Software Comparison
Get a free pre-analysis
Tabellae’s Software Selector helps you identify the right software based on your document and business requirements.
Can you get by with a “built-in” solution from Microsoft, or do you have more dynamic and advanced needs?
It makes a difference if you only have bank statements, order confirmations and invoices. Or do you need integrations between systems, transport documents, labels, EDI and plans to expand to more countries, companies or customers?
Choosing the wrong software is very expensive. That’s why you can get a free pre-analysis with one of Tabellae’s specialists – based on Tabellae’s Software Selector. The pre-analysis enables you to make the right choice – the first time.
Book free pre-analysis
Microsoft Configurable Business Documents is an Output Management solution for small businesses with limited requirements when it comes to designing and distributing documents from Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
Benefits:
- License-free solution
- No servers
- Supports electronic formats
- Ability to create labels from warehouse module
Formpipe Lasernet is a flexible best-of-breed standard software that makes outbound business documents easy to create, design, format and distribute in any format.
Benefits:
- No code platform (clean configuration)
- Integration to other systems
- Easily customize documents according to your needs. individual requirements
- Scalable: add new markets, devices and documents
- Supports electronic formats
- Possibility of testing tools for automatic testing
- Advanced distribution setup, e.g. rules for selecting email recipients, printers, archiving, etc.
- Alert links – the ability to automatically trigger a print job
ForNAV is an ISV solution for Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Benefits:
- Integrated in ERP
- Advantageous in licensing
- Easy to work with reports and printing in Business Central
- Supports barcodes, custom fonts and direct printing
- Quickly get started customizing reports yourself
Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is Microsoft’s built-in free tool for projects with advanced external reports. The tool is used to code documents from scratch, which is typically not recommended.
Benefits:
- Integrated in ERP
- No license
- Managed via a web browser
- Can create and deliver various interactive and printed reports
Docentric, StreamServe, Interform, Bottomline, or Docs42 are also options.
Click to see similarities and differences among the five alternative software options.
Can we settle for a simple solution?
Let’s find out by asking the important questions, like
- Will you need to modify any documents from the production module or reports that are not supported in Dynamics Print Management?
- Want to print labels from the Warehouse module or other modules in D365?
- Need to include data on your documents from systems other than D365?
- Do you require your PDF documents to be signed with a certificate to avoid fraud?
- Do you have e-invoicing requirements such as OIOUBL, PEPPOL or similar?
- If so, can you live with having to maintain your documents in different solutions?
- Do you have any plans to use your Ouput Management solution outside of Dynamics 365?
If the answer is “no”, a simple solution is probably enough. If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more questions, you need a different software component that better supports your requirements and doesn’t require expensive modifications in the long run.
Comparison Guide
At Tabellae, we have developed a direct comparison of the features in:
- Microsoft Configurable Business Documents
- Docentric
- Lasernet Output Management by Formpipe
You can see an overview of the pros and cons of each software below. If you’re interested in the technical comparisons, download the full Comparison Guide here.
Get Comparison Guide
What happens if we chose the wrong software?
Choosing wrong is costly. The cheapest solution can become expensive in the long run.
The cheapest solution can become expensive in the long run. For some projects, coding is the right thing to do. Other times, 100 hours of coding now results in 700 hours of additional maintenance time for the customer in the long run.
Once you go live on one document management solution, nothing can be reused if you switch. Everything needs to be built from scratch – documents, logic, distribution channels, etc. Therefore it is important to make the right software choice from the beginning.
Which software meets the need?
The more complex the business requirements, the greater the difference between choosing simple and advanced software.
Solution architecture
- Dynamics Extension + Server Application
Data fetching methodology
- Query Wizard
- SSRS Report extensions
Supported output formats
- DOCX (add-on)
- Tiff
- EMF
- XLSX (add-on)
- XML
- CSV
- EDIFACT
- JSON
Archive of generated documents
- Archive first generated document
- Preview from print archive
- Reprint from print archive (multiple)
Destination logic: Lasernet framework
- Send as attachment to email
- Customize email template
- Use report data as variables in email templates
- Modify email from parameters
- Include D365 attachments with documents
- Preview email before sending
Design tool for report design: Lasernet Developer
- Support for custom fonts
- Support for barcodes
- Support for images
- Live preview when designing
- Include Terms and Conditions
- Group and sort data
Solution architecture
- Dynamics 365 functionality
Data fetching methodology
- Electronic Reporting Configurations
Supported output formats
- DOCX
- XLSX
- XML
- (CSV)
Archive of generated documents
- Archive first generated document
- Preview from print archive
- Reprint from print archive (via print management)
Destination logic: MS Print Management
- Send as attachment to email
- Customize email template (FO standard)
- Use report data as variables in email templates (FO standard)
- Modify email from parameters (FO standard)
- Include D365 attachments with documents
- Preview email before sending
Design tool for report design: MS Word
- Support for barcodes
- Support for images
- Include Terms and Conditions
Choosing wrong is costly. We help you make the right choice – the first time. Ask Tabellae to get the right software for the job.
