Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions like Infor ERP and IFS Applications ERP are quickly gaining popularity among businesses today. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially since ERP systems are integrated with applications that a business needs, including human capital management (HCM), financials, customer relationship management (CRM), and supply chain management.

Infor ERP is a market-leading ERP solution that provides industry-specific capabilities to empower workforces, automate complex processes, and increase collaboration across business ecosystems. IFS Applications ERP is a top-rated and agile ERP solution with extended functionalities for core business processes, such as service and asset management, manufacturing, projects, and supply chain management.

We’ll compare the primary features of Infor ERP and IFS Applications ERP to help you determine what each software can contribute to your business. If you want to familiarize yourself with more ERP solutions, use our Product Selection Tool. You’ll get a list of dependable ERP solutions.

Infor ERP vs. IFS Applications ERP: An overview

Infor ERP was created by Infor, the third largest provider of enterprise applications with 70,000 customers in 164 countries. Infor ERP is a robust suite of enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications designed to help distribution and manufacturing companies run their day-to-day business operations. This ERP solution has features for customer and order management, project management, planning and scheduling, supply chain management, and finance and accounting. Infor ERP is ideal for SMBs and large enterprises. It offers mid-range prices.

IFS Applications ERP is one of the most comprehensive ERP solutions today and is trusted by world-renowned names such as Mini Cooper, Motorola, and Pepsi. It has features and capabilities for enterprise asset management, field service management, manufacturing operations, project and project portfolio management, and supply chain management. IFS Applications ERP is best for mid-sized businesses and large companies. It is available at high end prices.

Features comparison

Infor ERP and IFS Applications ERP have features for financial management, human capital management, and mobile access.

Financial management

The financial management feature of Infor ERP allows businesses to coordinate financial and costing transactions with day-to-day operations. Financial teams get access to unlimited financial calendars and unlimited ledgers and basis reporting. The software comes with different payables functionality, including vendor maintenance, invoice processing, payment processing, and regulatory reporting and compliance. Users get real-time visibility into vendor invoices and approval processes and gain access to key asset information such as book value, location of assets, inventory costs, lease cost, and depreciation values. Teams can configure asset definitions by department, cost center, or location while complying with current accounting standards and reporting requirements.

With IFS Applications ERP’s financial management, teams can access integrated ledgers that allow management and audit throughout the accounting cycle, leading to a faster and more accurate close. The ERP has highly graphical visual dashboards that provide each user with a role-based view of salient information, with direct access, where authorized, to system access points. The system has a one-click, multiple code part consolidations feature that allows the business to be viewed through many lenses, including unit, manager, product, project, geography, or combinations of those. The software is multi-language, multi-currency, and multi-jurisdiction, enabled with a global support package — which means the business is always up to date.

Human capital management

With Infor ERP’s human capital management feature, businesses can create organizational structures and manage various parts of human resources including benefits, absences, and time entries. The software also has capabilities for talent acquisition and onboarding so designated users can access and check or manage compensation and employee performance, learning, and development.

IFS Applications ERP lets HR teams create a global data repository for all the people working in a company or group of companies. The system enables complex time-based costing, including direct expenses that can be tailored to the specific requirements of a business. IFS links time payments with payroll information, allowing pay allocation in accordance with the corporate, legal, and/or contractual rules. For employee performance, this ERP offers capabilities for self-assessment, recognition of objectives and performance measurements, feedback, and managerial guidance.

Mobile access

Infor ERP has native mobile applications for iOS and Android devices. The mobile app, Infor Go, allows users to access Infor applications via mobile devices, enabling immediate action and analysis with increased data accessibility. Through the app, users can check and edit their work profile as well as check alerts and approvals. They can also view tasks that need completion. Users can access business-specific applications created using Mongoose. Managers can approve transactions, monitor KPIs, or streamline other business process flows and capture useful data through the Infor Go app.

The entire IFS Application Suite is accessible from mobile browsers on Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android devices through the IFS Aurena. IFS Aurena is designed to work brilliantly on mobile devices, allowing many tasks to be performed on tablets and phones. The IFS Aurena has a chatbot feature that lets users perform a subset of everyday tasks using natural language, text or voice, in a conversational manner through messaging channels like Microsoft Teams, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and IFS Aurena itself. The IFS Aurena also has a built-in Page Designer that lets users configure page layouts, application navigation, and other aspects of the user experience. They can also configure custom fields, custom commands, and custom events.

Integrations

Infor ERP has integrations with third-party applications for maintenance operations management, analytics, shipping, document management, and demand planning:

  • Proteus CMMS
  • SensrTrx
  • Pacejet
  • Synergize
  • Avercast

IFS Applications ERP integrates with platforms for file sharing, business performance management, financial reporting, product information management, and time and attendance automation:

  • Microsoft 365
  • Mercur Business Control
  • FYIsoft
  • TrueCommerce PIM
  • ClockVIEW

Choosing the ERP software for your business

Infor ERP and IFS Applications ERP are two of the most extensive ERP solutions in the market. Offering a wide range of various capabilities, both ERP solutions can definitely contribute a great deal to any business. However, before you choose an ERP software, it’s best to consider your line of business in order to make the right decision.

Infor ERP was originally built for the manufacturing and distribution industries. While the software can still be modified to meet the demands of companies from other business sectors, doing so will require purchasing other Infor products. IFS Applications ERP, on the other hand, is a full ERP solution offering multiple features that can be compatible with different industries.

If you’re running a manufacturing business, or you don’t mind using different software products to manage various parts of your business, then Infor ERP is the software for you. However, if you would like to use a single, all-inclusive ERP software for your non-manufacturing-related business, then IFS Applications ERP is a great choice.

Use our Product Selection Tool if you want to do more research on other ERP solutions. You’ll get a free list of up to five respected software vendors.