Is on-premises deployment still a viable option for Microsoft ERP systems today?

Even though the world is moving to the cloud, on-premises deployment remains plan B for companies with strict data residency laws or unreliable internet. It gives you total control over your hardware and update schedule, though it places more responsibility on your team for updates and infrastructure. Plus, you’ll miss out on real-time AI features and need a robust IT team.

When do analytics capabilities become a deciding factor between the two ERPs?

It comes down to how much data you’re crunching and who needs to see it. Business Central is great for standard Power BI reports, but if you need enterprise-grade analytics capabilities to spot trends across hundreds of global entities, F&O is the winner. It handles massive datasets and AI-driven forecasting that would simply overwhelm a mid-market system.

When do service management and cost management requirements push teams toward Finance and Operations?

The short answer is – when simple job costing no longer cuts it for your business needs. If you’re juggling complex, multi-layered service contracts or need to track granular profitability across thousands of global assets, service management in F&O is the heavy hitter you need. F&O handles intricate intercompany allocations that would break a simpler system.