Platforms

Which ERP or CRM should you choose: Zoho, Dynamics 365, Odoo or HubSpot?

Each platform has its strengths and limitations. We deploy Zoho, Odoo and Dynamics 365 ourselves, and we steer you towards the one your processes, your existing ecosystem and your budget point to.

In brief

ERP or CRM: which platform fits which company?

Djtal, the operational AI specialist for Swiss companies, works with four ERP and CRM platforms (Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Odoo and HubSpot) and has deployed Zoho as an Authorized Zoho Partner since 2017. A CRM manages customer relationships; an ERP runs the whole business. We set out each platform's strengths and limitations, then recommend one for your processes and budget.

Business platforms (ERP / CRM)

When to choose Zoho, Dynamics 365, Odoo or HubSpot.

Zoho

An integrated suite for companies with wide-ranging needs.

The Zoho One suite brings together the tools a company needs every day (CRM, accounting, support, projects, storage), with Zoho's Zia AI built in. A single licence, at about EUR 37 per user per month, covers more than 50 applications.

Strengths

Authorized Zoho Partner since 2017
Full business coverage under a single licence
Native Zia AI included
European hosting (Amsterdam, Dublin)

Worth bearing in mind

Some functions are less advanced than in single-domain specialist tools
A broad suite, which can be more than very narrowly focused needs require

Dedicated Zoho page

Microsoft Dynamics 365

For organisations rooted in Microsoft 365.

A comprehensive CRM and ERP suite, natively integrated with Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and the Power Platform. It makes sense when your organisation already lives in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Strengths

Native Microsoft 365 integration
Power Platform and Copilot
Suited to mid-sized organisations and above

Worth bearing in mind

Higher licence and implementation costs
The return on investment comes mainly in an established Microsoft environment

Dedicated Microsoft Dynamics 365 page

Odoo

The European open-source alternative.

A modular, integrated CRM and ERP suite with source code you can modify. It is the natural choice when open source and ownership of the code are priorities, or when deep ERP integration is needed from the start.

Strengths

Open source, with code you can modify
ERP-centred model, suited to manufacturing and wholesale distribution
Strong European community

Worth bearing in mind

Some features are priced as extra modules
Your team needs to build up Odoo skills to get the full benefit

Dedicated Odoo page

HubSpot

For marketing-led organisations.

A strong marketing automation platform with a free built-in CRM. It makes sense when your growth strategy relies on inbound marketing, editorial content and marketing automation.

Strengths

A recognised standard in marketing automation
Inbound and content marketing
Free built-in CRM at entry level

Worth bearing in mind

Moving up to a paid tier quickly becomes expensive
Less well equipped for ERP and accounting functions

A special mention goes to Abacus, for specific fiduciary (accounting and tax) needs, which we cover through our partner fiduciary firm.

Comparison

Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Odoo and HubSpot in a side-by-side comparison.

These ballpark figures help you frame your thinking. The right choice always depends on your real context, which is what our audit is for. Prices are the vendors' published indicative rates, excluding implementation.

Criterion	Zoho One	Microsoft Dynamics 365	Odoo	HubSpot
Type	Integrated CRM and ERP suite (more than 50 applications)	Modular CRM and ERP suite	Modular open-source CRM and ERP suite	CRM and marketing automation
Indicative price	About EUR 37/user/month (full suite)	High, per module and per user	Modular, per application activated	Free at entry level, paid tiers quickly become expensive
Functional coverage	Very broad, under a single licence	Broad, strong in a Microsoft environment	Broad, ERP-centred (manufacturing, wholesale distribution)	Strong in marketing, weaker in ERP and accounting
Native AI	Zia, included	Copilot, as a paid option	Ask AI (Odoo 19)	Breeze
Hosting	Europe (Amsterdam, Dublin)	Azure cloud (Swiss and EU data centres)	Self-hosted (including in Switzerland) or cloud	Cloud (EU option)
Ideal profile	Companies of 20–250 employees with wide-ranging needs, seeking predictable costs	Organisations rooted in Microsoft 365	Manufacturing and wholesale distribution, data sovereignty, open source	Marketing-led organisations

Indicative public vendor prices (2026), excluding implementation, to be confirmed at contract stage. Djtal has been an Authorized Zoho Partner since 2017. We deploy Zoho, Odoo and Microsoft Dynamics (without official partner status for the latter two).

Our method

How we narrow the choice.

A short audit weighs your business needs against what you already run and what you can spend. The deliverable is a reasoned tool recommendation and a costed implementation plan. The AI layer comes afterwards, once you know which AI model and which agents will run on the platform you have chosen.

01 · Assessment

We map your current tools, your priority business processes and your constraints, such as GDPR, the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), integrations and budget. A handful of interviews over a few days.

02 · Reasoned comparison

We compare two or three platforms that fit your context side by side, with their strengths, limitations and total cost over three years.

03 · Actionable plan

You receive a tool recommendation, the scope of phase 1, a target budget and a schedule, in a deliverable written for your leadership team.

Frequently asked questions

Your questions on choosing a platform.

What is the difference between an ERP and a CRM?

A CRM (customer relationship management) system handles the customer relationship: contacts, opportunities and sales interactions. An ERP (enterprise resource planning) system covers the running of the whole business: finance, sales, purchasing, stock and projects. The four platforms Djtal works with combine the two to varying degrees. Zoho One and Odoo are integrated suites, Dynamics 365 is a modular CRM and ERP, and HubSpot is first and foremost a CRM geared to marketing.

Why does Djtal limit itself to four platforms?

Djtal limits itself to four platforms because we only recommend what we know how to deploy. Zoho has been Djtal's core business since 2017, and we deliver full Odoo and Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementations. HubSpot we integrate and connect to your wider ecosystem. For anything beyond these four platforms, we say so and point you elsewhere.

How much does Zoho One cost?

Zoho One costs about EUR 37 per user per month for more than 50 applications under a single licence (CRM, accounting, support, projects, storage), with the Zia AI included and European hosting (Amsterdam, Dublin).

Can AI agents be added whichever platform we choose?

Yes. Djtal connects AI agents to any of the four platforms it works with, whichever you choose. Agents plug into the platform (Zia for Zoho, Ask AI for Odoo, the official MCP server for Dynamics 365) or draw on an external model (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini), always under human oversight.

Choosing the right platform

Three answers usually settle the choice.

Come with three things: your key processes, your budget and your data sovereignty requirements. Together they almost always point to a single platform; half an hour of conversation typically names it. There is no obligation.

Speak to one of our experts

Last updated: 8 October 2026