Migrate from
Infor to NetSuite

Are you searching for a detailed “NetSuite vs Infor” comparison? Wondering if you should “migrate from Infor to NetSuite”? Trying to understand “how to switch from Infor to NetSuite” or simply evaluating “Oracle NetSuite vs Infor CloudSuite”? You’re in the right place.

Let’s skip the buzzwords and get to what matters.

You’re either stuck with Infor and wondering if NetSuite would be better, or you’re evaluating both systems for the first time. Either way, you’re probably drowning in demo videos, vendor pitches, and blog posts that use words like “scalable architecture” and “enterprise-grade optimization.”

Yeah, no thanks.

Let’s make this simple but comprehensive NetSuite vs Infor comparison.

The Bottom Line Up Front

If you’re using Infor now: You might be feeling the limitations especially if your business has evolved beyond pure manufacturing or your original vertical. If integration headaches, slow customization, and complex interfaces are holding you back, an Infor to NetSuite migration could be the upgrade path you need.

If you’re choosing for the first time: Your industry and growth plans matter most. NetSuite excels for companies that need speed, flexibility, and all-in-one functionality. Infor works for specific industries with deep vertical requirements.

What are the main differences between NetSuite and Infor?

This depends entirely on your business needs:

Is migrating from Infor to NetSuite worth it?

For most businesses, yes. The main reasons companies pursue an Infor to NetSuite migration include:

• Eliminating integration complexity
• Gaining real-time visibility across departments
• Reducing IT maintenance requirements
• Accelerating business changes and customizations
• Modernizing their business systems

What is the best way to migrate from Infor to NetSuite?

The best way to migrate from Infor to NetSuite is with a structured approach:

1. Document your current business processes
2. Identify what’s working and what needs improvement
3. Clean and prepare your data
4. Work with an experienced partner like Folio3
5. Plan for a phased implementation approach

How difficult is it to switch from Infor to NetSuite?

The process of moving from Infor to NetSuite is typically smoother than expected. Data migration is straightforward for standard objects, and most users adapt quickly to NetSuite’s intuitive interface.

Cloud Architecture: A Fundamental Difference Between NetSuite and Infor

The architectural differences between these systems create significant impacts on maintenance, upgrades, and long-term flexibility. NetSuite’s true cloud approach means a single codebase that receives automatic updates without breaking customizations, while Infor’s approach often requires more management.

The practical impact of these architectural differences becomes evident in daily operations. With NetSuite, when you update customer information, it’s immediately available across sales, service, finance, and operations. With Infor, synchronization may occur in batches or require additional configuration to maintain consistency across modules.

This architectural difference especially impacts companies with multiple departments that need to share data in real-time. For example, a distributor needs customer, inventory, and financial data to be in sync when processing orders. In NetSuite, this happens naturally; in Infor, it often requires additional integration work.

How does the user experience compare between NetSuite and Infor?

User experience directly impacts adoption rates, training costs, and ultimately, the return on your ERP investment. NetSuite emphasizes consistency across functions, while Infor’s interface can vary between modules.

The user experience difference becomes particularly noticeable when employees need to work across multiple departments or functions. Finance teams reviewing orders, sales teams checking inventory, or executives needing a complete business view often find NetSuite’s consistent interface more intuitive.

Moreover, NetSuite’s role-based dashboards allow different users to see the information relevant to their job without requiring custom development. This means a sales representative, warehouse manager, and finance director can all use the same system but see completely different views tailored to their needs.

Core Functionality: What You’re Actually Getting in NetSuite vs Infor

Which system offers better financial management, NetSuite or Infor?

Financial management is the core of any ERP system, and the approaches differ significantly between these platforms. NetSuite offers a more unified financial structure, while Infor provides deep compliance capabilities in certain modules.

NetSuite’s financial management is built on a unified ledger system that simplifies multi-entity management and consolidation. This design eliminates reconciliation issues between modules and speeds up period close processes. The system also handles complex revenue recognition scenarios natively, which is particularly valuable for subscription businesses or those with milestone billing.

Infor offers strong financial compliance tools in certain modules, especially for regulated industries. However, the financial processes often require more manual steps to complete, particularly when working across different entities or currencies.

Does NetSuite have better CRM capabilities than Infor?

Customer relationship management functionality varies significantly between these platforms. NetSuite offers deep integration between CRM and the rest of the business, while Infor’s CRM capabilities are more limited in most modules.

The key difference is that NetSuite’s CRM isn’t a separate module, it’s built into the core platform. This means sales representatives can see real-time inventory availability, customer credit status, and order history without switching systems. They can convert quotes to orders without re-entering data, and the system can automatically apply appropriate pricing and discounts.

Infor’s CRM capabilities vary significantly by module and industry focus. In manufacturing-focused implementations, CRM functions are often basic or require integration with third-party systems. This can create visibility gaps between sales and operations.

How does NetSuite’s inventory management compare to Infor?

Inventory management is a critical function for many businesses, and the approach differs between these systems. NetSuite provides unified inventory across channels, while Infor often requires separate modules for different inventory functions.

NetSuite’s inventory management provides real-time visibility across all locations and channels from a single database. This eliminates the need to reconcile inventory levels between systems and provides a single source of truth for availability. The system also supports multiple inventory costing methods, lot tracking, serialization, and bin management without requiring additional modules.

Infor offers robust inventory capabilities, particularly in its specialized warehouse and manufacturing modules. However, these capabilities often exist in separate modules that require integration. For companies selling through multiple channels, this can create challenges in maintaining consistent inventory levels and fulfillment processes.

Worth knowing: If you’re running an omnichannel business with Infor, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of inventory discrepancies between channels. In a NetSuite vs Infor comparison, NetSuite’s single database architecture eliminates this problem entirely.

NetSuite ERP vs Infor for manufacturing: which is better?

Manufacturing functionality is where these platforms show their different design philosophies most clearly. Infor offers deeper specialized manufacturing capabilities, while NetSuite provides more integrated manufacturing management.

Infor’s manufacturing roots give it an edge in complex manufacturing scenarios, particularly in industries like aerospace, automotive, and process manufacturing. It offers advanced planning and scheduling capabilities that can handle complex constraints and requirements.

NetSuite provides solid manufacturing capabilities that meet the needs of most light to medium manufacturers. The key advantage is the integration between manufacturing, inventory, finance, and customer management. This allows for better visibility into production costs, profitability, and resource planning.

The decision point often comes down to manufacturing complexity versus integration needs. Companies with highly specialized manufacturing processes may find Infor’s depth valuable, while those needing better visibility across the entire business typically prefer NetSuite’s integrated approach.

Which is better for ecommerce, NetSuite or Infor?

Ecommerce and omnichannel capabilities show one of the starkest contrasts between these systems. NetSuite was designed with multi-channel selling in mind, while Infor typically requires more integration for ecommerce operations.

NetSuite’s SuiteCommerce platform provides native ecommerce capabilities that share the same database as the rest of the system. This creates a seamless flow from online order to fulfillment, with real-time inventory visibility. The platform also offers pre-built integrations with major marketplaces and ecommerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify.

Infor’s ecommerce capabilities are more limited in most industry modules and often require third-party solutions. This can create challenges in maintaining consistent pricing, inventory, and customer information across channels. For omnichannel retailers, this is often a significant pain point.

How long does implementation take for NetSuite vs Infor?

Implementation timeframes vary significantly between these platforms, with NetSuite generally offering a faster path to go-live. This difference impacts both initial costs and time to value.

NetSuite’s SuiteSuccess methodology accelerates implementation by providing industry-specific configurations, workflows, and reports based on leading practices. This allows companies to start with a working system that can be refined rather than building from scratch.

Infor implementations typically take longer due to the more customized approach and the need to integrate various modules. While this can result in a more tailored solution, it also delays time to value and increases implementation costs.

The implementation timeframe difference has significant business implications, particularly for companies needing to replace legacy systems quickly or those pursuing growth initiatives that require better systems support.

Which is better for project management, NetSuite or Infor?

Project management capabilities differ significantly between these platforms, with NetSuite offering more comprehensive native functionality for service-based businesses. This is particularly relevant for professional services firms and project-based operations.

NetSuite’s Professional Services Automation (PSA) suite provides comprehensive project management capabilities integrated with the financial and resource management aspects of the business. This includes resource allocation, time and expense tracking, project accounting, and billing.

Infor’s project management capabilities vary by industry module and often require additional components or third-party integrations. For professional services firms, this can create challenges in tracking project profitability and resource utilization.

The distinction is particularly important for businesses that bill by the hour, project, or milestone. NetSuite’s unified approach allows for seamless tracking from time entry to client billing, with real-time visibility into project profitability.

How does NetSuite compare to Infor for different industries?

Is NetSuite or Infor better for wholesale distribution?

Wholesale distribution has unique requirements spanning inventory, pricing, and customer management. The platforms differ in how they address these needs.

NetSuite provides strong distribution capabilities in its core platform, including advanced order management, pricing, and inventory features. The system can handle complex pricing agreements, customer-specific catalogs, and multi-location inventory without requiring additional modules.

Infor offers robust distribution functionality in its CloudSuite Distribution modules, with particularly strong warehouse management capabilities. However, integrating these capabilities with financial management and customer-facing functions often requires additional work.

The key distinction for distributors is typically in multi-channel management and pricing complexity. NetSuite’s unified approach simplifies selling through multiple channels with consistent pricing and inventory, while Infor may require more integration to achieve the same result.

NetSuite ERP vs Infor for manufacturing companies?

Manufacturing companies face specific challenges in production planning, quality control, and supply chain management. The platforms offer different strengths in addressing these needs.

Infor’s manufacturing heritage gives it an edge in specialized manufacturing scenarios, particularly in discrete manufacturing (LN) and process manufacturing (M3). It offers advanced production scheduling, quality control, and supply planning capabilities designed for complex manufacturing environments.

NetSuite provides solid manufacturing capabilities that meet the needs of most light to medium manufacturers. Its strength lies in the integration between manufacturing, inventory, finance, and customer management, which provides better visibility into production costs and profitability.

The decision point often hinges on manufacturing complexity versus integration needs. Companies with complex manufacturing processes may find Infor’s depth valuable, while those needing better visibility across the entire business typically prefer NetSuite’s integrated approach.

For professional services firms, which ERP is better?

Professional services firms have unique requirements around resource management, project accounting, and time tracking. The platforms offer significantly different capabilities in this area.

NetSuite’s Services Resource Planning (SRP) and Professional Services Automation (PSA) capabilities provide comprehensive functionality for service-based businesses. This includes resource allocation, time and expense tracking, project accounting, and billing, all integrated with the financial management system.

Infor’s professional services capabilities are more limited in most industry modules and often require additional components or third-party integrations. For firms that bill by the hour, project, or milestone, this can create challenges in tracking profitability and resource utilization.

The distinction is particularly important for businesses that need to manage utilization, track project budgets versus actuals, and bill based on time, expenses, or project completion. NetSuite’s unified approach allows for seamless tracking from time entry to client billing.

Is NetSuite or Infor better for retail and ecommerce?

Retail and ecommerce businesses need to manage inventory across locations, provide consistent customer experiences across channels, and handle complex fulfillment scenarios. The platforms differ significantly in these capabilities.

NetSuite provides native omnichannel capabilities with a unified approach to inventory, orders, and customers across all sales channels. This eliminates the need to reconcile data between systems and provides a single view of the customer across online, mobile, and in-store interactions.

Infor offers retail-specific functionality but often requires integration between ecommerce, point-of-sale, and backend systems. This can create challenges in maintaining consistent inventory levels, pricing, and customer information across channels.

For retailers operating across multiple channels, the ability to provide a consistent customer experience and accurate inventory availability is critical. NetSuite’s unified approach simplifies these challenges, while Infor may require more integration work to achieve similar results.

Which system scales better, NetSuite or Infor?

Scalability encompasses transaction volume, user growth, geographic expansion, and the ability to adapt to changing business models. The platforms offer different approaches to scaling.

NetSuite’s cloud-native architecture allows for relatively seamless scaling across transaction volumes, users, and global operations. The system’s multi-subsidiary management makes it easier to add new business entities, whether through organic growth or acquisition.

Infor can scale effectively but often requires more planning and technical resources, particularly when adding new business units or expanding globally. The modular approach may require additional components as the business grows or diversifies.

The scalability difference becomes particularly important for fast-growing businesses, companies pursuing acquisition strategies, or those expanding internationally. NetSuite’s unified data model simplifies these expansion scenarios, while Infor may require more integration work.

How do integration capabilities compare between NetSuite and Infor?

Integration capabilities are increasingly important as businesses connect more systems and data sources. The platforms offer different approaches to integration management.

NetSuite offers a comprehensive integration framework with well-documented APIs, extensive pre-built integrations. The single data model simplifies integration development and maintenance.

Infor uses its ION middleware to connect different modules and external systems. While powerful, this approach adds complexity to the integration landscape and often requires more specialized technical skills to develop and maintain integrations.

The integration difference becomes particularly important for businesses with complex technology ecosystems or those that frequently add new systems and capabilities. NetSuite’s approach typically results in lower integration costs and faster implementation of new connections.

NetSuite vs Infor Cost: What is the total cost of ownership?

Cost comparison goes beyond initial subscription fees to include implementation, customization, maintenance, and ongoing IT requirements. The platforms differ significantly in their total cost of ownership structure.

NetSuite operates on a subscription model with relatively transparent pricing. While the initial subscription costs may be higher than some alternatives, the total cost of ownership is often lower due to faster implementation, reduced customization needs, and lower ongoing maintenance requirements.

Infor’s pricing model varies by industry module and deployment option. Implementation costs are typically higher due to the more customized approach and integration requirements. Ongoing costs can also be higher due to the need for specialized IT resources to maintain the system.

The cost difference becomes particularly significant over a 3-5 year horizon, where implementation, customization, and maintenance costs often exceed the initial subscription investment. Companies should consider this longer-term view when making platform decisions.

ROI calculation tip: When considering NetSuite pricing vs Infor, factor in not just the direct costs but also the opportunity cost of slower changes and higher maintenance requirements. Many clients find that even with a seemingly higher subscription cost, NetSuite delivers better ROI through operational efficiency and reduced technical overhead.

How much more expensive is Infor in the long run compared to NetSuite?

When comparing NetSuite vs Infor cost over a 5-year period, the total cost of ownership often tells a different story than initial pricing suggests. While Infor’s licensing might sometimes appear lower upfront, companies frequently find that the cost of NetSuite vs Infor over time reveals NetSuite as more economical when factoring in:

1. Implementation costs (typically 40-60% higher for Infor)
2. Ongoing IT support requirements
3. Custom development needs
4. Integration maintenance
5. Upgrade expenses (included with NetSuite, often additional with Infor)

How does NetSuite’s reporting compare to Infor?

Reporting and analytics capabilities are critical for turning data into actionable insights. The platforms offer different approaches to reporting and business intelligence.

NetSuite’s reporting capabilities are built on its unified data model, which eliminates the need to reconcile or combine data from multiple sources. The system provides extensive pre-built reports and dashboards, along with flexible tools for creating custom reports without technical expertise.

Infor offers strong reporting capabilities through its Birst business intelligence platform. However, creating reports that span multiple modules often requires more technical expertise and may involve data extraction and transformation steps.

The reporting difference becomes particularly important for businesses that need cross-functional visibility or frequent custom reports. NetSuite’s approach enables business users to create and modify reports without IT assistance, while Infor often requires more technical involvement.

How do NetSuite and Infor compare for user management and security?

Security and compliance capabilities are essential for protecting sensitive data and meeting regulatory requirements. The platforms offer different approaches to access control and compliance management.

NetSuite provides a comprehensive security framework with role-based access control down to the field level, detailed audit trails, and support for major compliance requirements. The unified system simplifies security management across all business functions.

Infor offers strong security capabilities, particularly in regulated industries, but the implementation may vary across modules. This can create challenges in maintaining consistent security policies and access controls across the entire system.

The security difference becomes particularly important for businesses in regulated industries or those operating globally with varying compliance requirements. NetSuite’s unified approach simplifies compliance management, while Infor may offer deeper industry-specific compliance tools in certain modules.

How does support and the ecosystem compare?

Support resources and the partner ecosystem significantly impact the success of an ERP implementation and ongoing operations. The platforms differ in their support structures and community resources.

NetSuite offers extensive support resources through direct support, a large partner network, and active user communities. The comprehensive documentation and training resources make it easier for businesses to build internal expertise and self-sufficiency.

Infor provides support through direct channels and partners, but the resources are often more specialized by product line. This can create challenges for businesses using multiple Infor modules or those needing cross-functional support.

The support difference becomes particularly important for businesses without large IT departments or those operating in regions with limited local technical resources. NetSuite’s larger partner ecosystem and more consistent documentation can provide more accessible support options.

Common Questions in a NetSuite vs Infor Comparison

“Is NetSuite powerful enough to replace our complex Infor implementation?”

For about 80% of businesses, yes. Oracle NetSuite vs Infor feature comparisons show NetSuite handles multi-entity, multi-currency, complex inventory, manufacturing, and detailed financial requirements. The main exceptions are highly specialized manufacturing processes or industry-specific functionality that may require evaluation.

“How do you migrate data from Infor to NetSuite?”

Standard master data (customers, vendors, items) and transaction history migrate relatively smoothly. The biggest challenges in any Infor to NetSuite migration are usually custom fields and historical manufacturing data, but with proper planning, these can be addressed. We typically recommend migrating 1-3 years of transaction history and all open transactions.

“Will our team need extensive retraining if we switch from Infor to NetSuite?”

Surprisingly, most clients find the transition easier than expected. NetSuite’s interface is intuitive, and the centralized nature of the system actually reduces training requirements. Most users are productive within days, not weeks after moving from Infor to NetSuite.

“What about our existing integrations with other systems?”

NetSuite has pre-built integrations with hundreds of systems, so many of your current connections can be replaced with standard connectors. For custom integrations, NetSuite’s web services APIs are well-documented and easier to work with than Infor’s middleware approach.

“How much more does NetSuite cost compared to Infor?”

When examining NetSuite pricing vs Infor, the initial subscription might be higher for NetSuite, but the total cost of ownership is typically lower due to:

• Fewer IT resources required for maintenance
• Less customization needed for standard business processes
• Faster implementation and time to value
• No upgrade costs or version lock-in
• Reduced need for integration specialists

Why do most companies choose NetSuite over Infor in a direct comparison?

The decision factors vary by business, but several advantages consistently influence companies to select NetSuite over Infor in competitive evaluations.

The unified data model is perhaps the most significant advantage for many businesses. Having all business functions operate from a single database eliminates the need to reconcile information between systems and provides real-time visibility across the organization.

Business agility is another critical factor. NetSuite’s configuration-first approach allows companies to adapt the system to changing business needs without extensive technical resources. This becomes particularly valuable in dynamic business environments or during periods of growth and change.

The automatic twice-yearly updates ensure companies always have access to the latest functionality without disruptive upgrade projects. Customizations are preserved during updates, eliminating the version lock-in that often occurs with heavily customized systems.

When should a company stay with Infor instead of migrating to NetSuite?

While NetSuite offers advantages for many businesses, specific scenarios may favor remaining with Infor or selecting it for a new implementation.

Infor’s industry-specific depth is particularly valuable in complex manufacturing environments with specialized processes and compliance requirements. Industries like aerospace, defense, automotive, and regulated process manufacturing may benefit from Infor’s specialized capabilities.

Companies that have already invested heavily in Infor customizations that are working well may find the cost and disruption of migration outweigh the benefits. This is particularly true if the customizations address unique business requirements that would be difficult to replicate in another system.

Organizations with limited change drivers, stable business models, consistent processes, and adequate system performance, may not see sufficient ROI from migration. The business case for migration is strongest when current systems are limiting growth, efficiency, or visibility.

What is the process for migrating from Infor to NetSuite?

If you’re considering the best way to migrate from Infor to NetSuite, or evaluating both systems for the first time, here’s what we recommend:

1. Process assessment: Document your key business processes and pain points
2. Requirements gathering: Identify must-have vs. nice-to-have features
3. Demo both systems: See how each handles your specific scenarios
4. Talk to similar companies: Connect with businesses in your industry who have used both
5. Calculate TCO: Look beyond subscription costs to include implementation, maintenance, and IT resources
6. Consider growth plans: Which system will support your business 5 years from now?
7. Evaluate partner expertise: The right implementation partner makes all the difference

How do I start the process of moving from Infor to NetSuite?

The first step in any Infor to NetSuite migration is a comprehensive assessment of your current processes and requirements. At Folio3, we start with a detailed discovery process that helps identify:

1. Your current business processes and pain points
2. Critical integrations and data migration requirements
3. Customizations that need to be preserved
4. Opportunities for process improvement
5. A phased implementation approach with clear milestones

Why choose Folio3 for Infor to NetSuite migration?

At Folio3, we’ve guided companies through this decision process and helped many businesses successfully migrate from Infor to NetSuite. Our team understands both systems deeply and can provide an honest assessment of which is right for your specific situation.

We offer:

• Deep experience with both Infor and NetSuite systems
• Proven migration methodology refined through dozens of successful projects
• Industry-specific expertise across manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services
• Comprehensive data migration tools and strategies
• Post-implementation support and optimization

Final Thought

You don’t need “the most powerful ERP.” You need the right ERP for where you’re at and where you’re going.

The best system isn’t the one with the most features or the deepest specialization, it’s the one that empowers your team to work efficiently and gives you accurate, real-time insight into your business performance.

For most growing, modern businesses facing complex challenges around multi-channel sales, inventory management, and financial visibility, a comprehensive NetSuite vs Infor comparison shows NetSuite provides the best balance of power, usability, and cost-effectiveness.

Still stuck deciding between NetSuite and Infor? Let’s talk. We’ve seen both sides and helped businesses pick the path that actually works for them.