If you tell Microsoft that you are a Multinational looking to roll out an ERP across your group then the advice from Microsoft HQ would be to look no further than Dynamics AX. However there remains strong arguments for Dynamics NAV in many international situations.
Arguments for NAV above most ERP solutions will include:
Ease of Implementation – Whilst most projects will throw up the occasional problem Dynamics NAV would be seen in the industry as one of the most simple. Proof has been given with the rapid implementations that are currently taking place in less than a week for International clients.
Most People Like RTC – With the move away from the Native Database and the Classic Client there has been a great reaction to the newer User Interfaces. Ease of use for any solution is critical if an organisation is going to make the most from it.
Easy to Maintain – SQL is a much more powerful tool and we no longer hear of the system falling over due to its size, or this is certainly much more a complaint of the past.
Easy to Modify – Dynamics NAV’s key selling point is the ability to modify the system to fit any company. Dynamics NAV’s key problem is that it can be modified and at times it is the Business Process that should be altered.
Legal Localisations are available in most countries – Whilst Microsoft is beginning to scale back on country localisations and so pushing international implementations to work with local Partners, there remains in many countries the legal localisations.
Wide Installation Base – Dynamics NAV has grown significantly from its Northern European stronghold and there now are local Partners in most countries. Vendor availability and choice is rarely a problem.
NAV Add-Ons – Where there has been a weakness in the solution over the years these have been and continue to be plugged by either Microsoft with further development or 3rd parties have developed Add-Ons to work with NAV
Scalability – NAV can be a single user system or several hundred. So if you have a head office with multiple users with satellite offices then NAV can offer the flexibility you may require.
Cost – Most decision makers will have one eye on the functionality and one eye firmly on ROI. Dynamics NAV has many of the advantages of AX and SAP but nothing like the cost implications.
Microsoft – Microsoft must be considered a solid company to have behind you. They have committed to their Business Solutions for the next 10 years. There is little chance of Microsoft folding and leaving you high and dry.