Best Cloud ERP Software Of 2024

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Best overall
• SAP Business One Professional: Best for customization
• SYSPRO: Best for manufacturing businesses
• QT9: Best for real-time reporting
• Epicor Prophet 21 ERP: Best for distributors
• Oracle NetSuite OneWorld: Best for global companies
• Acumatica: Best for easy pricing

The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content to guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

To find the best cloud ERP software for small businesses, we considered over 25 of the leading providers in the space and narrowed it down to 16, which we then evaluated across five key categories and 25 different metrics. Our ratings consider factors such as transparent pricing, employee self-sufficiency, compatibility with third-party integrations, access to customer support and ratings. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Cloud ERP software is considered software as a service (SaaS), which combines a variety of tools to help businesses manage resources. It’s hosted by a company that allows paid users to connect to the service online via a browser or an app. Usually the services provide management of finances, inventory, supply chain, sales and analytics. Some also include HR and project management features.

Traditional on-premises ERP software is often far out of reach for small business budgets because the upfront cost of installation, hardware and implementation is so pricey. With cloud ERP software, you tend to pay a monthly price based on the number of users and types of modules your business needs.

Additionally, cloud ERP software tends to include monthly maintenance and updates without you having to pay extra or deal with interruptions to your platform. It’s also  more scalable because you can add more users or resources as needed.

There are multiple benefits of choosing cloud ERP software and not just choosing it over traditional ERP software. Finding a cloud ERP system in the early stages of your business can set you up for success. It can help you organize your entire business operations from the beginning. Even if you’ve been in business for a while and you’re just now finding the need for cloud ERP software, you can reap several benefits of making the move, such as an increase in productivity, better visibility of your data and you could reduce the number of apps your business uses now:

• Low upfront investment: With the platform and data hosted on the provider’s servers, you don’t need to purchase hardware for the software. If there is an implementation fee, you can expect it to be lower than with legacy on-premises software.
• Less expensive: Paying a monthly per-user fee may be much easier on budgets of small enterprises, so it can be affordable to use cloud ERP software.
• No maintenance: You won’t need your IT department to dedicate resources to updating or maintaining your software because the provider should handle it for you.
• Consolidated data: All the data you need to see across departments should sync seamlessly, so you can see real-time analytics on financials, materials, processes, time restraints, expected availability of goods and other important data.
• Fewer integrations: Most cloud ERP software is fairly complete, so you shouldn’t need to subscribe to multiple SaaS to handle business operations. You may still need to integrate your current human resources information system (HRIS), CRM or marketing software.
• Mobile access: One of the most obvious benefits of cloud ERP software is that you can access your platform wherever you are from a tablet, smartphone or laptop. This makes it much easier and faster to work with clients, provide quotes and log orders without having to rekey information back at the office.
• Highly scalable: With on-premises solutions, you may outgrow your ERP software as your business expands. Cloud ERP software typically charges companies a monthly fee based on how many users they have, so it’s much easier to scale the software with your company.
• Easy to get started: Rather than creating a business operations solution piecemeal, as many startups do in the beginning, small businesses can take advantage of the low cost of entry of cloud ERP software to get started with ERP from the get-go.
• Reduce paper trails: You can track purchase orders, invoices and receipts all from a single cloud ERP app, so you don’t have to input data later. This helps your business lean toward paper-free accounting.

When you’re ready to choose cloud ERP software for your business, it’s important to take into consideration what your business needs. There are essential features, such as inventory and financial management, but there are also bonuses that may make or break your decision, such as ease of use or integrations available.

Consider the features of each cloud ERP software you’re looking into, but also look at what each one specializes in and how it can help your business. Some cloud ERP software are better for manufacturers, while others may offer tools vital for e-commerce businesses. Below are what Forbes Advisor suggests as must-have features and the key factors you should consider before signing on any dotted line.

Essential Features

• Real-time analytics: One of the most useful features of cloud ERP software is the real-time reporting most include. You can view your data in different ways using many variables to help you make informed business decisions.
• Automatic syncing: The main benefit of cloud ERP software is the ability to use it anywhere you are (as long as you have an internet connection), so automatic syncing of data is also important for every user. This helps ensure you have accurate information every time you use the app.
• Inventory management: Almost all cloud ERP software includes inventory management, but some get granular and include kitting and bills of materials, which is vital for manufacturing and distribution companies.
• Accounting: The majority of cloud ERP software centers its platform on the financial side of things. You can expect basic accounting features (general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, reconciliations, etc.), but some get more advanced. Most also include the ability to issue quotes, invoices and accept payments and pay bills (and payroll).
• Automation: The best cloud ERP software includes automated workflows, so you can set up actions based on triggers to run payroll, create invoices or send reports, for example, automatically. This is a big part of how cloud ERP software is used to increase a company’s productivity.
• Integrations: Many small and midsize enterprises still rely on other apps to help manage their businesses, so it’s important to find out which apps a cloud ERP software supports.
• Supply chain management: There are a variety of features you can find within supply chain management, including purchase and work orders, order transfers and demand and supply planning.
• CRM: Even if it’s basic CRM features, most cloud ERP software include ways for you to manage contacts, see client profiles and take notes within them.

Cloud ERP Software Specialization

You can find some cloud ERP software that offers features for every vertical in your company, but not all do. Some are better suited for manufacturers and don’t include features needed by retailers or e-commerce businesses, for example. Be sure to consider the departments you have in your company and what features are most important to each.

Ease of Use and Implementation

Generally, ERP software is complex because there’s so much you can do with it. You should consider how easy it is to use for all users. Cloud ERP software can come with a steep learning curve, especially for those who are less tech-savvy. Look for software that’s customizable with zero or low code, that has easy-to-understand guides and training for users.

Implementation is something that’s usually considered for traditional ERP software because it requires more help. Cloud ERP software is far easier, but you may want to consider asking your provider for help in setting up workflow automations, custom reports and settings you need for your business.

Support

Implementation is just one part of overall support. Most cloud ERP software offer 24/7 support via one or more common channels, including phone, email, live chat or a ticketing system. Look for help documentation that can be accessed via the platform and paid training for your staff.

Price

Cloud ERP software is more affordable than on-premises solutions, but it’s still fairly expensive. Most providers charge a monthly per-user fee. You can find some that offer a flat fee for unlimited users, but it’s rare to see this pricing structure. Keep in mind that you may need to pay for support, implementation and customization help. There could also be hidden maintenance fees or resource fees, given that your provider will be hosting the platform on its servers.

Integrations

If you have software that you want to keep using for your business, it’s important that you note which ones are must-haves to cross-reference with a cloud ERP software’s list of integrations. Alternatively, you may have access to an open API, which would allow you to connect any software you have to your cloud ERP software, but this may require some dev help.

It’s difficult to put an average price on cloud ERP software because there are so many variables and most providers don’t publish pricing publicly. The lack of transparency isn’t convenient, but it’s because most software companies need to provide a custom quote for a custom setup.

Our research shows that you should expect to pay anywhere between $70 per user, per month and $150 per user, per month. There are often additional monthly costs for the license, or a base cost, which can run a couple hundred dollars to $1,000 per month. Some cloud ERP software charges a per-user-per-month price for each module it offers, so the cost can go up quickly.

Each cloud ERP software works a little differently, but the basic premise is the same. You should have a login to access the platform via a browser or in an app for your desktop, tablet or mobile phone. You’ll have a main dashboard that should show you all the modules or data that’s pertinent to your role.

An admin typically sets permissions for each user to show them only the modules they use. For example, those who work in HR will likely have access to company-wide charts and dashboards and the HR management tools. Manufacturing teams may have access to financials, project management and supply chain modules. If you’re an executive, you likely have access to everything, but your dashboard may be set up to mostly show a bird’s-eye view of projects, YTD finances and other high-level information.

Navigating cloud ERP software works similarly to other software you likely already use. You can expect a sidebar menu along with a top menu for quickly accessing each module or dashboard. Setting up cloud ERP software is the most time-consuming step and will require a bit of downtime for some teams, or you can usually enlist the help of your provider’s support staff to help with importing data and customizing fields for inventory, warehouse locations, contacts and reports.

Forbes Advisor takes an unbiased approach to ranking the best cloud ERP software. We focus on five main criteria broken down into 25 different sub-factors to determine our top picks. The total number of points a perfect product could score is 100, but we translate the scores into our five-star rating.

Here’s how we evaluated cloud ERP software:

Pricing – 10%

Budget is a big deal, especially to SMBs and SMEs, but it’s difficult to score SaaS such as cloud ERP software because the pricing is tied to the unique needs of each business. We gave more credit to providers that offer a free trial, free plan and publicly publish their pricing.

Key Features – 30%

There are specific features and options that every cloud ERP software should include. We looked at warehouse management features, reporting, accounting, real-time updates and software integrations. For the software providers that include these in the base service, we gave the most credit. We still credit those that offer a module as an add-on, but we remove points for those that don’t include at least the basics.

Unique Features – 20%

We consider some cloud ERP software features as bonuses because you don’t require them to run your business, but they’re nice to have. Automation, CRM features, HR functionality, supply chain management, forecasting and manufacturing features are a handful of the unique features we look for.

Third-party Reviews and Ratings – 10%

It’s important to consider what users have to say about these programs, so we turned to third-party review sites and considered comments, ratings and the pros and cons listed by customers. Not only do we consider the actual rating on each site we reference, we read through the reviews to study what the users say and whether issues are resolved by the software company.

Expert Score – 30%

Finally, we leave room to offer an expert view of each software for the less tangible value of the cloud ERP software options. We consider how easy it is to use each platform, its value for the cost and the standout features or tools it offers.