Epicor iScala vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Epicor iScala
Score 3.1 out of 10
N/A
Epicor iScala is business management software for large corporations. Capabilities include financials, supply chain management, light manufacturing, sales, service, rental and lease management.N/A
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Score 7.9 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (formerly Dynamics NAV) is one of the ERP products in the Dynamics family. The technology is based on the Navision product acquired by Microsoft in 2002. This product is the best-selling Microsoft ERP platform, and is often used by companies in the manufacturing and distribution verticals.N/A
Pricing
Epicor iScalaMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Epicor iScalaMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Epicor iScalaMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Epicor iScalaMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Payroll Management
Comparison of Payroll Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.7
2 Ratings
7% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
7.6
6 Ratings
5% above category average
Pay calculation7.32 Ratings7.86 Ratings
Benefit plan administration7.31 Ratings7.04 Ratings
Direct deposit files00 Ratings9.35 Ratings
Customization
Comparison of Customization features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.5
3 Ratings
3% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
8.0
16 Ratings
10% above category average
API for custom integration8.43 Ratings8.015 Ratings
Plug-ins6.53 Ratings8.013 Ratings
Security
Comparison of Security features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
8.9
3 Ratings
9% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
9.0
20 Ratings
10% above category average
Single sign-on capability8.83 Ratings9.016 Ratings
Role-based user permissions9.13 Ratings9.020 Ratings
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
5.3
3 Ratings
27% below category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
5.1
21 Ratings
31% below category average
Dashboards3.12 Ratings5.117 Ratings
Standard reports7.33 Ratings5.121 Ratings
Custom reports5.43 Ratings5.120 Ratings
General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
8.1
2 Ratings
6% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
8.8
21 Ratings
14% above category average
Accounts payable8.22 Ratings9.020 Ratings
Accounts receivable8.22 Ratings8.419 Ratings
Global Financial Support8.22 Ratings9.08 Ratings
Primary and Secondary Ledgers8.22 Ratings10.07 Ratings
Journals and Reconciliations7.72 Ratings10.010 Ratings
Configurable Accounting8.62 Ratings10.010 Ratings
Standardized Processes8.62 Ratings9.011 Ratings
Inventory Management
Comparison of Inventory Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.8
2 Ratings
1% below category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
8.7
16 Ratings
10% above category average
Inventory tracking8.62 Ratings9.016 Ratings
Automatic reordering8.21 Ratings6.79 Ratings
Location management7.72 Ratings9.013 Ratings
Order Management
Comparison of Order Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.3
3 Ratings
6% below category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
7.9
19 Ratings
2% above category average
Pricing7.33 Ratings7.117 Ratings
Order entry8.23 Ratings8.016 Ratings
Credit card processing6.41 Ratings10.011 Ratings
Cost of goods sold8.23 Ratings8.015 Ratings
Order Orchestration7.53 Ratings8.05 Ratings
Subledger and Financial Process
Comparison of Subledger and Financial Process features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.4
3 Ratings
0% below category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
8.4
11 Ratings
13% above category average
Billing Management6.73 Ratings8.39 Ratings
Cash and Asset Management7.32 Ratings9.010 Ratings
Travel & Expense Management6.82 Ratings7.86 Ratings
Budgetary Control & Encumbrance Accounting7.32 Ratings8.37 Ratings
Period Close7.93 Ratings10.010 Ratings
Project Financial Management
Comparison of Project Financial Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.9
1 Ratings
4% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
8.7
8 Ratings
13% above category average
Budgeting and Forecasting7.31 Ratings10.08 Ratings
Project Costing8.21 Ratings10.07 Ratings
Cost Capture8.21 Ratings10.08 Ratings
Capital Project Management8.21 Ratings8.05 Ratings
Customer Contract Compliance7.31 Ratings10.06 Ratings
Project Revenue Recognition7.31 Ratings8.04 Ratings
Procurement
Comparison of Procurement features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
8.2
2 Ratings
16% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
8.0
6 Ratings
14% above category average
Requisitions-to-Purchase Orders Integrated8.22 Ratings7.55 Ratings
Supplier Management8.22 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Bids Analyzed and Compared00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Contract Authoring00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Contract Repository00 Ratings7.03 Ratings
Logistics
Comparison of Logistics features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.3
3 Ratings
6% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
7.7
3 Ratings
12% above category average
Transportation Planning and Optimization5.82 Ratings8.02 Ratings
Transportation Execution Management7.31 Ratings8.02 Ratings
Warehouse Workforce Management7.31 Ratings8.02 Ratings
Trade and Customs Management00 Ratings8.02 Ratings
Fulfillment Management00 Ratings7.93 Ratings
Manufacturing
Comparison of Manufacturing features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.3
3 Ratings
3% below category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
7.1
3 Ratings
6% below category average
Production Process Design7.32 Ratings9.02 Ratings
Production Management8.23 Ratings5.83 Ratings
Configuration Management7.82 Ratings1.32 Ratings
Work Execution7.82 Ratings9.02 Ratings
Manufacturing Costs7.72 Ratings8.63 Ratings
Supply Chain
Comparison of Supply Chain features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
5.6
3 Ratings
26% below category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
9.5
5 Ratings
27% above category average
Forecasting5.42 Ratings9.05 Ratings
Inventory Planning6.03 Ratings10.05 Ratings
Performance Monitoring5.43 Ratings10.05 Ratings
Product Lifecycle Management
Comparison of Product Lifecycle Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
7.3
2 Ratings
1% above category average
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
9.3
2 Ratings
25% above category average
Proposal Management6.41 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Product Master Data Management8.21 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Project Execution Management
Comparison of Project Execution Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
-
Ratings
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
7.7
4 Ratings
12% above category average
Project Planning and Scheduling00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Task Insight for Project Managers00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Project Mobile Functionality00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
Definable Resource Pools00 Ratings7.03 Ratings
Grants Management
Comparison of Grants Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
-
Ratings
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
9.7
3 Ratings
25% above category average
Award Lifecycle Management00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
Risk Management
Comparison of Risk Management features of Product A and Product B
Epicor iScala
-
Ratings
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
9.6
3 Ratings
38% above category average
Risk Repository00 Ratings9.32 Ratings
Control Management00 Ratings9.43 Ratings
Control Efficiency Assessments00 Ratings9.32 Ratings
Issue Detection00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
Remediation and Certification00 Ratings9.72 Ratings
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User Ratings
Epicor iScalaMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(3 ratings)
8.0
(21 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(3 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
User Testimonials
Epicor iScalaMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Likelihood to Recommend
Epicor Software
Well suited for middle-size distributor and service provider.
Read full review
Microsoft
It addresses well some integration and connectivity issues with other software and adapted technologies: formulation and manufacturing batching software, scanners and bar codes, inventory, financials, emailing of invoices and statement, sales and purchasing... etc. I believe it to be better suited to a medium to large company. Not as simple and seamless as we expected for migrating from another Microsoft Dynamics software product (we moved from GP to NAV). Our staff is going through a tougher time than we thought to learn some procedures. Normal growing pains?!
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Pros
Epicor Software
  • It's a fast system to operate.
  • The database is easy to maintain.
  • It's easy to customize views.
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Microsoft
  • Automate the creation of bills of materials for production. We can now generate a BoM from a sales order.
  • Organization of all data pertaining to thousands of parts, assemblies, and finished goods. Engineering and purchasing have a common portal.
  • We can create sales orders from quotations instead of re-entering them (this did require some bolt-on software). Less redundant work with fewer entry errors.
  • Accounting can provide reports based on specific criteria stored in NAV. We can pull better and more detailed intelligence.
Read full review
Cons
Epicor Software
  • I believe that iSAT improvement will bring more benefit to all iScala users
  • Longer support of the old Scala versions would bring more confidence for big Scala customers, because in big installations it's been very difficult and time-consuming to make version upgrades every 3-4 years.
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Microsoft
  • The version of software that we currently use isn't compatible with Windows 7, therefore we had to install it using the virtual computer under Windows XP. This created a few additional steps that the users had to go through in order to access the software which generated more calls to our IT Helpdesk.
  • We did research how much it would cost to upgrade the software so that we could get a version compatible with Windows 7, but the cost was way too expensive for our organization. Also, when we need to make updates or changes to the software, there are very few consultants who are familiar with the software so we are limited in who we can use for consulting services. Since we are limited in choosing consultants who can make updates and changes to the software the fees are usually really expensive for their services.
  • There is a .zup file that we constantly have to delete in order for the database to work properly and update. Users get a pop-up about once a week asking if they want to replace the .zup file and if the file is not deleted then the opening page for the software will not show up correctly and the database will not have the most up to date information.
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Likelihood to Renew
Epicor Software
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
We've already decided to continue using this software. It is too expensive for us to upgrade so we made a workaround by using the virtual computer with Windows XP installed on it. We did research replacing this software, but it was a better financial decision to keep what we had instead
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Usability
Epicor Software
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
It has simplified all processes and reduces turnaround time for month end processes. You can easily navigate through the dashboard which is very user friendly and easily guides you to different functionalities. Duplications of Invoices is avoided because NAV rejects posting of an invoice number already in the system so you increase accuracy.
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Support Rating
Epicor Software
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
It provides one to efficiently be able to manage bookkeeping and inventory without much challenges. One can easily navigate through workflow processes while managing usages and budgets. Being able to produce reports in Word, Excel or PDF means one is able to have a working document to produce trends and graphs or produce pivot tables.
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Alternatives Considered
Epicor Software
I have experience with multiple ERP software and I must say that iScala is the fastest system to work in so far. It doesn't have the same fancy shell like some others but at the end of the day the most important thing is the functionality and here is iScala outstanding.
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Microsoft
I have personally supported all of the Dynamic family of ERP systems and made the decision to concentrate on NAV as the solution of choice. From a support and development standpoint there are few if any packages that can compare. It is not uncommon for most of the companies that I support to only call me once or twice a month after the first year. This is due to the ease of tracking down problems and errors and the ability for a developer to provide the end-user with routines that automatically correct the most basic kind of error
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Return on Investment
Epicor Software
  • Definetly cost effective overall (within 12 years since starting the company).
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Microsoft
  • Automation processing, including EDI functionality, has increased employee efficiency and prevented the need for adding additional employees.
  • Implementation of the warehouse functionality, including cycle counts, has resulted in better inventory control/less shrinkage.
  • Implementation of e-Ship and e-Receive, has resulted in greater efficiency and order accuracy.
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ScreenShots