As CBR Technology Corporation is a certified and authorized Partner for both the Intuit QuickBooks Enterprise and the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central solution, we are often asked what exactly the differences between the solutions are. This article is meant to shed some light on this comparison. The system functionalities are often difficult to evaluate as to the importance of the Client. This document is not meant to portray a specific benefit from one solution to the other, but rather to highlight the factual features differences. Their importance of each feature is strictly a function of the system requirements of your organization.
Intuit QuickBooks is CLEARLY the most prolific accounting software in the United States of America and is used by many small and mid-size organizations alike. In addition, Intuit has developed an impressive Network of Professionals through the ProAdvisor and Premier Reseller Network. You are hard-pressed to find an Accountant or CPA which is NOT familiar with this solution. In addition, hiring temporary help is typically easier as there is no shortage of Applicants that have used QuickBooks in their past. Most reviews published about Intuit QuickBooks Enterprise identify an extremely ease-to-use accounting system. Most novice users can be trained in a minimal amount of time to transact in this system.
Although General Ledger, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable functions are important, we have found that the truly mission-critical features can be found in the other modules of the Solutions discussed. Especially firms that operate in the distribution-wholesale, manufacturing, and service management industries will experience significantly different functionality.
What are the specific Software features differences between QuickBooks Enterprise Platinum and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
| Inventory Features | QuickBooks | Business Central |
| Inventory Valuation Methods | Average, FIFO | LIFO, FIFO, Avg, Standard, Specific |
| Product Matrix or Product Version Tracking | No | Yes |
| Support for Lot Numbers and/or Serial Numbers | Either LOT or SN, not Both | Any item can be none, Lot No or Serial |
| Auto Assign new Lot Numbers or new Serial Numbers during Production or Assembly | No | Yes |
| Support for LOT Expiration Dates | No | Yes |
| Ability to track Manufacturing or Warranty Dates for specific Lot Numbers or Serial Numbers | No | Yes |
| Ability to track Item Landed Cost | Yes, Fixed & Percentage (added in 2020) | Fixed, Percentage, Actuals |
| Support for multiple Bar Codes for different UofM of the same Item (ie. single Unit versus case pack) | No | Yes |
| Ability to prevent Negative Inventory for specific Item | No | Yes |
| Ability to set Stockout Warning for Specific item | No | Yes |
| Ability to set Lead Time per Item | No | Yes |
| Ability to set Item Replenishment Method per Item | Purchase, Assembly | Purchase, Assembly, Production Order |
| Ability to Interface IV with native Manufacturing Module | No | Yes |
| Ability to interface with native Warehouse Management | No | Yes |
| Support for Cycle Count per Item | No | Yes |
| Ability to track multiple Customer Item No (Cross Reference) | No | Yes |
| Ability to track multiple Vendor Item No (Cross Reference) | No | Yes |
| Ability to track Substitute Items | No | Yes |
| Ability to track extended descriptions which are date triggered | No | Yes |
| Support for non-English Item Description (multiple Languages) | No | Yes |
| Support for pricing which is based on Qty Breaks and Dates | No | Yes |
In addition to the inventory management module, the Customer and Sales Order Entry features tend to interest Distribution/Wholesale companies greatly. Some of the differences in this area of the solutions include:
| Customer and AR Features | QuickBooks | Business Central |
| Ability to Block Shipments, Invoices or All Trx per Customer | No | Yes |
| Ability to assign Customer to an internal Team | No | Yes |
| Ability to handle transactions in multiple currencies for the same Customer | No | Yes |
| Ability to handle customer prepayments with GAAP compliance | No | Yes |
| Ability to track Customer Banking info for EFT | No | Yes |
| Track non-US Calendar for SO Commitments | No | Yes |
| Ability to track Blanket Orders (Large customer commitments against individual sales orders) | No | Yes |
| Ability to interface with native Service Management Module | No | Yes |
| Default Shipping Times for Promised Ship Dates | No | Yes |
| Ability to assign default documents to specific Customer | No | Yes |
| Ability to track UPS Zone per Ship-to Address | No | Yes |
| Ability to default Warehouse per Ship-to Address | No | Yes |
| Ability to default Shipping Method per Ship-to Address | No | Yes |
Vendor and Purchase Order Entry features tend to interest Distribution/Wholesale companies greatly. Some of the differences in this area of the solutions include:
| Vendor and AP Features | QuickBooks | Business Central |
| Support for Vendor Purchase Quotations (RFQ Process) and the ability to turn Quote into Order | No | Yes |
| Ability to assign a Vendor to an internal Team for processing | No | Yes |
| Ability to handle transactions in multiple currencies for the same Vendor (FASB-52 Compliance) | No | Yes |
| Ability to handle Vendor prepayments with GAAP compliance (mandatory for Importers) | No | Yes |
| Ability to track Vendor Banking info for EFT Payment processing | No | Yes |
| Ability to maintain Vendor-specific Purchase Order formats | No | Yes |
| Ability to track Purchase Blanket Orders (Large vendor commitments against individual purchase orders) | No | Yes |
| Ability to process Vendor Purchase Return Transactions (reverse PO) | No | Yes |
| Ability to auto-create Purchase Orders based on inventory levels and replenishment methods including maximum inventory | No | Yes |
| Ability to assign default documents to specific Customer | No | Yes |
| Ability to approve Purchase Orders using workflow process based on PO Amount in Office 365 or via e-mail | No | Yes |
| Ability to approve the creation of a new Vendor with a workflow process (On-Boarding) | No | Yes |
| Ability to default Shipping Method per Ship-to Address | No | Yes |
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is offered in two versions. Essentials and Premium. The Premium Edition will also include a native Service Management, Manufacturing (MRP) and Warehouse Management (WMS) module. QuickBooks Enterprise 2020 does not offer any of these features natively.
In addition to module-specific features, some of our Clients are also interested in system-wide feature and the system architecture.
| System Features | QuickBooks | Business Central |
| Database Management | Proprietary 16-Bit Database, 100,000 record limitation, Datafile Size should be no more than 1GB, no more than 30 Users | Microsoft SQL Server (64-Bit), Highly Scalable, no practical data limits, No number of user limit |
| Support for native Web Client | No | Yes |
| Support for native iOS Client | No | Yes |
| Subscription vs License | Subscription Only | OnPrem License and Subscription |
| Workflow Management with Electronic Authorization | No | Yes |
| Support for Windows Authentication | No | Yes |
| Ability to modify native Pages/Windows | No | Yes |
| Ability to modify Navigation Menu | No | Yes |
| User Security to include Table Filters | No | Yes |
| Ability to limit Date Entry to Range of transaction entry (lower and upper date range, not just lower) | No | Yes |
| Total Number of Maximum Users | 30 | No practical Limit |
| Native Support for Odata, SOAP Web Services | No | Yes |
| Native User-Interface Language Support | English | English, French, Spanish, +- |
There are additional feature differences that are beyond the scope of this article. For additional information, please feel free to contact us directly at Tel. (855) 227-0700 or via e-mail at Sales@CBRTechnology.com .
