Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Oracle? Features, Purpose, and Integration Compatibility
Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Oracle are both versatile ERPs that appeal to a wide range of businesses. However, they aren’t always in direct competition; in fact, each is slightly tuned towards a different clientele, meaning that NAV and Oracle each fit a specific niche in a broader ERP ecosystem.
While both ERPs have some CRM functionality, many organizations that are able to do so opt to invest in a separate CRM system. “Jack of all trade” solutions tend to lack the depth and breadth of functionality and modality that a dedicated solution wields. Because it is pivotal that a company’s CRM and ERP “talk” to one another, data integration services such as RapidiOnline exist in order to allow for the synthesis of information collected by both systems. Before we get to that however, let’s take a look at what these two ERPs have to offer their clientele.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Vs. Oracle ERP:
Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a Dynamics legacy system which is geared towards smaller to midsize businesses, designed to integrate quickly into an organization’s pre-existing business processes and systems. According to Apps Run The World, businesses which use Microsoft Dynamics NAV include Heineken, a “consumer packaged goods organization”, and 2 Sisters Food Group, a manufacturing company, among others.
Like any high-quality ERP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV streamlines information relating to pivotal operational mechanisms (supply chain, project management, accounts, etc.), thereby enabling more accurate and encompassing business intelligence. It automates tasks such as record-keeping or accounting as well as managing resource distribution and incoming or outgoing data pertaining to one’s supply chain. NAV was and still is one of the most consistent, comprehensive, and flexible ERPs in use today, and can be deployed on premise or as a hybrid solution while being versatile enough to adapt to just about any industry need. In essence, Microsoft Dynamics NAV has a plethora of excellent tools that will streamline the operations of any small to midsize business. On top of that, its popularity means that it has a broad array of software add-ons and customizations available for its users to further hone their version of NAV to their business’s unique needs.
Much like Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Oracle exists in order to simplify certain facets of a business’s operations, and reduce literal or metaphorical clutter for an enterprise’s team-members. Unlike NAV, Oracle ERP is geared towards larger businesses and enterprises, designed specifically with scalability and international business operations in mind. Some examples of enterprises that implement Oracle ERP are Motorola, General Electric, Facebook, and Sig Sauer. Leaning into the latest in ERP and data management technology, Oracle is cloud-hosted and puts cloud technology to good use in the form of modules, such as its Financials Cloud, Risk Management Cloud, and Procurement Cloud, each designed to streamline key business operations.
The Importance of CRM-ERP Data Integration, and What It Means for Your Business
While both are considered market titans and have certain features, purposes, and abilities in common, their differences mean that it’s rarely a tossup between the two. NAV is geared towards smaller businesses, while Oracle is engineered to suit enterprise-level needs.
While both offer a broad array of functions and application compatibility, no ERP is complete without an integrated CRM to complement its behind-the-scenes functionality with a customer-oriented solution. While certain ERPs may claim to have CRM capabilities, it’s rare to find a solution that can do it all as well as they claim, and for this reason many businesses that can afford to do so invest in distinct ERPs and CRMs.
For example, Salesforce is one of the most popular CRMs available on the market today. It’s implemented by a wide array of companies such as Spotify, Amazon Web Services, and T-Mobile, among others. Many organizations that choose Salesforce then go on to consolidate the data acquired by their Oracle or NAV ERP with Salesforce, in a process known as “data integration”, which allows the programs to “talk” to one another. The resulting “conversation” creates a synthesized and unified source of truth from which a business’s teams can process or extract information.
Data integration is the specialty of companies such as Rapidi; RapidiOnline offers data integration solutions designed to get the most out of your ERP and CRM of choice. When successfully integrated, a business has the benefit of two specialized programs without the hassle of double-entry or manual processes which can hinder workplace flow and efficiency. Fully integrated CRMs and ERPs eliminate unwanted data silos and maximize the functionality of each solution by eliminating information blind-spots, and allowing for a full 360-degree view of customer profiles and business operations.
Rapidi’s pre-configured, flexible, and seamless data integration solutions work well with Microsoft Dynamics NAV (or any of the Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems, both current and legacy), as well as Oracle ERP (and many others!). In the event that “out of the box” solutions don’t quite cut it for your business, Rapidi can work alongside any business in order to custom fit a solution to their specifications. With Rapidi’s integration technology at work for your business, you can rest assured knowing your teams are empowered to deliver the highest quality service to customers, giving your business a leg up on competition.
