As your business expands, you need an ERP system ready to support and enhance your business growth. This means identifying a system that is right for your business today and into the future.
If you’ve just stumbled upon this article, you are likely in that identification process. In fact, you are probably comparing NetSuite vs Odoo against the goals of your organisation. We’re here to help you make an informed decision with the latest in our comparison series. This time we explore NetSuite as an Odoo alternative by weighing up the pros and cons of each. Let’s go.
What is Odoo
Previously OpenERP, Odoo is a collection of open source business apps covering CRM, eCommerce, accounting, inventory, warehouse, HR, point of sale, project management, and more.
What is NetSuite
NetSuite is an ERP system offering a suite of cloud-based applications. 24,000 fast-growing businesses across the world use it to run key back-office operations, financial business processes, HR, professional services automation, and omnichannel commerce.
Let’s start by highlighting the similarities of the two platforms. Both are:
- Cloud-based ERP solutions (Odoo does have on-premise options but this comparison focuses on the cloud version).
- Modular, allowing organisations to add functionality as they grow and scale.
- Suitable for rapidly growing companies.
Now, let’s explore the major differences that could incur extra costs, headaches, and time if not considered early on in the decision process.
NetSuite Vs Odoo
Upgrading each solution
NetSuite delivers scalability without version-lock thanks to its automatic, twice-yearly major software updates, including customisations that carry forward automatically. This means that every customer is running the most up-to-date version of the software available.
On the other hand, Odoo upgrades have to be requested and are often costly and complex to implement successfully. Many Odoo customers avoid updating and miss out on new functionality and features as a result.
Platform customisation
NetSuite is a highly extensible platform, enabling businesses to integrate all their systems and applications. There are endless low-code applications and extensions available to enhance NetSuite’s functionality. Here at Annexa, our own enterprise-ready API solution, AnnexaConnect, delivers out-of-the-box or specific custom integrations.
Customising Odoo is far harder. The coding tends to be complicated and expensive. There are some pre-configured customisations available for modules, but they lack the advanced capabilities needed for a larger business. Like NetSuite, Odoo offers third-party apps but they are not reviewed or verified and rely on the original developer for ongoing support. This increases the risk of deploying a poorly designed solution, having the app break due to poor maintenance, or conflicts with future upgrades.
Industry nods
For multiple years in a row, NetSuite has been ranked as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Core Financial Management Suites reports. This is the highest rank possible by Gartner and recognises NetSuite’s significant role in helping customers compete in rapidly evolving digital business environments.
NetSuite Vs Odoo features
| Features | NetSuite | Odoo |
| Key Features |
|
|
| eCommerce Functionality | Choose from SuiteCommerce Standard or SuiteCommerce Advanced and integrate with a range of eCommerce apps | Third-party options available |
| Security | Continuous, dedicated security monitoring Strong 256-bit encryption Role-level access and idle disconnect Location-based IP address restrictions Application-only access Strong password rules Two-factor authentication |
Industry-standard encryption for password protected credentials transmitted over HTTPS Odoo 12 has a built-in setting for enforcing minimum user password length and rate limiting. Older versions require customisation. Cloud servers run on Linux distributions with up-to-date security patches Data centres secured 24/7 |
| Customisation and Integrations | Limitless options for integrations and customisations. NetSuite Connectors allow you to connect NetSuite with hundreds of apps – no coding required. | Basic pre-configured customisations via modules. More complex customisations require heavy coding and IT skills, and may incur additional maintenance costs. |
| Software Subscription | Subscription-based with price protection | Subscription-based |
So is NetSuite a good Odoo alternative? Absolutely. While there are many similarities between the two platforms, there are also some key differences that increase the power and adaptability of NetSuite compared to Odoo. If you’d like to know more about your NetSuite options, reach out to our team and we can provide further information to help you choose the right ERP for your company.
Ready to make the move to NetSuite?
NetSuite’s integrated suite of cloud-based solutions delivers efficient and effective business operations that will support, not thwart, the growth of your business.
Annexa is a leading NetSuite partner with extensive experience designing and implementing comprehensive and customised business systems, including payroll solutions, financial management, warehouse management, and ecommerce solutions.