ERP 2025 comparison: Microsoft Dynamics 365 vs Odoo vs SAP: which ERP for an SME?
- Elise Dejour
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Choosing an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is a strategic decision for any SME. Automating processes, centralizing data, and better managing business activities are key challenges, but with so many different solutions available, the choice is not easy. Among the most popular are Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Odoo, and SAP Business One. So, which ERP should an SME choose? ERP 2025 comparison
ERP 2025 comparison - What is an ERP and why is it crucial for an SME?
An ERP is software that integrates all of a company's key processes: accounting, finance, logistics, production, sales, purchasing, HR management, etc. For an SME, an ERP allows you to:
Centralize data (avoiding scattered Excel files and duplicates).
Automate processes (invoicing, inventory tracking, order management, etc.).
Improve decision-making with a real-time view of activity.
Support growth with a scalable solution.
Without the right ERP, an SME risks wasting time, limited visibility, and difficulty scaling.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft's cloud ERP designed specifically for SMEs. It is a modular and scalable solution that covers financial management, purchasing, sales, inventory, and projects, and can be enhanced with vertical business applications for healthcare, transportation, distribution, and more.
Key features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP
Global reputation: Microsoft is a long-standing leader, adopted by many companies around the world.
Microsoft ecosystem: the ERP is fully integrated with other Microsoft tools such as Office 365, Power BI, Power Automate, Teams, and Dynamics CRM.
Sovereign cloud: Data is hosted in Switzerland (Zurich, Geneva) and therefore complies with GDPR and nLPD standards.
Automation and AI: Copilot, Microsoft's AI, helps you with smart data entry, forecasting, and reducing manual tasks.
Scalable: this ERP is suitable for both SMEs with 20 employees and companies with over 200 employees.
Things to watch out for with Business Central
The integration of Business Central ERP requires personalized support, particularly for implementation, customization, and team training. You should call on an integrator such as Almakom to assist you with this change.
Monthly licences are paid for based on the number of users, and the costs are quickly offset by productivity gains, but this can represent a significant expense depending on the size of the team.
Odoo ERP for SME
Odoo is a very popular open source ERP, especially among SMEs. It offers more than 30 modules covering accounting, invoicing, sales, inventory, HR, etc.
The strengths of Odoo ERP
Open source: it is an open source ERP, so it offers great flexibility and freedom of customization.
Large catalog of applications: with Odoo Apps to cover a wide variety of needs. Attractive cost: the price may seem attractive if the company has an internal technical team.
Active community that develops new modules in light of the open source nature of the software.
Points to watch out for with Odoo
Complexity of customization: without an IT team or an Odoo integrator, management can become cumbersome.
Uneven support: platform support depends on partners or the community.
Less robust for large SMEs or those with complex processes.
Hosting and data compliance less standardized than Microsoft
SAP Business One ERP for SME
The strengths of ERP Business One
Global reputation: SAP is a long-standing leader in ERP, adopted by many large companies.
Rich features: advanced finance, warehouse management, production, multi-entity, multi-currency.
Specialized for SMEs: Business One is designed for small and medium-sized businesses, unlike SAP S/4HANA, which is reserved for large corporations.
Points to consider with SAP Business One
More complex implementation than Dynamics or Odoo.
Higher cost, both in terms of licenses and maintenance.
Interface sometimes considered less modern than its competitors.
May be more expensive for an SME depending on the modules chosen.
Which ERP for an SME in Switzerland?
👉 If you want a scalable, secure solution that integrates with your Microsoft tools (Office, Teams, Power BI), Dynamics 365 Business Central is the best choice. Dynamics 365 Business Central is a modern, integrated ERP solution, ideal for ambitious SMEs that plan to grow in the coming years.
👉 If you have a small organization with an internal IT team and are looking for an open source solution, Odoo is an interesting option.
The right choice depends on your needs, your budget, and your growth strategy.
And what about the role of an integrator?
The right ERP depends on your needs, your industry, and your ambitions. The choice should not be based solely on price or popularity, but on the ability to support the growth of your SME. Choosing an ERP is not just a matter of comparing features. The success of an ERP project depends above all on implementation, customization, and change management. And that's where the integrator comes in. Many SMEs underestimate this step and end up with poorly configured or underutilized software.
Almakom, the choice of proximity
At Almakom, we integrate and customize Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and develop specific business applications (transport, distribution, healthcare, etc.). We support Swiss SMEs in implementing an ERP system that is compliant, efficient, and tailored to their specific needs.
At Almakom, we act as an integrator and publisher: We define requirements in order to select the right ERP modules. We customize the solution for specific industries (healthcare, transportation, distribution, finance, etc.).
Regulatory compliance: compliance with the GDPR, nLPD, and industry standards.
Training and support for teams to ensure adoption.
Support and scalability: the ERP grows with your business.
👉 It is this pragmatic and hands-on support that makes the difference between a successful project and a costly failure.