Rob leads and manages the business software research and advisory team at ISG Software Research, focusing on the intersection of information technology and applications across the front- and back-office areas of enterprises. Rob leads the Office of Finance practice and the AI for Business efforts and is a book author and thought leader on integrated business planning (IBP). Prior to ISG and two decades at Ventana Research, he was an equity research analyst at several firms including Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Drexel Burnham, and a consultant with McKinsey and Company. Rob was an Institutional Investor All-American Team member and on the Wall Street Journal All-Star list. Rob earned his BA in Economics/Finance at Hampshire College, an MBA in Finance/Accounting at Columbia University and is a CFA charter holder.
narration area
Executive Summary
Buyers Guide Overview
ISG Research has conducted market research for over two decades across vertical industries, business applications, AI and IT. We have designed the ISG Buyers Guide™ to provide a balanced perspective of software providers and products that is rooted in an understanding of business and IT requirements. Utilization of our research methodology and decades of experience enables our Buyers Guide to be an effective method to assess and select software providers and products. The findings of this research provide a comprehensive approach to rating software providers and rank their ability to meet specific product and customer experience requirements.
ISG Research has designed the Buyers Guide to provide a balanced perspective of software providers and products that is rooted in an understanding of business and IT requirements.
The 2025 ISG Buyers Guides™ for Manufacturing ERP, covering Manufacturing ERP and Midsize Manufacturing ERP, are the distillation of continuous market and product research. It is an assessment of how well software providers’ offerings address enterprises’ requirements for manufacturing ERP software. The Value Index methodology is structured to support a request for information (RFI) for a request for proposal (RFP) process by incorporating all criteria needed to evaluate, select, utilize and maintain relationships with software providers. The ISG Buyers Guide evaluates customer experience and the product experience in its capability and platform.
The structure of the research reflects our understanding that the effective evaluation of software providers and products involves far more than just examining product features, potential revenue or customers generated from a provider’s marketing and sales efforts. It can ensure the best long-term relationship and value achieved from a resource and financial investment We believe it is important to take a comprehensive, research-based approach, since making the wrong choice of manufacturing ERP software can raise the total cost of ownership, lower the return on investment and hamper an enterprise’s ability to reach its potential. In addition, this approach can reduce the project’s development and deployment time and eliminate the risk of relying on opinions or historical biases.
ISG Research believes that an objective review of existing and potential new software providers and products is a critical strategy for the adoption and implementation of manufacturing ERP software. An enterprise’s review should include an analysis of both what is possible and what is relevant. We urge enterprises to do a thorough job of evaluating manufacturing ERP software and offer these Buyers Guides as both the results of our in-depth analysis of these providers and as an evaluation methodology.
How To Use This Buyers Guide
Evaluating Software Providers: The Process
We recommend using the Buyers Guide to assess and evaluate new or existing software providers for your enterprise. The market research can be used as an evaluation framework to assess existing approaches and software providers or establish a formal request for information from providers on products and customer experience and will shorten the cycle time when creating an RFI. The steps listed below provide a process that can facilitate best possible outcomes in the most efficient manner.
- Define the business case and goals.
Define the mission and business case for investment and the expected outcomes from your organizational and technological efforts.
- Specify the business and IT needs.
Defining the business and IT requirements helps identify what specific capabilities are required with respect to people, processes, information and technology.
- Assess the required roles and responsibilities.
Identify the individuals required for success at every level of the enterprise from executives to frontline workers and determine the needs of each.
- Outline the project’s critical path.
What needs to be done, in what order and who will do it? This outline should make clear the prior dependencies at each step of the project plan.
- Ascertain the technology approach.
Determine the business and technology approach that most closely aligns to your enterprise’s requirements.
- Establish software provider evaluation criteria.
Utilize the product experience: capability and platform with support for adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability, and the customer experience in TCO/ROI and Validation.
- Evaluate and select the software provider and products properly.
Apply a weighting the evaluation categories in the evaluation criteria to reflect your enterprise’s priorities to determine the short list of software providers and products.
- Establish the business initiative team to start the project.
Identify who will lead the project and the members of the team needed to plan and execute it with timelines, priorities and resources.
Using the ISG Buyers Guide and process provides enterprises a clear, structured approach to making smarter software and business investment decisions. It ensures alignment between strategy, people, processes and technology while reducing risk, saving time and improving outcomes. The ISG approach promotes data-driven decision-making and collaboration, helping choose the right software providers for maximum value and return on investment.
Manufacturing ERP
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have evolved from manufacturing tools into essential platforms that integrate finance, supply chain and operations across departments to improve accuracy, efficiency and productivity. Over three decades, ERP software has become the foundation for managing manufacturing enterprises, enabling real-time insight into production, inventory, procurement and financial performance. These systems continue to advance as automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing reshape how manufacturers manage complex global operations.
ISG Research defines manufacturing ERP systems as comprehensive software platforms designed to integrate and manage the core operational and financial processes of a manufacturing enterprise while recording transactions and financial consequences to support accounting, production and supply chain management. Manufacturing ERP consolidates data from finance, production, logistics, procurement, maintenance and quality into a unified database. This integration improves real-time visibility into resource utilization, costs and output while supporting traceability, compliance and planning accuracy.
Manufacturing ERP consolidates data from finance, production, logistics, procurement, maintenance and quality into a unified database.
ERP systems serve both product-based and service-oriented manufacturing enterprises of varying size and complexity. Large enterprises often deploy Tier I ERP platforms—highly configurable systems that scale across global operations and support complex, specialized manufacturing and financial processes. Midsize enterprises, generally those with 100 to 999 employees, use Tier II ERP systems that balance functionality and simplicity while providing the scalability needed for growth. These platforms combine configurability, performance and cost efficiency, offering preconfigured capabilities that reduce customization and accelerate deployment. Large manufacturers may also use Tier II systems within business units or regions where faster deployment or lower cost is the priority.
ERP has served as the operational and financial backbone of manufacturing organizations for more than three decades. Its origins trace to material requirements planning (MRP) systems developed in the 1960s to manage inventories and production schedules. MRP II expanded these capabilities to include quality assurance, maintenance and other production processes. By the 1990s, advances in relational databases, graphical interfaces and event-driven programming languages enabled ERP systems to unify manufacturing, logistics and financial data across the enterprise. The widespread adoption of ERP systems streamlined operations, reduced waste and improved decision-making through centralized information management.
ERP software’s role in manufacturing extends across discrete, process and mixed-mode environments, providing industry-specific functionality for production scheduling, materials planning, and quality assurance. In discrete manufacturing, ERP systems synchronize order management, engineering change control and component traceability. Process manufacturers use ERP software to monitor batch production, compliance and yield optimization. The integration of production and financial data provides accurate cost-of-goods calculations and enables more precise margin analysis. These capabilities also improve supply chain coordination by aligning procurement, logistics and demand planning functions, ensuring that manufacturers can adapt quickly to disruptions and changing customer requirements.
Cloud-based ERP platforms began to gain momentum in the 2000s but were initially adopted slowly due to implementation complexity and cost. As cloud architectures matured, enterprises began replacing on-premises systems with scalable, continuously updated cloud platforms. Cloud ERP offers manufacturers improved uptime, faster deployment and access to real-time data across multiple plants or geographies. We assert that by 2028, over 80% of ERP systems purchased by non-product companies will be deployed in the cloud to promote continuity, improve performance and lower costs.
Today’s ERP platforms emphasize usability, adaptability and extensibility. Cloud-native systems simplify upgrades, reduce maintenance overhead and support advanced manufacturing capabilities such as predictive maintenance, production scheduling and quality management. Foundational technologies such as multi-tenant architecture, software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) allow integration with complementary systems for product lifecycle management (PLM), manufacturing execution systems (MES) and analytics. These developments reduce ownership costs while enabling manufacturers to extend functionality to meet specific industry requirements.
Emerging technologies are further transforming manufacturing ERP systems. AI, generative AI (GenAI), natural language processing (NLP) and agentic technologies enhance automation and decision support across manufacturing operations. Early features such as anomaly detection, demand forecasting and machine learning-driven quality control improve efficiency and reduce downtime. AI-enabled ERP systems analyze production data in real time to optimize scheduling, inventory levels and resource allocation. Predictive maintenance algorithms use sensor data to anticipate equipment failures, reducing downtime and extending asset life. AI-enabled visual inspection systems detect quality defects in real time, lowering rework costs and improving overall product consistency. Machine learning models analyze production data to identify bottlenecks and optimize workflow sequencing. Together, these applications elevate ERP software from a transactional system to a predictive intelligence layer, giving manufacturers the tools to operate more efficiently and competitively. We assert that by 2028, almost all providers of ERP software will incorporate AI to reduce workloads, speed 
processes and reduce errors.
When modernizing ERP, manufacturers must assess how new systems align with operational strategy and business goals. Replacement projects require careful planning but deliver substantial benefits, including improved visibility, data accuracy and compliance. The shift from on-premises to cloud deployment continues, supported by improved configurability, industry templates and integration with MES and PLM systems. Terms such as “configuration” and “customization” define how ERP systems adapt to user needs without altering core functionality. A strategic approach to modernization—one that evaluates a provider’s AI direction, scalability and interoperability—ensures long-term success and operational resilience.
Modernization initiatives increasingly involve collaboration between ERP software providers, systems integrators and industrial automation partners to create unified digital ecosystems. These ecosystems link ERP software with industrial internet of things (IoT) platforms, robotics and analytics, enabling real-time monitoring of production efficiency and energy consumption. This convergence supports manufacturers in achieving sustainability goals, improving traceability and meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements alongside traditional operational metrics.
Although ERP systems unify multiple enterprise functions, this Buyers Guide focuses on capabilities most relevant to manufacturers. These include accounting and financial management, inventory, production, scheduling, quality, maintenance, order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, compliance and analytics.
The 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Manufacturing ERP evaluates software providers and products in key areas, including manufacturing operations, advanced planning and scheduling, demand planning, manufacturing execution, shop floor management, material flow optimization, multi-site operations, quality management, facilities and equipment maintenance, warranty management, environmental, smart manufacturing and distribution. This research assessed the following software providers: Acumatica, Aptean, Epicor, Exact, Forterro, IFS, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle, Oracle NetSuite, QAD, Ramco, Rockwell Automation, Sage X3, SAP S/4HANA and SAP Business One.
Key Takeaways
Manufacturing ERP platforms integrate financial, supply chain and production processes into unified systems that improve visibility, accuracy and operational coordination. These platforms have advanced alongside automation, AI and cloud architectures, becoming core to managing discrete, process and mixed-mode environments. Research highlights how ERP software supports traceability, resource planning and compliance while enabling real-time insight into production and inventory. As manufacturers modernize legacy systems, ERP software remains central to operational resilience and scalable digital transformation.
Software Provider Summary
The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Manufacturing ERP evaluates 16 software providers offering products that support production operations, planning, scheduling, quality, maintenance, distribution and related financial processes. The research ranked the top three overall leaders as SAP S/4HANA, Oracle and IFS. Providers were classified using weighted performance in Product Experience and Customer Experience for ISG quadrant placement. IFS, Infor, Microsoft and Oracle were rated as Exemplary with Acumatica and Epicor rated as Innovative. Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One were rated as Assurance; and Aptean, Exact, Forterro, Rockwell Automation and Ramco were rated as Merit.
Product Experience Insights
Product Experience, representing 80% of the evaluation, focuses on Capability (35%) and Platform (45%) which includes adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. SAP S/4HANA, Oracle and IFS achieved the highest performance as Leaders in this category, supported by breadth and depth across manufacturing ERP capabilities and robust platform architecture that enables adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. Leaders demonstrated enterprise-grade platform capabilities across varied roles and contexts.
Customer Experience Value
Customer Experience, representing 20% of the evaluation, focuses on validation and TCO/ROI. Oracle, SAP S/4HANA and Oracle NetSuite were the Leaders in this category showing strong customer advocacy and clear investment in success outcomes. Providers with lower performance often lacked publicly available customer validation or failed to demonstrate structured ROI measurement and proactive lifecycle engagement.
Strategic Recommendations
Manufacturers should approach ERP software modernization as a strategic initiative that strengthens operational visibility, inventory control and production performance. Buyers should prioritize platforms that combine robust configurability, cloud-native extensibility and embedded intelligence to support advanced planning, quality and maintenance processes. Organizations benefit from selecting systems that integrate cleanly with MES, PLM and supply chain applications while reducing customization risk. A structured roadmap helps manufacturers align ERP investments with operational efficiency, compliance requirements and long-term digital transformation goals.
The Findings – Manufacturing ERP
The software providers and products evaluated in the research provide product and customer experiences, but not everything offered is equally valuable to every enterprise or is needed to operate in business processes and use cases. Moreover, the existence of too many capabilities in products may be a negative factor for an enterprise if it introduces unnecessary complexity. Nonetheless, you may decide that a more comprehensive set of capabilities in the product is important, and where they match your enterprise’s requirements.
An effective customer relationship with a software provider is vital to the success of any investment. The overall customer experience and the full lifecycle of engagement play a key role in ensuring satisfaction and long-term success. Providers with dedicated customer leadership, such as chief customer officers, tend to invest more deeply in these relationships and prioritize customer outcomes to TCO and ROI expectations. It is equally important that this commitment to customer success is clearly demonstrated throughout the provider’s website, buying process and customer journey.
Overall Scoring of Software Providers Across Categories
The research finds SAP S/4HANA atop the list, followed by Oracle and IFS. Providers that place in the top three of a category earn the designation of Leader. Oracle and SAP S/4HANA has done so in three categories; IFS in two; and Oracle NetSuite in one category.
The overall representation of the research below places the rating of the Product Experience and Customer Experience on the x and y axes, respectively, to provide a visual representation and classification of the software providers. Those providers whose Product Experience have above median weighted performance to the axis in aggregate of the two product categories place farther to the right, while the performance and weighting for the Customer Experience category determines placement on the vertical axis. In short, software providers that place closer to the upper-right on this chart performed better than those closer to the lower-left.
The research categorizes and rates software providers into one of four categories: Assurance, Exemplary, Merit or Innovative. This representation of software providers’ weighted performance in meeting the requirements in product and customer experience.
Exemplary: This rating (upper right) represents those that performed above median in Product and Customer Experience requirements. The providers rated Exemplary are: IFS, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle, Sage X3 and SAP S4HANA.
Innovative: This rating (lower right) represents those that performed above median in Product Experience but not in Customer Experience. The providers rated Innovative are: Acumatica and Epicor.
Assurance: This rating (upper left) represents those that performed above median in Customer Experience but not in Product Experience. The providers rated Assurance are: Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One.
Merit: This rating (lower left) represents those that did not surpass the median in Customer or Product Experience. The providers rated Merit are: Aptean, Exact, Forterro, Ramco and Rockwell Automation.
We advise enterprises to use this research as a supplement to their own evaluations, recognizing that ratings or rankings do not solely represent the value of a provider nor indicate universal suitability of a set of products.
Product Experience
The process of researching products to address an enterprise’s needs should be comprehensive and evaluate specific capabilities and the underlying platform to the product experience. Our evaluation of the Product Experience examines the lifecycle of onboarding, configuration, operations, usage and maintenance. Too often, software providers are not evaluated for the entirety of the product; instead, they are evaluated on market execution and vision of the future.
The research results in Product Experience are ranked at 80%, or four-fifths, using the underlying weighted performance. Importance was placed on the categories as follows: Capability (35%) and Platform (45%). SAP S/4HANA, Oracle and IFS were designated Product Experience Leaders.
Customer Experience
The importance of a customer relationship with a software provider is essential to the actual success of the products and technology. The evaluation of the Customer Experience and the entire lifecycle an enterprise has with its software provider is critical for ensuring satisfaction in working with that provider. The ISG Buyers Guide examines a software provider’s customer commitment, viability, customer success, sales and onboarding, product roadmap and services with partners and support. The customer experience category also investigates the TCO/ROI and how well a software provider demonstrates the product’s overall value, cost and benefits, including the tools and resources to evaluate these factors.
The research results in Customer Experience are ranked at 20%, or one-fifth of the 100% index, and represent the underlying provider validation and TCO/ROI requirements as they relate to the framework of commitment and value to the software provider-customer relationship.
The software providers that evaluated the highest in the Customer Experience category are Oracle, SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite and IFS. These category leaders best communicate commitment and dedication to customer needs.
Software providers that did not perform well in this category were unable to provide or make sufficient information readily available to demonstrate success or articulate their commitment to customer experience. The use of a software provider requires continuous investment, so a holistic evaluation must include examination of how they support their customer experience.
Software Provider Inclusion – Manufacturing ERP
For inclusion in the 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Manufacturing ERP, a software provider must be in good standing financially and ethically, have at least $40 million in annual or projected revenue verified using independent sources, sell products and provide support on at least two continents, and have at least 40 customers. The principal source of the relevant business unit’s revenue must be software-related, and there must have been at least one major software release in the past 12 months. We include providers that support midsize and larger enterprises in manufacturing or product-related industries. The software must include the following for manufacturing and product-related functions: Advanced Planning and Scheduling, Demand Planning, Manufacturing Execution, Shop Floor Management, Materiel Flow Optimization, Multi-site Operations, Quality Management, Supplier and Partner Collaboration, Facilities and Equipment Maintenance, Warranty Management, Environmental Data and Metrics tracking, Smart Manufacturing and Distribution.
The research is designed to be independent of the specifics of software provider packaging and pricing. To represent the real-world environment in which businesses operate, we include providers that offer suites or packages of products that may include relevant individual modules or applications. If a software provider is actively marketing, selling and developing a product for the general market and it is reflected on the provider’s website that the product is within the scope of the research, that provider is automatically evaluated for inclusion.
All software providers that offer relevant products and meet the inclusion requirements were invited to participate in the evaluation process at no cost to them.
Software providers that meet our inclusion criteria but did not completely participate in our Buyers Guide were assessed solely on publicly available information. As this could have a significant impact on classification and ratings, we recommend additional scrutiny when evaluating those providers.
Products Evaluated
| Provider | Product Names | Version | Release Month/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acumatica | Acumatica Cloud ERP | 2025 R1 | March 2025 |
| Aptean | Aptean ERP | 8.04 July 2025 HF1 | July 2025 |
| Epicor | Epicor Kinetic | 2025.1 | May 2025 |
| Exact | Exact Globe+ | Product Update 506 | August 2025 |
| Forterro | abas ERP |
2024.Q3.1 (Service Pack) |
June 2025 |
| IFS | IFS Cloud | IFS Cloud 25R1 | April 2025 |
| Infor | Infor CloudSuite | N/A | |
| Microsoft | Dynamics 365 Business Central | 26.4 | August 2025 |
| NetSuite | NetSuite ERP | 2025.2 | July 2025 |
| Oracle | Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning | 25C | July 2025 |
| QAD | QAD Adaptive ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Ramco | Ramco ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Rockwell Automation | Plex Enterprise Resource Planning | N/A | August 2025 |
| SAP Business One | SAP Business One | 10.0 SP 2505 | May 2025 |
| Sage X3 | Sage X3 | 2025 R1 (12.0.37) | June 2025 |
| SAP S/4HANA | SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition | 2508 | August 2025 |
Midsize Manufacturing ERP
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have evolved from manufacturing tools into essential platforms that unify finance, production and operations to improve efficiency and visibility. ISG Research defines manufacturing ERP systems as comprehensive software platforms that manage the operational and financial processes of a manufacturing enterprise while recording transactions and financial consequences to support accounting, production and supply chain management. ERP consolidates data from finance, logistics, procurement, maintenance and quality into a single database, providing greater control across operations.
Midsize enterprises use Tier II ERP systems that balance functionality and simplicity.
Midsize enterprises—typically those with 100 to 999 employees—use Tier II ERP systems that balance functionality and simplicity to meet operational and financial needs. These platforms combine configurability, cost efficiency and performance, making them easier to implement and maintain than Tier I systems while still providing the scalability midsize companies need for growth.
Tier II manufacturing ERP systems include preconfigured, industry-specific capabilities that shorten implementation and reduce customization, offering cost-effective control and better visibility into operations. Their design emphasizes usability, analytics and rapid deployment while supporting production, quality and supply chain management. Many large manufacturers also use Tier II systems in divisions or regions where faster deployment or lower cost is a priority.
Manufacturing ERP software continues to evolve through cloud computing. Once adopted slowly, cloud-based ERP systems are now the preferred model for midsize manufacturers replacing legacy systems to improve performance and scalability. We assert that by 2028, over 80% of ERP systems purchased by non-product companies will be deployed in the cloud to promote continuity, improve performance and lower costs. Cloud ERP software reduces infrastructure demands, shortens upgrade cycles and provides a foundation for innovation.
Today’s manufacturing ERP systems benefit from emerging technologies. Software providers continuously embed AI and generative AI that automate planning tasks, enhance accuracy and accelerate decision-making to streamline production workflows and improve operational insight.
The 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Midsize Manufacturing ERP evaluates software providers and products in key areas, including manufacturing operations, advanced planning and scheduling, demand planning, manufacturing execution, shop floor management, quality, maintenance and distribution. This research assessed the following software providers: Acumatica, Aptean, Epicor, Exact, Forterro, IFS, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle NetSuite, QAD, Ramco, Rockwell Automation, Sage X3 and SAP Business One.
Key Takeaways
Midsize manufacturing ERP platforms integrate financial, production and supply chain processes to improve operational visibility, efficiency and control. These systems balance functional breadth with configurability and cost efficiency, supporting modernization without Tier I complexity. Cloud architectures, embedded analytics and industry templates accelerate deployment and strengthen governance, while AI-driven automation expands ERP software’s role in predictive, data-driven operations.
Software Provider Summary
The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Midsize Manufacturing ERP evaluates 14 software providers offering products supporting production operations, planning, scheduling, quality, maintenance and distribution. The research ranked the top three overall leaders as IFS, Sage X3 and Infor. Providers were classified using weighted performance in Product Experience and Customer Experience for ISG quadrant placement. IFS, Infor, Microsoft and Sage X3 were rated as Exemplary, with Acumatica, Epicor and Forterro rated as Innovative. Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One were rated as Assurance, and Aptean, Exact, Ramco and Rockwell Automation were rated as Merit.
Product Experience Insights
Product Experience, representing 80% of the evaluation, focuses on Capability (35%) and Platform (45%) which includes adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. IFS, Sage X3 and Infor achieved the highest performance as Leaders in this category, supported by breadth and depth across midsize manufacturing ERP capabilities and robust platform architecture that enables adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. Leaders demonstrated enterprise-grade platform capabilities across varied roles and contexts.
Customer Experience Value
Customer Experience, representing 20% of the evaluation, focuses on validation and TCO/ROI. Oracle NetSuite, IFS and Sage X3 were the Leaders in this category showing strong customer advocacy and clear investment in success outcomes. Providers with lower performance often lacked publicly available customer validation or failed to demonstrate structured ROI measurement and proactive lifecycle engagement.
Strategic Recommendations
Midsize manufacturers should evaluate ERP software modernization as a strategic investment that strengthens production visibility, quality control and operational coordination. Buyers should prioritize platforms that combine strong configurability, cloud-native extensibility and embedded intelligence to streamline planning, scheduling and shop-floor execution. Organizations benefit from selecting systems that integrate cleanly with MES, PLM and supply-chain applications, while reducing customization risk. A structured roadmap enables midsize manufacturers to align ERP system decisions with operational efficiency, compliance requirements and long-term growth objectives.
The Findings – Midsize Manufacturing ERP
The software providers and products evaluated in the research provide product and customer experiences, but not everything offered is equally valuable to every enterprise or is needed to operate in business processes and use cases. Moreover, the existence of too many capabilities in products may be a negative factor for an enterprise if it introduces unnecessary complexity. Nonetheless, you may decide that a more comprehensive set of capabilities in the product is important, and where they match your enterprise’s requirements.
An effective customer relationship with a software provider is vital to the success of any investment. The overall customer experience and the full lifecycle of engagement play a key role in ensuring satisfaction and long-term success. Providers with dedicated customer leadership, such as chief customer officers, tend to invest more deeply in these relationships and prioritize customer outcomes to TCO and ROI expectations. It is equally important that this commitment to customer success is clearly demonstrated throughout the provider’s website, buying process and customer journey.
Overall Scoring of Software Providers Across Categories
The research finds IFS atop the list, followed by Sage X3 and Infor. Providers that place in the top three of a category earn the designation of Leader. IFS has done so in five categories, Infor and Sage X3 in four and Microsoft, Oracle NetSuite and SAP Business One in one category.
The overall representation of the research below places the rating of the Product Experience and Customer Experience on the x and y axes, respectively, to provide a visual representation and classification of the software providers. Those providers whose Product Experience have above median weighted performance to the axis in aggregate of the two product categories place farther to the right, while the performance and weighting for the Customer Experience category determines placement on the vertical axis. In short, software providers that place closer to the upper-right on this chart performed better than those closer to the lower-left.
The research categorizes and rates software providers into one of four categories: Assurance, Exemplary, Merit or Innovative. This representation of software providers’ weighted performance in meeting the requirements in product and customer experience.
Exemplary: This rating (upper right) represents those that performed above median in Product and Customer Experience requirements. The providers rated Exemplary are: IFS, Infor, Microsoft and Sage X3.
Innovative: This rating (lower right) represents those that performed above median in Product Experience but not in Customer Experience. The providers rated Innovative are: Acumatica, Epicor and Forterro.
Assurance: This rating (upper left) represents those that performed above median in Customer Experience but not in Product Experience. The providers rated Assurance are: Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One.
Merit: This rating (lower left) represents those that did not surpass the median in Customer or Product Experience. The providers rated Merit are: Aptean, Exact, Ramco and Rockwell Automation.
We advise enterprises to use this research as a supplement to their own evaluations, recognizing that ratings or rankings do not solely represent the value of a provider nor indicate universal suitability of a set of products.
Product Experience
The process of researching products to address an enterprise’s needs should be comprehensive and evaluate specific capabilities and the underlying platform to the product experience. Our evaluation of the Product Experience examines the lifecycle of onboarding, configuration, operations, usage and maintenance. Too often, software providers are not evaluated for the entirety of the product; instead, they are evaluated on market execution and vision of the future.
The research results in Product Experience are ranked at 80%, or four-fifths, using the underlying weighted performance. Importance was placed on the categories as follows: Capability (35%) and Platform (45%). IFS, Sage X3 and Infor were designated Product Experience Leaders.
Customer Experience
The importance of a customer relationship with a software provider is essential to the actual success of the products and technology. The evaluation of the Customer Experience and the entire lifecycle an enterprise has with its software provider is critical for ensuring satisfaction in working with that provider. The ISG Buyers Guide examines a software provider’s customer commitment, viability, customer success, sales and onboarding, product roadmap and services with partners and support. The customer experience category also investigates the TCO/ROI and how well a software provider demonstrates the product’s overall value, cost and benefits, including the tools and resources to evaluate these factors.
The research results in Customer Experience are ranked at 20%, or one-fifth of the 100% index, and represent the underlying provider validation and TCO/ROI requirements as they relate to the framework of commitment and value to the software provider-customer relationship.
The software providers that evaluated the highest in the Customer Experience category are Oracle NetSuite, IFS and Sage X3. These category leaders best communicate commitment and dedication to customer needs.
Software providers that did not perform well in this category were unable to provide or make sufficient information readily available to demonstrate success or articulate their commitment to customer experience. The use of a software provider requires continuous investment, so a holistic evaluation must include examination of how they support their customer experience.
Software Provider Inclusion – Midsize Manufacturing ERP
For inclusion in the 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Midsize Manufacturing ERP, a software provider must be in good standing financially and ethically, have at least $40 million in annual or projected revenue verified using independent sources, sell products and provide support on at least two continents, and have at least 50 customers. The principal source of the relevant business unit’s revenue must be software-related, and there must have been at least one major software release in the past 12 months.
The research is designed to be independent of the specifics of software provider packaging and pricing. To represent the real-world environment in which businesses operate, we include providers that offer suites or packages of products that may include relevant individual modules or applications. If a software provider is actively marketing, selling and developing a product for the general market and it is reflected on the provider’s website that the product is within the scope of the research, that provider is automatically evaluated for inclusion.
All software providers that offer relevant products and meet the inclusion requirements were invited to participate in the evaluation process at no cost to them.
Software providers that meet our inclusion criteria but did not completely participate in our Buyers Guide were assessed solely on publicly available information. As this could have a significant impact on classification and ratings, we recommend additional scrutiny when evaluating those providers.
Products Evaluated
| Provider | Product Names | Version | Release Month/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acumatica | Acumatica Cloud ERP | 2025 R1 | March 2025 |
| Aptean | Aptean ERP | 8.04 July 2025 HF1 | July 2025 |
| Epicor | Epicor Kinetic | 2025.1 | May 2025 |
| Exact | Exact Globe+ | Product Update 506 | August 2025 |
| Forterro | abas ERP |
2024.Q3.1 (Service Pack) |
June 2025 |
| IFS | IFS Cloud | IFS Cloud 25R1 | April 2025 |
| Infor | Infor CloudSuite | N/A | April 2025 |
| Microsoft | Dynamics 365 Finance | 10.0.44 | June 2025 |
| Oracle NetSuite | NetSuite ERP | 2025.2 | July 2025 |
| QAD | QAD Adaptive ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Ramco | Ramco ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Rockwell Automation | Plex Enterprise Resource Planning | N/A | August 2025 |
| Sage X3 | Sage X3 | 2025 R1 (12.0.37) | June 2025 |
| SAP Business One | SAP Business One | 10.0 SP 2505 | May 2025 |
About ISG Software Research and Advisory
ISG Software Research and Advisory provides market research and coverage of the technology industry, informing enterprises, software and service providers, and investment firms. The ISG Buyers Guides provide insight on software categories and providers that can be used in the RFI/RFP process to assess, evaluate and select software providers.
About ISG Research
ISG Research provides subscription research, advisory, consulting and executive event services focused on market trends and disruptive technologies. ISG Research delivers guidance that helps businesses accelerate growth and create more value. For further information about ISG Research subscriptions, please visit research.isg-one.com.
About ISG
ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services sourcing that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.
Executive Summary
Buyers Guide Overview
ISG Research has conducted market research for over two decades across vertical industries, business applications, AI and IT. We have designed the ISG Buyers Guide™ to provide a balanced perspective of software providers and products that is rooted in an understanding of business and IT requirements. Utilization of our research methodology and decades of experience enables our Buyers Guide to be an effective method to assess and select software providers and products. The findings of this research provide a comprehensive approach to rating software providers and rank their ability to meet specific product and customer experience requirements.
ISG Research has designed the Buyers Guide to provide a balanced perspective of software providers and products that is rooted in an understanding of business and IT requirements.
The 2025 ISG Buyers Guides™ for Manufacturing ERP, covering Manufacturing ERP and Midsize Manufacturing ERP, are the distillation of continuous market and product research. It is an assessment of how well software providers’ offerings address enterprises’ requirements for manufacturing ERP software. The Value Index methodology is structured to support a request for information (RFI) for a request for proposal (RFP) process by incorporating all criteria needed to evaluate, select, utilize and maintain relationships with software providers. The ISG Buyers Guide evaluates customer experience and the product experience in its capability and platform.
The structure of the research reflects our understanding that the effective evaluation of software providers and products involves far more than just examining product features, potential revenue or customers generated from a provider’s marketing and sales efforts. It can ensure the best long-term relationship and value achieved from a resource and financial investment We believe it is important to take a comprehensive, research-based approach, since making the wrong choice of manufacturing ERP software can raise the total cost of ownership, lower the return on investment and hamper an enterprise’s ability to reach its potential. In addition, this approach can reduce the project’s development and deployment time and eliminate the risk of relying on opinions or historical biases.
ISG Research believes that an objective review of existing and potential new software providers and products is a critical strategy for the adoption and implementation of manufacturing ERP software. An enterprise’s review should include an analysis of both what is possible and what is relevant. We urge enterprises to do a thorough job of evaluating manufacturing ERP software and offer these Buyers Guides as both the results of our in-depth analysis of these providers and as an evaluation methodology.
How To Use This Buyers Guide
Evaluating Software Providers: The Process
We recommend using the Buyers Guide to assess and evaluate new or existing software providers for your enterprise. The market research can be used as an evaluation framework to assess existing approaches and software providers or establish a formal request for information from providers on products and customer experience and will shorten the cycle time when creating an RFI. The steps listed below provide a process that can facilitate best possible outcomes in the most efficient manner.
- Define the business case and goals.
Define the mission and business case for investment and the expected outcomes from your organizational and technological efforts.
- Specify the business and IT needs.
Defining the business and IT requirements helps identify what specific capabilities are required with respect to people, processes, information and technology.
- Assess the required roles and responsibilities.
Identify the individuals required for success at every level of the enterprise from executives to frontline workers and determine the needs of each.
- Outline the project’s critical path.
What needs to be done, in what order and who will do it? This outline should make clear the prior dependencies at each step of the project plan.
- Ascertain the technology approach.
Determine the business and technology approach that most closely aligns to your enterprise’s requirements.
- Establish software provider evaluation criteria.
Utilize the product experience: capability and platform with support for adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability, and the customer experience in TCO/ROI and Validation.
- Evaluate and select the software provider and products properly.
Apply a weighting the evaluation categories in the evaluation criteria to reflect your enterprise’s priorities to determine the short list of software providers and products.
- Establish the business initiative team to start the project.
Identify who will lead the project and the members of the team needed to plan and execute it with timelines, priorities and resources.
Using the ISG Buyers Guide and process provides enterprises a clear, structured approach to making smarter software and business investment decisions. It ensures alignment between strategy, people, processes and technology while reducing risk, saving time and improving outcomes. The ISG approach promotes data-driven decision-making and collaboration, helping choose the right software providers for maximum value and return on investment.
Manufacturing ERP
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have evolved from manufacturing tools into essential platforms that integrate finance, supply chain and operations across departments to improve accuracy, efficiency and productivity. Over three decades, ERP software has become the foundation for managing manufacturing enterprises, enabling real-time insight into production, inventory, procurement and financial performance. These systems continue to advance as automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing reshape how manufacturers manage complex global operations.
ISG Research defines manufacturing ERP systems as comprehensive software platforms designed to integrate and manage the core operational and financial processes of a manufacturing enterprise while recording transactions and financial consequences to support accounting, production and supply chain management. Manufacturing ERP consolidates data from finance, production, logistics, procurement, maintenance and quality into a unified database. This integration improves real-time visibility into resource utilization, costs and output while supporting traceability, compliance and planning accuracy.
Manufacturing ERP consolidates data from finance, production, logistics, procurement, maintenance and quality into a unified database.
ERP systems serve both product-based and service-oriented manufacturing enterprises of varying size and complexity. Large enterprises often deploy Tier I ERP platforms—highly configurable systems that scale across global operations and support complex, specialized manufacturing and financial processes. Midsize enterprises, generally those with 100 to 999 employees, use Tier II ERP systems that balance functionality and simplicity while providing the scalability needed for growth. These platforms combine configurability, performance and cost efficiency, offering preconfigured capabilities that reduce customization and accelerate deployment. Large manufacturers may also use Tier II systems within business units or regions where faster deployment or lower cost is the priority.
ERP has served as the operational and financial backbone of manufacturing organizations for more than three decades. Its origins trace to material requirements planning (MRP) systems developed in the 1960s to manage inventories and production schedules. MRP II expanded these capabilities to include quality assurance, maintenance and other production processes. By the 1990s, advances in relational databases, graphical interfaces and event-driven programming languages enabled ERP systems to unify manufacturing, logistics and financial data across the enterprise. The widespread adoption of ERP systems streamlined operations, reduced waste and improved decision-making through centralized information management.
ERP software’s role in manufacturing extends across discrete, process and mixed-mode environments, providing industry-specific functionality for production scheduling, materials planning, and quality assurance. In discrete manufacturing, ERP systems synchronize order management, engineering change control and component traceability. Process manufacturers use ERP software to monitor batch production, compliance and yield optimization. The integration of production and financial data provides accurate cost-of-goods calculations and enables more precise margin analysis. These capabilities also improve supply chain coordination by aligning procurement, logistics and demand planning functions, ensuring that manufacturers can adapt quickly to disruptions and changing customer requirements.
Cloud-based ERP platforms began to gain momentum in the 2000s but were initially adopted slowly due to implementation complexity and cost. As cloud architectures matured, enterprises began replacing on-premises systems with scalable, continuously updated cloud platforms. Cloud ERP offers manufacturers improved uptime, faster deployment and access to real-time data across multiple plants or geographies. We assert that by 2028, over 80% of ERP systems purchased by non-product companies will be deployed in the cloud to promote continuity, improve performance and lower costs.
Today’s ERP platforms emphasize usability, adaptability and extensibility. Cloud-native systems simplify upgrades, reduce maintenance overhead and support advanced manufacturing capabilities such as predictive maintenance, production scheduling and quality management. Foundational technologies such as multi-tenant architecture, software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) allow integration with complementary systems for product lifecycle management (PLM), manufacturing execution systems (MES) and analytics. These developments reduce ownership costs while enabling manufacturers to extend functionality to meet specific industry requirements.
Emerging technologies are further transforming manufacturing ERP systems. AI, generative AI (GenAI), natural language processing (NLP) and agentic technologies enhance automation and decision support across manufacturing operations. Early features such as anomaly detection, demand forecasting and machine learning-driven quality control improve efficiency and reduce downtime. AI-enabled ERP systems analyze production data in real time to optimize scheduling, inventory levels and resource allocation. Predictive maintenance algorithms use sensor data to anticipate equipment failures, reducing downtime and extending asset life. AI-enabled visual inspection systems detect quality defects in real time, lowering rework costs and improving overall product consistency. Machine learning models analyze production data to identify bottlenecks and optimize workflow sequencing. Together, these applications elevate ERP software from a transactional system to a predictive intelligence layer, giving manufacturers the tools to operate more efficiently and competitively. We assert that by 2028, almost all providers of ERP software will incorporate AI to reduce workloads, speed processes and reduce errors.
When modernizing ERP, manufacturers must assess how new systems align with operational strategy and business goals. Replacement projects require careful planning but deliver substantial benefits, including improved visibility, data accuracy and compliance. The shift from on-premises to cloud deployment continues, supported by improved configurability, industry templates and integration with MES and PLM systems. Terms such as “configuration” and “customization” define how ERP systems adapt to user needs without altering core functionality. A strategic approach to modernization—one that evaluates a provider’s AI direction, scalability and interoperability—ensures long-term success and operational resilience.
Modernization initiatives increasingly involve collaboration between ERP software providers, systems integrators and industrial automation partners to create unified digital ecosystems. These ecosystems link ERP software with industrial internet of things (IoT) platforms, robotics and analytics, enabling real-time monitoring of production efficiency and energy consumption. This convergence supports manufacturers in achieving sustainability goals, improving traceability and meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements alongside traditional operational metrics.
Although ERP systems unify multiple enterprise functions, this Buyers Guide focuses on capabilities most relevant to manufacturers. These include accounting and financial management, inventory, production, scheduling, quality, maintenance, order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, compliance and analytics.
The 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Manufacturing ERP evaluates software providers and products in key areas, including manufacturing operations, advanced planning and scheduling, demand planning, manufacturing execution, shop floor management, material flow optimization, multi-site operations, quality management, facilities and equipment maintenance, warranty management, environmental, smart manufacturing and distribution. This research assessed the following software providers: Acumatica, Aptean, Epicor, Exact, Forterro, IFS, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle, Oracle NetSuite, QAD, Ramco, Rockwell Automation, Sage X3, SAP S/4HANA and SAP Business One.
Key Takeaways
Manufacturing ERP platforms integrate financial, supply chain and production processes into unified systems that improve visibility, accuracy and operational coordination. These platforms have advanced alongside automation, AI and cloud architectures, becoming core to managing discrete, process and mixed-mode environments. Research highlights how ERP software supports traceability, resource planning and compliance while enabling real-time insight into production and inventory. As manufacturers modernize legacy systems, ERP software remains central to operational resilience and scalable digital transformation.
Software Provider Summary
The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Manufacturing ERP evaluates 16 software providers offering products that support production operations, planning, scheduling, quality, maintenance, distribution and related financial processes. The research ranked the top three overall leaders as SAP S/4HANA, Oracle and IFS. Providers were classified using weighted performance in Product Experience and Customer Experience for ISG quadrant placement. IFS, Infor, Microsoft and Oracle were rated as Exemplary with Acumatica and Epicor rated as Innovative. Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One were rated as Assurance; and Aptean, Exact, Forterro, Rockwell Automation and Ramco were rated as Merit.
Product Experience Insights
Product Experience, representing 80% of the evaluation, focuses on Capability (35%) and Platform (45%) which includes adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. SAP S/4HANA, Oracle and IFS achieved the highest performance as Leaders in this category, supported by breadth and depth across manufacturing ERP capabilities and robust platform architecture that enables adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. Leaders demonstrated enterprise-grade platform capabilities across varied roles and contexts.
Customer Experience Value
Customer Experience, representing 20% of the evaluation, focuses on validation and TCO/ROI. Oracle, SAP S/4HANA and Oracle NetSuite were the Leaders in this category showing strong customer advocacy and clear investment in success outcomes. Providers with lower performance often lacked publicly available customer validation or failed to demonstrate structured ROI measurement and proactive lifecycle engagement.
Strategic Recommendations
Manufacturers should approach ERP software modernization as a strategic initiative that strengthens operational visibility, inventory control and production performance. Buyers should prioritize platforms that combine robust configurability, cloud-native extensibility and embedded intelligence to support advanced planning, quality and maintenance processes. Organizations benefit from selecting systems that integrate cleanly with MES, PLM and supply chain applications while reducing customization risk. A structured roadmap helps manufacturers align ERP investments with operational efficiency, compliance requirements and long-term digital transformation goals.
The Findings – Manufacturing ERP
The software providers and products evaluated in the research provide product and customer experiences, but not everything offered is equally valuable to every enterprise or is needed to operate in business processes and use cases. Moreover, the existence of too many capabilities in products may be a negative factor for an enterprise if it introduces unnecessary complexity. Nonetheless, you may decide that a more comprehensive set of capabilities in the product is important, and where they match your enterprise’s requirements.
An effective customer relationship with a software provider is vital to the success of any investment. The overall customer experience and the full lifecycle of engagement play a key role in ensuring satisfaction and long-term success. Providers with dedicated customer leadership, such as chief customer officers, tend to invest more deeply in these relationships and prioritize customer outcomes to TCO and ROI expectations. It is equally important that this commitment to customer success is clearly demonstrated throughout the provider’s website, buying process and customer journey.
Overall Scoring of Software Providers Across Categories
The research finds SAP S/4HANA atop the list, followed by Oracle and IFS. Providers that place in the top three of a category earn the designation of Leader. Oracle and SAP S/4HANA has done so in three categories; IFS in two; and Oracle NetSuite in one category.
The overall representation of the research below places the rating of the Product Experience and Customer Experience on the x and y axes, respectively, to provide a visual representation and classification of the software providers. Those providers whose Product Experience have above median weighted performance to the axis in aggregate of the two product categories place farther to the right, while the performance and weighting for the Customer Experience category determines placement on the vertical axis. In short, software providers that place closer to the upper-right on this chart performed better than those closer to the lower-left.
The research categorizes and rates software providers into one of four categories: Assurance, Exemplary, Merit or Innovative. This representation of software providers’ weighted performance in meeting the requirements in product and customer experience.
Exemplary: This rating (upper right) represents those that performed above median in Product and Customer Experience requirements. The providers rated Exemplary are: IFS, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle, Sage X3 and SAP S4HANA.
Innovative: This rating (lower right) represents those that performed above median in Product Experience but not in Customer Experience. The providers rated Innovative are: Acumatica and Epicor.
Assurance: This rating (upper left) represents those that performed above median in Customer Experience but not in Product Experience. The providers rated Assurance are: Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One.
Merit: This rating (lower left) represents those that did not surpass the median in Customer or Product Experience. The providers rated Merit are: Aptean, Exact, Forterro, Ramco and Rockwell Automation.
We advise enterprises to use this research as a supplement to their own evaluations, recognizing that ratings or rankings do not solely represent the value of a provider nor indicate universal suitability of a set of products.
Product Experience
The process of researching products to address an enterprise’s needs should be comprehensive and evaluate specific capabilities and the underlying platform to the product experience. Our evaluation of the Product Experience examines the lifecycle of onboarding, configuration, operations, usage and maintenance. Too often, software providers are not evaluated for the entirety of the product; instead, they are evaluated on market execution and vision of the future.
The research results in Product Experience are ranked at 80%, or four-fifths, using the underlying weighted performance. Importance was placed on the categories as follows: Capability (35%) and Platform (45%). SAP S/4HANA, Oracle and IFS were designated Product Experience Leaders.
Customer Experience
The importance of a customer relationship with a software provider is essential to the actual success of the products and technology. The evaluation of the Customer Experience and the entire lifecycle an enterprise has with its software provider is critical for ensuring satisfaction in working with that provider. The ISG Buyers Guide examines a software provider’s customer commitment, viability, customer success, sales and onboarding, product roadmap and services with partners and support. The customer experience category also investigates the TCO/ROI and how well a software provider demonstrates the product’s overall value, cost and benefits, including the tools and resources to evaluate these factors.
The research results in Customer Experience are ranked at 20%, or one-fifth of the 100% index, and represent the underlying provider validation and TCO/ROI requirements as they relate to the framework of commitment and value to the software provider-customer relationship.
The software providers that evaluated the highest in the Customer Experience category are Oracle, SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite and IFS. These category leaders best communicate commitment and dedication to customer needs.
Software providers that did not perform well in this category were unable to provide or make sufficient information readily available to demonstrate success or articulate their commitment to customer experience. The use of a software provider requires continuous investment, so a holistic evaluation must include examination of how they support their customer experience.
Software Provider Inclusion – Manufacturing ERP
For inclusion in the 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Manufacturing ERP, a software provider must be in good standing financially and ethically, have at least $40 million in annual or projected revenue verified using independent sources, sell products and provide support on at least two continents, and have at least 40 customers. The principal source of the relevant business unit’s revenue must be software-related, and there must have been at least one major software release in the past 12 months. We include providers that support midsize and larger enterprises in manufacturing or product-related industries. The software must include the following for manufacturing and product-related functions: Advanced Planning and Scheduling, Demand Planning, Manufacturing Execution, Shop Floor Management, Materiel Flow Optimization, Multi-site Operations, Quality Management, Supplier and Partner Collaboration, Facilities and Equipment Maintenance, Warranty Management, Environmental Data and Metrics tracking, Smart Manufacturing and Distribution.
The research is designed to be independent of the specifics of software provider packaging and pricing. To represent the real-world environment in which businesses operate, we include providers that offer suites or packages of products that may include relevant individual modules or applications. If a software provider is actively marketing, selling and developing a product for the general market and it is reflected on the provider’s website that the product is within the scope of the research, that provider is automatically evaluated for inclusion.
All software providers that offer relevant products and meet the inclusion requirements were invited to participate in the evaluation process at no cost to them.
Software providers that meet our inclusion criteria but did not completely participate in our Buyers Guide were assessed solely on publicly available information. As this could have a significant impact on classification and ratings, we recommend additional scrutiny when evaluating those providers.
Products Evaluated
| Provider | Product Names | Version | Release Month/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acumatica | Acumatica Cloud ERP | 2025 R1 | March 2025 |
| Aptean | Aptean ERP | 8.04 July 2025 HF1 | July 2025 |
| Epicor | Epicor Kinetic | 2025.1 | May 2025 |
| Exact | Exact Globe+ | Product Update 506 | August 2025 |
| Forterro | abas ERP |
2024.Q3.1 (Service Pack) |
June 2025 |
| IFS | IFS Cloud | IFS Cloud 25R1 | April 2025 |
| Infor | Infor CloudSuite | N/A | |
| Microsoft | Dynamics 365 Business Central | 26.4 | August 2025 |
| NetSuite | NetSuite ERP | 2025.2 | July 2025 |
| Oracle | Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning | 25C | July 2025 |
| QAD | QAD Adaptive ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Ramco | Ramco ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Rockwell Automation | Plex Enterprise Resource Planning | N/A | August 2025 |
| SAP Business One | SAP Business One | 10.0 SP 2505 | May 2025 |
| Sage X3 | Sage X3 | 2025 R1 (12.0.37) | June 2025 |
| SAP S/4HANA | SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition | 2508 | August 2025 |
Midsize Manufacturing ERP
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have evolved from manufacturing tools into essential platforms that unify finance, production and operations to improve efficiency and visibility. ISG Research defines manufacturing ERP systems as comprehensive software platforms that manage the operational and financial processes of a manufacturing enterprise while recording transactions and financial consequences to support accounting, production and supply chain management. ERP consolidates data from finance, logistics, procurement, maintenance and quality into a single database, providing greater control across operations.
Midsize enterprises use Tier II ERP systems that balance functionality and simplicity.
Midsize enterprises—typically those with 100 to 999 employees—use Tier II ERP systems that balance functionality and simplicity to meet operational and financial needs. These platforms combine configurability, cost efficiency and performance, making them easier to implement and maintain than Tier I systems while still providing the scalability midsize companies need for growth.
Tier II manufacturing ERP systems include preconfigured, industry-specific capabilities that shorten implementation and reduce customization, offering cost-effective control and better visibility into operations. Their design emphasizes usability, analytics and rapid deployment while supporting production, quality and supply chain management. Many large manufacturers also use Tier II systems in divisions or regions where faster deployment or lower cost is a priority.
Manufacturing ERP software continues to evolve through cloud computing. Once adopted slowly, cloud-based ERP systems are now the preferred model for midsize manufacturers replacing legacy systems to improve performance and scalability. We assert that by 2028, over 80% of ERP systems purchased by non-product companies will be deployed in the cloud to promote continuity, improve performance and lower costs. Cloud ERP software reduces infrastructure demands, shortens upgrade cycles and provides a foundation for innovation.
Today’s manufacturing ERP systems benefit from emerging technologies. Software providers continuously embed AI and generative AI that automate planning tasks, enhance accuracy and accelerate decision-making to streamline production workflows and improve operational insight.
The 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Midsize Manufacturing ERP evaluates software providers and products in key areas, including manufacturing operations, advanced planning and scheduling, demand planning, manufacturing execution, shop floor management, quality, maintenance and distribution. This research assessed the following software providers: Acumatica, Aptean, Epicor, Exact, Forterro, IFS, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle NetSuite, QAD, Ramco, Rockwell Automation, Sage X3 and SAP Business One.
Key Takeaways
Midsize manufacturing ERP platforms integrate financial, production and supply chain processes to improve operational visibility, efficiency and control. These systems balance functional breadth with configurability and cost efficiency, supporting modernization without Tier I complexity. Cloud architectures, embedded analytics and industry templates accelerate deployment and strengthen governance, while AI-driven automation expands ERP software’s role in predictive, data-driven operations.
Software Provider Summary
The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Midsize Manufacturing ERP evaluates 14 software providers offering products supporting production operations, planning, scheduling, quality, maintenance and distribution. The research ranked the top three overall leaders as IFS, Sage X3 and Infor. Providers were classified using weighted performance in Product Experience and Customer Experience for ISG quadrant placement. IFS, Infor, Microsoft and Sage X3 were rated as Exemplary, with Acumatica, Epicor and Forterro rated as Innovative. Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One were rated as Assurance, and Aptean, Exact, Ramco and Rockwell Automation were rated as Merit.
Product Experience Insights
Product Experience, representing 80% of the evaluation, focuses on Capability (35%) and Platform (45%) which includes adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. IFS, Sage X3 and Infor achieved the highest performance as Leaders in this category, supported by breadth and depth across midsize manufacturing ERP capabilities and robust platform architecture that enables adaptability, manageability, reliability and usability. Leaders demonstrated enterprise-grade platform capabilities across varied roles and contexts.
Customer Experience Value
Customer Experience, representing 20% of the evaluation, focuses on validation and TCO/ROI. Oracle NetSuite, IFS and Sage X3 were the Leaders in this category showing strong customer advocacy and clear investment in success outcomes. Providers with lower performance often lacked publicly available customer validation or failed to demonstrate structured ROI measurement and proactive lifecycle engagement.
Strategic Recommendations
Midsize manufacturers should evaluate ERP software modernization as a strategic investment that strengthens production visibility, quality control and operational coordination. Buyers should prioritize platforms that combine strong configurability, cloud-native extensibility and embedded intelligence to streamline planning, scheduling and shop-floor execution. Organizations benefit from selecting systems that integrate cleanly with MES, PLM and supply-chain applications, while reducing customization risk. A structured roadmap enables midsize manufacturers to align ERP system decisions with operational efficiency, compliance requirements and long-term growth objectives.
The Findings – Midsize Manufacturing ERP
The software providers and products evaluated in the research provide product and customer experiences, but not everything offered is equally valuable to every enterprise or is needed to operate in business processes and use cases. Moreover, the existence of too many capabilities in products may be a negative factor for an enterprise if it introduces unnecessary complexity. Nonetheless, you may decide that a more comprehensive set of capabilities in the product is important, and where they match your enterprise’s requirements.
An effective customer relationship with a software provider is vital to the success of any investment. The overall customer experience and the full lifecycle of engagement play a key role in ensuring satisfaction and long-term success. Providers with dedicated customer leadership, such as chief customer officers, tend to invest more deeply in these relationships and prioritize customer outcomes to TCO and ROI expectations. It is equally important that this commitment to customer success is clearly demonstrated throughout the provider’s website, buying process and customer journey.
Overall Scoring of Software Providers Across Categories
The research finds IFS atop the list, followed by Sage X3 and Infor. Providers that place in the top three of a category earn the designation of Leader. IFS has done so in five categories, Infor and Sage X3 in four and Microsoft, Oracle NetSuite and SAP Business One in one category.
The overall representation of the research below places the rating of the Product Experience and Customer Experience on the x and y axes, respectively, to provide a visual representation and classification of the software providers. Those providers whose Product Experience have above median weighted performance to the axis in aggregate of the two product categories place farther to the right, while the performance and weighting for the Customer Experience category determines placement on the vertical axis. In short, software providers that place closer to the upper-right on this chart performed better than those closer to the lower-left.
The research categorizes and rates software providers into one of four categories: Assurance, Exemplary, Merit or Innovative. This representation of software providers’ weighted performance in meeting the requirements in product and customer experience.
Exemplary: This rating (upper right) represents those that performed above median in Product and Customer Experience requirements. The providers rated Exemplary are: IFS, Infor, Microsoft and Sage X3.
Innovative: This rating (lower right) represents those that performed above median in Product Experience but not in Customer Experience. The providers rated Innovative are: Acumatica, Epicor and Forterro.
Assurance: This rating (upper left) represents those that performed above median in Customer Experience but not in Product Experience. The providers rated Assurance are: Oracle NetSuite, QAD and SAP Business One.
Merit: This rating (lower left) represents those that did not surpass the median in Customer or Product Experience. The providers rated Merit are: Aptean, Exact, Ramco and Rockwell Automation.
We advise enterprises to use this research as a supplement to their own evaluations, recognizing that ratings or rankings do not solely represent the value of a provider nor indicate universal suitability of a set of products.
Product Experience
The process of researching products to address an enterprise’s needs should be comprehensive and evaluate specific capabilities and the underlying platform to the product experience. Our evaluation of the Product Experience examines the lifecycle of onboarding, configuration, operations, usage and maintenance. Too often, software providers are not evaluated for the entirety of the product; instead, they are evaluated on market execution and vision of the future.
The research results in Product Experience are ranked at 80%, or four-fifths, using the underlying weighted performance. Importance was placed on the categories as follows: Capability (35%) and Platform (45%). IFS, Sage X3 and Infor were designated Product Experience Leaders.
Customer Experience
The importance of a customer relationship with a software provider is essential to the actual success of the products and technology. The evaluation of the Customer Experience and the entire lifecycle an enterprise has with its software provider is critical for ensuring satisfaction in working with that provider. The ISG Buyers Guide examines a software provider’s customer commitment, viability, customer success, sales and onboarding, product roadmap and services with partners and support. The customer experience category also investigates the TCO/ROI and how well a software provider demonstrates the product’s overall value, cost and benefits, including the tools and resources to evaluate these factors.
The research results in Customer Experience are ranked at 20%, or one-fifth of the 100% index, and represent the underlying provider validation and TCO/ROI requirements as they relate to the framework of commitment and value to the software provider-customer relationship.
The software providers that evaluated the highest in the Customer Experience category are Oracle NetSuite, IFS and Sage X3. These category leaders best communicate commitment and dedication to customer needs.
Software providers that did not perform well in this category were unable to provide or make sufficient information readily available to demonstrate success or articulate their commitment to customer experience. The use of a software provider requires continuous investment, so a holistic evaluation must include examination of how they support their customer experience.
Software Provider Inclusion – Midsize Manufacturing ERP
For inclusion in the 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Midsize Manufacturing ERP, a software provider must be in good standing financially and ethically, have at least $40 million in annual or projected revenue verified using independent sources, sell products and provide support on at least two continents, and have at least 50 customers. The principal source of the relevant business unit’s revenue must be software-related, and there must have been at least one major software release in the past 12 months.
The research is designed to be independent of the specifics of software provider packaging and pricing. To represent the real-world environment in which businesses operate, we include providers that offer suites or packages of products that may include relevant individual modules or applications. If a software provider is actively marketing, selling and developing a product for the general market and it is reflected on the provider’s website that the product is within the scope of the research, that provider is automatically evaluated for inclusion.
All software providers that offer relevant products and meet the inclusion requirements were invited to participate in the evaluation process at no cost to them.
Software providers that meet our inclusion criteria but did not completely participate in our Buyers Guide were assessed solely on publicly available information. As this could have a significant impact on classification and ratings, we recommend additional scrutiny when evaluating those providers.
Products Evaluated
| Provider | Product Names | Version | Release Month/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acumatica | Acumatica Cloud ERP | 2025 R1 | March 2025 |
| Aptean | Aptean ERP | 8.04 July 2025 HF1 | July 2025 |
| Epicor | Epicor Kinetic | 2025.1 | May 2025 |
| Exact | Exact Globe+ | Product Update 506 | August 2025 |
| Forterro | abas ERP |
2024.Q3.1 (Service Pack) |
June 2025 |
| IFS | IFS Cloud | IFS Cloud 25R1 | April 2025 |
| Infor | Infor CloudSuite | N/A | April 2025 |
| Microsoft | Dynamics 365 Finance | 10.0.44 | June 2025 |
| Oracle NetSuite | NetSuite ERP | 2025.2 | July 2025 |
| QAD | QAD Adaptive ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Ramco | Ramco ERP | N/A | August 2025 |
| Rockwell Automation | Plex Enterprise Resource Planning | N/A | August 2025 |
| Sage X3 | Sage X3 | 2025 R1 (12.0.37) | June 2025 |
| SAP Business One | SAP Business One | 10.0 SP 2505 | May 2025 |
About ISG Software Research and Advisory
ISG Software Research and Advisory provides market research and coverage of the technology industry, informing enterprises, software and service providers, and investment firms. The ISG Buyers Guides provide insight on software categories and providers that can be used in the RFI/RFP process to assess, evaluate and select software providers.
About ISG Research
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About ISG
ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services sourcing that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.
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