Guides

SAP Business One vs Acumatica ERP Comparison

SAP Business One and Acumatica are two of the top ERP solutions available for small to mid-sized businesses (SMEs), each with its own strengths and weaknesses in terms of functionality, flexibility, and deployment. As companies grow, their needs change, and the right ERP system will support both efficiency and competitiveness. Selecting the right ERP system is critical to success. ​

This guide is useful for business leaders and professionals who need to understand which ERP will best meet their organizational needs. We will provide an overview of core functionalities, deployment options, scalability, customizations, and ERP with industry specialization for both SAP Business One and Acumatica.


SAP Business One and Acumatica ERP System Overview

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like SAP Business One and Acumatica help businesses integrate core functions, such as finance, inventory, and operations, into one streamlined platform. 

Accounting, sales, inventory, production, customer relationship management (CRM), and other areas are all covered by SAP Business One, a powerful ERP system created especially for SMEs.

SAP Business One is a great option for companies that need industry-specific solutions and have outgrown simple accounting tools. This robust SAP ERP software offers a variety of deployment options, including on-premises and cloud, so companies can choose the model that best meets their requirements.

Acumatica is a cloud-based ERP system with strong mobile capabilities and an open framework for integration. It appeals to businesses seeking a flexible, web-based solution. However, its consumption-based pricing model may lead to increased costs as businesses grow.

Acumatica offers a solid foundation for industries like e-commerce, but often requires third-party add-ons to address complex industry needs, which can add costs and implementation challenges.

Acumatica vs SAP: ERP Software Comparison Chart

To help you compare SAP Business One and Acumatica, this chart outlines key differentiators in deployment options, scalability, customizations, financials and CRM, integration, reporting and interface capabilities.

A Comprehensive Look at Key SAP B1 & Acumatica ERP Features

While both SAP Business One and Acumatica are popular enterprise resource planning choices for businesses, each solution offers unique features and benefits. In this section, we’ll compare key capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses to help you determine which solution best fits your business needs. 

Deployment Options
SAP Business One
  • SAP Business One is available for both on-premise and cloud-based deployment.

  • It’s flexible enough to fit an ERP implementation based on specific industry needs, regulatory compliance, or IT infrastructure preference.

  • Whether your organization prioritizes data sovereignty or seeks the scalability of cloud technology, SAP Business One accommodates both.

  • It also ensures an easy route to implementation with its set of certified SAP partners, meaning faster deployment without interference in normal business operations.

Acumatica
  • Acumatica is largely a cloud-based model

  • This solution leaves little room for action by companies that would prefer on-premise solutions due to security or regulation concerns about stored data.

Mobile and Remote Access
SAP Business One
  • Offers mobile apps for a variety of functions, including approvals, sales, and service, so teams can stay connected remotely

  • Some SAP Business One apps have offline capability, allowing users to keep working in areas with poor connectivity; updates are synced automatically when the device goes back online.

Acumatica
  • Strong mobile features, with a web browser-based front end, convenient for remote-working employees.

  • Not designed with mobile applications for discrete functionalities like approvals, sales, or services, and is therefore limited in terms of presenting personalized user experiences on the mobile platform

  • Since it is a cloud-based ERP solution, it does not support offline mode, and the application must have a steady internet connection in order to be accessed continuously.

Depth of Industry-Specific Functionality
SAP Business One
  • Offers tailored solutions across industries like manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail, and professional services.

  • Deep customization and proven add-ons help businesses gain functionality designed around their specific workflows and compliance needs.

  • Has a versatile digital core with modules for accounting, CRM, inventory, MRP, project management, and production.

  • Its depth of functionality allows companies to handle business complexity without needing additional tools.

Change Management
SAP Business One
  • SAP Business One supports smoother change management

  • It has strong training resources, a global network of partners, and flexible deployment options.

  • Reduces friction when adapting to new business management systems and processes, especially in areas like inventory management, financial management, and customer management.

Acumatica
  • Acumatica can present greater challenges during change management

  • It often relies heavily on third-party consultants and lacks ease in terms of first-time ERP business user resources.

Integrations and Ecosystem
SAP Business One
  • SAP Business One provides key essential industry-specific customization via pre-configured modules and third-party add-ons.

  • The SAP Integration Framework B1iF makes it simple to integrate with other applications, thereby maximizing productivity and enhancing operational efficiency.

Acumatica
  • Acumatica, on the other hand, excels in specialized e-commerce domains.

  • It may be lacking in providing functionality for complex industries such as manufacturing or logistics.

  • It also depends on other applications to provide the functionality, and this translates to expense and complexity.

E-Commerce Strength
SAP Business One
  • Working with SAP Business One is comparatively less e-commerce-driven or out of the box, but makes up for it with excellent third-party integration.

  • It can seamlessly integrate with leading third party applications with pre-configured integrations to Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and more via the SAP Integration Framework.

Acumatica
  • Acumatica is very powerful in e-commerce since it has embedded capabilities

  • It is therefore the best solution for an entirely online business.

  • Companies with complicated operations outside of e-commerce will realize that it lacks its capability to handle complex or industry-specific customizations or operational needsImage source: Canva

SAP Business One vs Acumatica: Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the choice between a SAP ERP like Business One and Acumatica ERP will be determined by a company’s size, complexity, and growth ambitions.

Acumatica is a strong competitor in the world of e-commerce, making it a feasible option for online businesses or those considering open-source flexibility. However, the limitations of scalability, depth of functionality, and flexibility of deployment of this product make SAP Business One a better option for smaller companies and mid-sized businesses with complex needs.

Selecting the best ERP is a critical decision. Carefully judge the priorities of your business and make an informed decision to support long-term success. Here are some considerations to help further determine if SAP B1 is the right solution for your business.

  • Flexible deployment options: On-premise and cloud deployments to suit a range of industries.
  • Especially well-suited for businesses with strict data compliance or highly customized IT infrastructures.
  • Industry-Specific Customizations: Off-the-shelf modules and seamless integrations with third-party products address specific business needs. Configurable processes; hence, it is apt for SMEs operating in manufacturing, wholesale and distribution, retail, and professional services.
  • Cost-Effective Solution for SMEs: Offer less TCO than Acumatica over a 3 to 5-year period.

Connect with aclaros to Discover the Right ERP Solution for Your Business

With aclaros, finding the perfect ERP solution is simplified. Our team of SAP ERP experts walks you through the process of digital transformation with ease, including selecting the platform that perfectly suits your integration, scaling, and efficiency needs. We’re passionate about helping small businesses, growing businesses, and medium-sized enterprises across North America effectively manage their operations.

The team at aclaros is here to help, whether your focus is on SAP Business One or you are trying to find a different solution. Contact us today and let us help you find the perfect ERP that will help you optimize your processes, increase productivity, and grow your business.

a person uses enterprise resource planning software to calculate business data
Image source: Canva

FAQs

Which is better, SAP or Acumatica?

SAP Business One is a more stable and robust ERP option for SMEs. It offers an integrated and end-to-end platform that ranges from CRM, financial management, to inventory and analytics. With its mature ecosystem and globally supported infrastructure, it is one of the market leaders across industries. Although Acumatica is a newer cloud-based ERP, it lacks industry-specific depth, scalability and a global reach that is provided by SAP Business One.

What is Acumatica used for?

Acumatica is a cloud-based ERP solution designed to simplify and integrate multiple functions for small and medium-sized businesses (SME). Acumatica has a modular architecture that allows a business to configure the system according to its specific needs and to scale easily as the organization grows. The core functional areas usually include financial management, project accounting, and CRM, as well as inventory and order management functionality. With these functional areas, Acumatica gives businesses one solution for many functions, and the potential for companies to become efficient, more visible, and more in control of their operations.

Can Acumatica replace SAP?

Technically, yes—but is it a good idea? For existing SAP Business One companies or would-be adopters planning for long-term growth and scalability, SAP Business One remains the preferred choice.

SAP Business One delivers more native capabilities, robust reporting, advanced analytics, and seamless cross-departmental integration—all without an overwhelming need for customization. While Acumatica can be appropriate for new ventures with limited needs, companies pursuing long-term development and operational excellence will get greater strength and future-proof capabilities from SAP Business One.

What are the best Acumatica alternatives for SMEs?

For SMEs looking for Acumatica alternatives, some of the best options include: