SAP vs MYOB Exo vs Pronto
Which one suits your manufacturing or distribution business? A plain-English guide for Australia.
Choosing Your Manufacturing ERP
Short answer: if you do light manufacturing and turn over roughly $5M-$20M, MYOB Exo is usually the best value and the quickest to set up. If you're mainly a wholesaler or distributor, Pronto is usually the stronger fit. If your manufacturing is complicated, you operate overseas or you expect to grow fast, SAP Business One gives you the most room, at the highest cost. We don't sell any of the three.
All three are ERP systems (one system that runs your accounts, stock, purchasing, production and sales together) used by Australian manufacturers and distributors in the $5M-$100M turnover range.
Which One Suits You?
- Choose MYOB Exo if you do fairly straightforward manufacturing and turn over roughly $5M-$20M. It is the best value, the quickest to set up and familiar for MYOB users.
- Choose Pronto if you are mainly a wholesaler or distributor. It is built for Australian distributors, with strong warehouse management, detailed pricing rules and freight management.
- Choose SAP Business One if your manufacturing is complicated, you operate overseas or you expect to grow fast. It gives you the most room, at the highest cost.
- Making and distributing? MYOB Exo if manufacturing is the main business, Pronto if distribution is.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | SAP Business One | MYOB Exo | Pronto | Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost (per user) | $80-$150/user | $100-$200/user | $120-$180/user | SAP | SAP is cheapest per user, but usually needs more users |
| Set-up (Implementation) Cost | Highest | Lowest | Moderate | MYOB Exo | MYOB Exo is the quickest and cheapest to set up |
| Manufacturing | Advanced (production routes, materials planning, shop floor) | Good (parts lists, work orders, job costing) | Medium (basic manufacturing) | SAP | SAP is strongest for complicated manufacturing |
| Warehouse Management | Advanced (bins, zones, pick/pack) | Basic (several locations, transfers) | Excellent (built for distribution) | Pronto | Pronto is strongest for Australian distribution |
| Australian Payroll | Via add-on or separate payroll software | Built in (STP, super, awards) | Built in (thorough) | MYOB Exo | MYOB Exo handles Australian payroll with the least extra work |
| Financial Management | Full, built to a worldwide standard | Strong, Australian-focused accounts | Good accounts, distribution-focused | SAP | SAP has the most detailed financial features |
| Stock Tracking | Serial/batch, quality management, materials planning (MRP) | Serial/batch, basic materials planning | Serial/batch, consignment, landed cost | SAP | SAP gives the most control over stock |
| Multi-Currency | Excellent support for other currencies | Good support for other currencies | Good support for other currencies | SAP | SAP is best if you operate overseas |
| Reporting & Dashboards | Crystal Reports, deeper analysis | Standard reports; custom ones need a developer | Good standard reports, can be customised | SAP | SAP has the strongest reporting |
| Ease of Use | Complicated, needs a lot of training | Dated but familiar for MYOB users | Powerful but takes time to learn | MYOB Exo | MYOB Exo is easiest for Australian staff |
| Room to Grow | Excellent to $200M+ | Good to $100M | Good to $150M | SAP | SAP lasts longest as you grow |
| Set-up Time | 6-12 months | 3-5 months | 4-6 months | MYOB Exo | MYOB Exo is quickest to get running |
Which System Suits Your Business?
Light Manufacturing ($5M-$20M)
Recommended: MYOB Exo
Why: Best value for fairly straightforward manufacturing. Quick to set up, familiar for MYOB users, and enough manufacturing features.
What matters most: Parts lists (BOM), work orders, job costing, Australian payroll
Complex Manufacturing ($20M-$100M)
Recommended: SAP Business One
Why: Worth the spend for complicated production routes, advanced materials planning, shop floor control and quality management. Copes well as you grow.
What matters most: Multi-stage production, material planning, production scheduling
Wholesale Distribution ($10M-$100M)
Recommended: Pronto
Why: Built for Australian distributors. Excellent warehouse management, detailed pricing rules, several locations and freight management.
What matters most: Advanced warehouse, customer pricing, landed costing, consignment
Manufacturing + Distribution ($15M-$50M)
Recommended: MYOB Exo or Pronto
Why: MYOB Exo if manufacturing is the main business, Pronto if distribution is. Both handle a mix well enough at this size.
What matters most: A balance of manufacturing and warehouse features
International Operations
Recommended: SAP Business One
Why: Best support for several currencies, several companies and compliance in other countries. Worth the extra cost if you operate overseas.
What matters most: Several countries, trade between group companies, managing currencies
Rapid Growth ($10M to $50M in 3-5 years)
Recommended: SAP Business One
Why: Pay for room to grow early, so you don't have to replace the system a second time. SAP grows with you to $200M+ without a major upgrade.
What matters most: Room to grow over the long term, advanced features you will grow into
Strengths & Limitations
SAP Business One
Strengths
- Most complete manufacturing features (production routes, materials planning, quality)
- Grows with you to $200M+ turnover
- Strong for other currencies and overseas operations
- Advanced reporting and analysis
- Largest implementation partner network worldwide
- Very thorough stock management and warehouse control
- Lasts longer (helps avoid replacing your ERP a second time)
- Full financial management and controls
Limitations
- Highest set-up cost of the three
- Longest set-up (6-12 months)
- Complicated, needs a lot of training
- Needs a dedicated system administrator
- Australian payroll often needs an add-on from another company
- Highest ongoing support costs
- Overkill for simple manufacturing or distribution under $20M
MYOB Exo
Strengths
- Quickest to set up (3-5 months)
- Lowest total cost for $5M-$30M businesses
- Best Australian payroll built in (STP, super, awards)
- Familiar screens for MYOB users
- Good manufacturing features for light-to-medium production
- Strong Australian partner network
- Enough for most manufacturers under $50M turnover
- Lower ongoing support costs
Limitations
- Dated screens next to newer online ERPs
- Harder to grow beyond $100M turnover
- Weaker warehouse management than Pronto
- Custom reports often need a developer
- Manufacturing features fall behind SAP for advanced needs
Pronto
Strengths
- Built for Australian wholesale distribution
- Excellent warehouse management
- Strong stock management across locations, including transfers
- Detailed customer pricing and margin control
- Good for manufacturers with a large distribution side
- Landed cost tracking for importers
- Strong Australian partner network focused on distribution
- Handles consignment stock and freight management well
Limitations
- Manufacturing features not as deep as SAP or MYOB Exo
- Takes new users longer to learn
- Mid-range pricing (not the cheapest)
- Smaller user base than MYOB or SAP
- Complicated screens can slow staff down at first
- Less suited to pure manufacturing without distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
For manufacturers turning over less than $20M with straightforward operations, MYOB Exo or Pronto give better value and are quicker to set up. SAP Business One is stronger for manufacturers turning over $30M+ with complicated parts lists (bills of materials), overseas operations, or plans to grow fast. Pronto suits manufacturers whose business is mostly distribution, MYOB Exo suits those already using MYOB, and SAP suits those who want the most room to grow.
Licences: SAP Business One $80-$150/user/month, MYOB Exo $100-$200/user/month, Pronto $120-$180/user/month. Setting the system up (implementation) is quoted separately by partners, and costs vary widely with the size of the business, how many systems are involved and how much needs to be custom-built. As a rule, SAP Business One is the most expensive to set up and support and MYOB Exo the least, with Pronto in between.
Yes. MYOB Exo Manufacturing handles multi-level bills of materials (parts lists with sub-assemblies), work orders, job costing and production tracking well enough for light-to-medium manufacturing. It supports assembly and disassembly, basic materials planning (MRP) and batch tracking. But it does not go as deep as SAP on complicated production routes, shop floor control or advanced planning. If your production has more than 5 stages or complicated scheduling, SAP is stronger.
Pronto is generally better for wholesale distribution. It was built for Australian distributors, with advanced warehouse management, stock across several locations, landed cost tracking (the full cost of imported goods including freight and duty) and detailed pricing rules. MYOB Exo handles distribution well but does less in the warehouse. Pronto also has stronger freight management and customer-specific pricing rules. For businesses that are purely distribution, Pronto is the strongest of the three.
MYOB Exo is typically the quickest to set up at 3-5 months, especially if you are moving from MYOB AccountRight. Pronto takes 4-6 months for a standard distribution set-up. SAP Business One takes 6-12 months because there is more to set up and more of the way you work usually has to be redesigned. If you need to be up and running quickly with as little disruption as possible, MYOB Exo is usually the fastest.
Yes. The Australian version of SAP Business One covers GST, BAS, STP (Single Touch Payroll), superannuation and local tax. But Australian payroll in SAP often needs an add-on from another company, or a connection to separate payroll software. MYOB Exo and Pronto have more established Australian payroll built in. If payroll is critical, MYOB Exo handles Australian compliance with the least extra work.
SAP Business One has the most detailed stock management: serial and batch tracking, quality management, warehouse bins and locations, cycle counting and advanced materials planning (MRP). Pronto is strong for distribution stock, with several warehouses, consignment stock and landed costing. MYOB Exo has good stock features for light manufacturing and distribution but does not go as deep as SAP. For manufacturers tracking hundreds of products (SKUs) across several locations with complicated stock movements, SAP gives the most control.
You should not run these systems alongside MYOB for your accounts. Each is a complete ERP (business management system) that includes the accounts. SAP Business One, MYOB Exo and Pronto all have a full general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and financial reports. Running two accounting systems means reconciliation headaches and compliance risk. The choice is: use one of these as your complete system, or stay with MYOB AccountRight and connect it to manufacturing software.
MYOB Exo is generally easiest for Australian staff, especially those who already know MYOB. The screens look dated but make sense to people who understand accounting. Pronto takes longer to learn and is harder to find your way around, but it is powerful once learned. SAP Business One is the most complicated and usually needs more training than MYOB Exo. If staff turnover is high, new starters usually get going faster on MYOB Exo.
SAP Business One almost always needs either your own system administrator or an outside support provider on an ongoing basis. Pronto usually needs a part-time administrator or outside support. MYOB Exo can run with one experienced staff member ("power user") plus occasional consultant help. Ongoing support is a big part of the cost: SAP costs the most to own and run, MYOB Exo the least.
SAP Business One has the most thorough reporting, with Crystal Reports built in, dashboards you can tailor and deeper analysis. You can build detailed production reports, material usage reports and shop floor performance measures. Pronto has strong distribution and stock reporting. MYOB Exo has adequate manufacturing reports, but custom reports often need a developer. For manufacturers who need an up-to-the-minute view of production and complex operational reports, SAP gives the most value.
Yes, both can grow beyond $50M turnover. Pronto runs some large Australian distributors turning over $100M+. MYOB Exo supports manufacturers and distributors in the $50M-$150M range. But SAP Business One grows more easily to $200M+ and handles complexity better (several companies, overseas operations, complicated manufacturing). If you plan to grow beyond $100M or expand overseas, SAP gives you longer before you need to replace the system again.
None of these systems connects to online stores out of the box as well as newer online ERPs do. SAP Business One can be connected through connector tools (Jitterbit, Boomi) or custom work using its API (the way other software plugs into it), but this needs development. Pronto and MYOB Exo have similar challenges. If a lot of your sales are online, plan for specialist work to build a reliable sync between your ERP and your online store.
When businesses outgrow MYOB Exo or Pronto (typically $100M+ turnover or very complicated operations), the next step is usually SAP Business One, SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Oracle NetSuite. Moving from MYOB Exo or Pronto to a large ERP is a big project that typically takes 9-18 months. That is why some manufacturers choose SAP Business One earlier, to avoid replacing their ERP a second time. Think about where you expect to be in 10 years when choosing.
SAP has the largest partner network worldwide, with many Australian implementation partners, though quality varies a lot. Pronto has a smaller but highly specialised network of Australian partners with deep product knowledge. MYOB Exo has a moderate-sized Australian partner network with varying expertise. When choosing, focus on finding an implementation partner with strong references in your industry (manufacturing or distribution), not just on the software.
Probably not, unless you have complicated overseas operations or plan to grow to $50M+ within 3-5 years. At $15M turnover, MYOB Exo or Pronto cover most of what you need at a much lower total cost. The extra cost of SAP makes sense when you need: operations in several countries, complicated manufacturing with advanced materials planning (MRP), or lots of room to grow. For straightforward Australian manufacturing or distribution under $30M, MYOB Exo or Pronto are the better buy.
Need Help Choosing Your Manufacturing ERP?
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