile devices into workflows
Lower upfront pricing and consistent operating costs
Easy upgrades for excellent scalability
Streamlines the process of automatically creating and storing data backups
While cloud ERP is the most popular choice for businesses today, on premises systems are still widely used in larger companies. See the most popular on premises ERP systems on the market for manufacturers and distributors.
Evaluating Cloud ERP Vendors and Software
The vendors and software products below include many of the ERP industry’s most innovative and well-regarded ERP providers, including highly customizable software solutions from giants like Microsoft, SAP and Oracle NetSuite ERP. However, many specialized software options from providers like Epicor, Cetec and Acumatica also provide robust cloud solutions for the most critical business functions of manufacturers and distributors.
For more on Cloud-Based ERP or SaaS ERP, read our blog article The Benefits of a Cloud-Based ERP to better understand the pros and cons of Cloud ERP Systems. Want more resources for Cloud ERP? Read these white papers from the Top10erp.org white paper library:
Cloud ERP: A Word Security by Cetec ERP
From Chaos to Orchestration: Why Companies are Moving to Cloud-Based Order Management by Oracle
30 ERP Systems Found
Price Range$75K - $250K |
Price Range$15K - $50K |
Price Range$12K - $180K |
Price Range$3K - $40,000K |
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Price Range$70K - $1,000K |
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Price Range$20K - $750K |
Price Range$25K - $100K |
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Price Range$25,000K - $500,000K |
Price Range$50K - $500K |
Price Range$25K - $500K |
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Price Range$25K - $250K |
Price Range$15K - $150K |
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Price Range$1.50K - $150K |
Price Range$25K - $500K |
Cost Per User$5,000/mo |
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Cost Per User$200/mo |
Cost Per User$40/mo |
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Cost Per User$5,000/mo |
Cost Per User$250/mo |
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Cost Per User$125/mo |
Cost Per User$500/mo |
Cost Per User$7,500/mo |
Cost Per User$150/mo |
Cost Per User$200/mo |
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Cost Per User$175/mo |
Cost Per User$4,000/mo |
Cost Per User$1,000/mo |
Cost Per User$125/mo |
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Cost Per User$500/mo |
Cost Per User$500/mo |
Cost Per User$250/mo |
Cost Per User$250/mo |
Cost Per User$75/mo |
Cost Per User$150/mo |
Cost Per User$2,000/mo |
Cost Per User$20/mo |
Cost Per User$200/mo |
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Retention Rate
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Retention Rate
78%
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95%
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85%
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70%
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78%
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90%
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98%
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Version2020 |
Version2022R1 |
VersionAlways Up-To-Date (Cloud Service) |
VersionAlways Current |
Version8.2 |
Versionalways current |
Version8.0 |
Version8.1 |
VersionAlways Current |
Version- |
VersionAlways Current |
Version11.0 |
VersionVersion 10 |
Version12.x |
VersionM3 13.4 |
VersionAlways Current |
Version2021 |
VersionAX 2020 |
Version18.3 2021 |
VersionRelease 2021.1 |
VersionR12 |
Version2022 |
VersionAlways Current |
Version2020 |
Version6.2 |
VersionV12 |
VersionCloud and Mobile Based (Always Current) |
VersionCloud 2021 |
VersionAlways current |
Version8.0 |
Financing OptionsLease |
Financing OptionsSubscription |
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Financing Options- |
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Financing OptionsFinance, Subscription |
Financing OptionsLease, Subscription |
Financing OptionsLease, Subscription |
Financing OptionsLease, Subscription |
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Financing OptionsSubscription |
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Financing OptionsSubscription |
Financing OptionsLease, Subscription |
Financing OptionsLease, Subscription |
Financing OptionsFinance, Subscription |
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Financing OptionsSubscription |
User Range15 — 75 |
User Range5 — Unlimited |
User Range5 — 250 |
User Range5 — Unlimited |
User Range10 — 250+ |
User Range5 — 500 |
User Range1 — 500 |
User Range5 — 1000 |
User Range5 — Unlimited |
User Range1 — 1000 |
User Range10 — Unlimited |
User Range1 — 250 |
User Range40 — and up |
User Range10 — 1000 |
User Range20 — 1000+ |
User Range20 — 1000 |
User Range10 — Unlimited |
User Range5 — 2250 |
User Range25 — 500 |
User Range10 — unlimited |
User Range1 — Unlimited |
User Range25 — unlimited |
User Range1 — 5900 |
User Range10 — 10000 |
User Range15 — Unlimited |
User Range10 — 1000 |
User Range10 — 500 |
User Range15 — Unlimited |
User Range1 — Unlimited |
User Range10 — 1000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$75,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$15,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$1,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$2,400 |
Minimum Fee to ImplementN/A |
Minimum Fee to Implement$40,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$10,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$40,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$20 |
Minimum Fee to ImplementN/A |
Minimum Fee to Implement$50,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$10,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$300,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$15,000 |
Minimum Fee to ImplementN/A |
Minimum Fee to ImplementN/A |
Minimum Fee to Implement$35,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$50,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$50,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$10,000 |
Minimum Fee to ImplementN/A |
Minimum Fee to Implement$200,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$100,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$25,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$25,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$100,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$25,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$75,000 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$120 |
Minimum Fee to Implement$25,000 |
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Installs2700+ |
Installs8000+ |
Installs- |
Installs250+ |
Installs- |
Installs9000+ |
Installs700+ |
Installs500+ |
Installs1200+ |
Installs2500 |
Installs4500+ |
Installs300 |
Installs3,300+ |
Installs800+ |
Installs1,100+ |
Installs1800+ |
Installs2000+ |
Installs9,300+ |
Installs40000+ |
Installs24,000+ |
Installs2,000+ |
Installs1000+ |
Installs1,200+ |
Installs4,000+ |
Installs1000+ |
Installs7000 |
Installs3,000+ |
Installs10,000+ |
Installs100+ |
Installs15,000+ |
ArchitectureSOA |
Architecture.NET, SaaS |
Architecture.NET |
ArchitectureSaaS |
Architecture- |
ArchitectureSOA, .NET |
Architecture- |
ArchitectureSOA |
ArchitectureSOA, .NET |
Architecture- |
ArchitectureSOA, .NET, Native Cloud |
Architecture.NET |
ArchitectureSOA |
ArchitectureSOA |
ArchitectureSOA, Multi-tenant |
Architecture- |
ArchitectureSOA, .NET, Native Cloud |
Architecture.NET |
Architecture.NET, Hosted Cloud, SaaS |
Architecture- |
ArchitectureHosted Cloud, Native Cloud |
ArchitectureHosted Cloud |
ArchitectureSOA, SaaS, Multi-tenant |
ArchitectureSOA |
ArchitectureSOA |
Architecture.NET |
ArchitectureSOA, Hosted Cloud |
ArchitectureSOA, Native Cloud |
Architecture- |
ArchitectureSOA |
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Unique FeaturesEasy to customize |
Unique FeaturesUnique consumption-based licensing provides flexibility and facilitates collaboration, enabling all employees and external parties to access information and systems to execute daily activities and long-term strategic goals. Acumatica is an ethical ERP leader focused solely on customer business applications. The Acumatica Bill of Rights provides unique peace of mind for companies by ensuring ownership and access to their data, comprehensible license agreements, sustainable pricing, and implementations with no hidden fees. Acumatica is the only ERP vendor offering free online training via Acumatica Open University. |
Unique Features |
Unique FeaturesCetec ERP is a single, unified business platform that delivers “tier 1” enterprise-level feature breadth at extraordinarily lower costs than traditional systems, owing to a long history combined with completely modernized cloud/SaaS technology. Their approach is direct, friendly, and transparent: they own the technology (i.e. no “bolt-ons”), and offer the software directly with no markup (i.e. not through incompetent third-party VARs), and offer close, attentive in-house support. |
Unique FeaturesAptean Distribution ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is an all-in-one system designed to handle everything consumer goods importers and distributors need to run and grow their business. By creating efficiencies across the enterprise, distributors will see increased profits and ensure that the entire business uses the same real-time data. |
Unique Features |
Unique Features |
Unique Features |
Unique FeaturesDELMIAworks IQMS also offers a broad choice of deployment options that will allow you to pick the solution that is best for your business: on-premise or hosted Cloud ERP deployment via hosted managed services or SaaS. Providing three deployment options gives you the flexibility to choose the best solution for your company and your budget. |
Unique FeaturesEpicor for distribution ERP software was built in partnership with thousands of successful distributors—and the deep expertise that comes from understanding their unique challenges.
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Unique Features
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Unique Features |
Unique FeaturesIFS Applications is a single, integrated product supporting the management of 4 core processes: Service and Asset, Manufacturing, Project, and Supply Chain. |
Unique FeaturesThis system is designed specifically for Distribution Enterprises |
Unique Features |
Unique Features |
Unique Features |
Unique FeaturesDesigned for mid-size and large manufacturers |
Unique Features |
Unique FeaturesAs a suite of cloud-based applications, NetSuite brings together all the systems that businesses need to grow, scale and adapt to change. |
Unique FeaturesThis is Oracle's latest Cloud Based ERP product. |
Unique FeaturesThis is Oracle's newest Cloud ERP System |
Unique Features
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Unique FeaturesQAD Adaptive ERP combines manufacturing ERP software and supply chain capabilities with a modern platform and user experience, delivered in the cloud, to help manufacturers better identify and address change in their industry. |
Unique FeaturesVAI lowers the total cost of ownership with our unlimited-user license option, which can save customers hundreds of thousands of dollars. It allows organizations to expand locations, add users, deploy multiple sessions, and add RF or Mobile users without paying additional software licensing fees. With VAI, organizations will be assigned an experienced, high-level, domestic support team and direct support from the author, all based within the United States. |
Unique FeaturesSage X3 helps your business thrive and stay competitive by providing users with the information they need to serve their customers better, take back control over the quality, and eliminate inefficiencies across the organization. It streamlines your core processes – from manufacturing to distribution and financial management to business services – while adapting to your industries best practices. |
Unique Features |
Unique Features |
Unique FeaturesIn addition to core features, Striven has a host of unique offerings rarely found in other ERP systems. Webhooks allow your business to trigger physical events and controls (door locks, lights, etc.) right from your phone. With a communication system that includes an internal newsfeed and live chat capability from anywhere in the system, we prioritize your collaborative work. |
Unique FeaturesSYSPRO is a global, independent provider of industry-built ERP software designed to simplify business complexity for manufacturers and distributors. Focused on delivering optimized performance and complete business visibility, the SYSPRO solution is highly scalable, and can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud, or accessed via a mobile device. SYSPRO’s strengths lie in a simplified approach to technology, expertise in a range of industries, and a commitment to future-proofing customer and partner success. |
LimitationsNot appropriate for Process Manufacturing |
LimitationsAcumatica is devoted to the midmarket. It is not a great fit for large enterprises in need of fully global support. |
Limitations |
LimitationsNot ideal for service-based or retail businesses. No “HR” or “Payroll” inside the platform; requires integrating to a third-party payroll system. |
LimitationsLimited to Distribution Enterprises, not suitable for complex manufacturing. |
Limitations |
Limitations |
Limitations |
LimitationsDELMIAworks IQMS is not a solution fit for businesses that are not manufacturing environments. |
LimitationsThis solution is not optimized for non-durable goods distributors. |
Limitations |
Limitations |
LimitationsIFS is not suitable for smaller organizations under $100 Million in annual revenue. |
LimitationsNot suitable for manufacturing. |
Limitations |
Limitations |
Limitations |
LimitationsNot appropriate for small companies |
Limitations |
Limitations |
Limitations |
LimitationsNot for smaller companies with under $50 Million in Revenue |
Limitations |
LimitationsQAD is not a good fit for small manufacturers with under $25 Million in annual revenue |
LimitationsCompanies doing business under 10 million or under 10 employees. |
LimitationsNot suitable for companies smaller than 10 million in revenue. |
Limitations |
Limitations |
LimitationsOther unique features include: goal tracking, employee feedback and surveys, team efficiency reports, advanced planning and scheduling, resource navigator, portals for customers, vendors, & job candidates, and more. |
Limitations |
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