Aquilon ERP is a product you probably haven’t heard of unless you’re a small Canadian distributor or manufacturer who has outgrown QuickBooks and started Googling for something more capable. It occupies a specific niche: affordable, modular ERP software built for companies that need real inventory management, production planning, and financial controls but don’t have the budget or IT staff for SAP or Microsoft Dynamics. For the right buyer, it delivers surprisingly strong functionality. For the wrong buyer, it will frustrate you with its interface inconsistencies and limited ecosystem.
Our assessment: Aquilon ERP is a genuinely good fit for small manufacturers and wholesale distributors with annual revenues under $5 million who need enterprise-grade inventory and order management without enterprise-grade pricing. Its 17-module architecture covers a remarkable amount of ground for a product at this price point. But the lack of an API, English-only support, and inconsistent user interface across modules are real limitations that larger or more technically demanding organizations will bump into quickly.
What Is Aquilon ERP?
Aquilon Software was co-founded in 2006 by Phil Patton and Greg Condon when they acquired the intellectual property rights to Aquilon ERP. The two had already been working together for over 25 years developing, implementing, and supporting ERP systems before launching the company. Aquilon Software is headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (in the greater Vancouver area) and remains privately held.
The product is purpose-built for small and mid-sized manufacturers and distributors. Unlike general-purpose accounting software that bolts on inventory features as an afterthought, Aquilon was designed from the ground up to handle the operational complexity of companies that make, buy, store, and ship physical products. It serves industries including discrete manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, jewelry manufacturing, wholesale distribution, nutraceuticals, food production, and import/export businesses.
Aquilon ERP Key Features
Inventory Management
Inventory management is Aquilon’s strongest module and the primary reason most buyers choose it. The system provides real-time visibility across warehouses, SKUs, and locations. It tracks multiple units of measure, supports specialized inventory types, and offers various costing and pricing options including landed cost tracking. Automated replenishment and inventory turnover optimization help businesses maintain optimal stock levels without manual intervention.
Bin-level control, item barcoding, stock counting systems, and goods-in-transit tracking are all included. For distributors managing thousands of SKUs across multiple warehouses, this level of granularity is typically only found in much more expensive systems.
Financial Management
The financial management suite includes General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Bank Book, and Fixed Assets modules. These are fully integrated with the distribution and manufacturing modules, meaning financial transactions generated by sales orders, purchase orders, or production activities flow automatically into the accounting system. Cash flow management, financial consolidation, bank reconciliation, and budgeting/forecasting capabilities are included. A Canadian Payroll module is also available, which is a notable differentiator for Canadian businesses that often struggle with payroll compliance in U.S.-centric ERP systems.
Sales Order Management
The Sales Order module handles backorders, scheduled orders, special orders, direct shipments, drop shipments, and RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) processing. Order processing speed is a frequently cited strength; the system is designed for fast data entry with easy customer lookup and real-time inventory availability checks during the ordering process. Contract pricing, margin control, and backorder control allow businesses to enforce pricing rules and protect profitability at the point of sale.
Manufacturing and Production Planning
Aquilon’s manufacturing capabilities include Work In Progress (WIP), Production Planning, Manufacturing Estimating, and a Mill Order/Reman module. The system supports make-to-order, repetitive manufacturing, and special order production. Multi-level Bill of Materials (BOM) management, Bill of Labor, MRP (Material Requirements Planning), and the ability to create jobs from BOMs or estimates are all available. You can create purchase orders directly from jobs and issue kits to jobs, keeping production and procurement tightly linked.
The manufacturing modules are optional add-ons rather than part of the base package, which keeps costs down for pure distributors who don’t need them.
CRM and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
Aquilon includes both CRM and SRM modules as part of its financial management suite. The CRM module manages customer relationships, while the SRM module handles supplier/vendor relationships. Both integrate directly with the order management and purchasing modules. A customer value prioritization algorithm helps businesses identify and focus on their most profitable customer relationships.
Purchasing and Procurement
The purchasing module covers purchase order management, vendor/supplier management, procurement optimization, and MRP for purchased materials. It automates reorder points based on inventory levels and demand patterns. The system supports landed cost tracking as an optional module, which is critical for importers who need to calculate true product costs including freight, duties, and customs fees.
360-Degree Management Dashboard
Aquilon provides a management dashboard that consolidates real-time data from all 17 modules into a single view. The dashboard offers drill-down capabilities for investigating specific transactions or trends. Displays are fully customizable, allowing each user to configure their view around the data that matters most to their role. Sales analysis tools provide reporting on sales performance, trends, and customer buying patterns.
FAST Implementation Methodology
Aquilon uses what it calls the FAST Implementation methodology, designed to reduce the cost and risk of ERP system transitions. The approach includes data management tools for migrating inventory, customer, and supplier data from legacy systems. Implementation timelines of under three weeks have been reported, which is remarkably fast for an ERP system. The methodology includes Excel import capabilities for bulk data loading and configuration.
Aquilon ERP Pricing and Plans
Aquilon ERP uses a subscription-based pricing model charged per named user per month for cloud deployment. The vendor’s pricing page does not publish specific dollar amounts, instead requiring prospective buyers to request a demo and quote. However, multiple third-party sources consistently list starting prices in the range of $120 to $125 per user per month for cloud licenses that include base functionality plus financial and distribution management modules. At least one source lists prices as high as $175 per user per month, so actual pricing likely varies based on module selection and user count.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per named user, per month (subscription) |
| Minimum Users | 3 users required |
| Starting Price (third-party estimates) | $120 to $125/user/month for cloud (confirm with vendor) |
| Starter Bundle | Discounted core modules, limited to 5 users maximum |
| Volume Discounts | Tiered pricing available beyond 10 cloud users |
| Contract Terms | 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year options |
| Subscription Includes | All software updates, upgrades, and support |
| Optional Add-on Modules | Manufacturing management, fixed asset management, landed cost tracking (additional cost) |
| On-Premise Pricing | Contact vendor directly |
| Implementation Costs | Estimated $5,000 to $50,000+ depending on complexity |
| Free Trial | No; vendor offers personalized demos only |
For a 3-user cloud deployment at the commonly cited $120/user/month rate, you’re looking at approximately $360/month or $4,320/year before implementation costs. That positions Aquilon as significantly more affordable than mid-market ERPs like Sage 300 or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, while being more expensive than basic accounting-plus-inventory tools. The Starter bundle provides a lower entry point for very small businesses, though it caps at 5 users and limits available features.
Implementation costs are the wild card. Simple deployments with limited data migration can run around $5,000, but complex implementations with extensive customization, data migration from legacy systems, and training can reach $50,000 or more. Training costs are typically estimated between $500 and $5,000, and customization work runs $1,000 to $10,000.
Integrations
Aquilon ERP’s integration ecosystem is limited, and this is one of the product’s most significant weaknesses. The confirmed integrations are:
- Microsoft Excel: Import and export functionality for data management, reporting, and bulk data modifications
- Microsoft Outlook: Email integration
- WooCommerce: E-commerce integration for online stores
- Shopify: E-commerce integration
- Sphere WMS: Warehouse management system integration
- BarTender: Label printing and barcoding
Critically, Aquilon ERP does not offer an API. This means custom integrations with other business tools (payment processors, shipping platforms, CRMs, business intelligence tools) are not available through standard programmatic interfaces. For businesses that rely on connecting multiple software systems, this is a meaningful limitation. There is no mention of Zapier, Make, or other middleware platform support.
Reporting is handled through built-in tools with Excel and PDF export capabilities rather than through integrations with third-party business intelligence platforms. The lack of an API effectively locks your data inside the Aquilon ecosystem unless you export it manually.
Customer Support
Aquilon Software offers customer support through email and phone channels, supplemented by an online knowledge base. Cloud customers reportedly have access to 24/7 support, while on-premise customers may have different support availability. The subscription fee includes support, so there are no separate support tier costs.
The company’s approach to sales and onboarding is distinctly hands-on. Rather than offering self-service demos or trial software, Aquilon conducts discovery calls to understand each prospect’s business needs, followed by tailored one-on-one demos via screen share. The vendor explains that generic demos don’t adequately represent the software’s capabilities across different industries, and that the software requires configuration and training to be successful.
The quality of ongoing support receives mixed marks. The founding team, particularly Phil Patton, is known for being responsive and actively engaged with customers. The management team is receptive to feature requests and has a track record of implementing enhancements based on client feedback. However, some assessments indicate that day-to-day support quality is “okay but not the greatest” compared to larger ERP vendors. More training resources and documentation would help, especially given the software’s depth of features and the learning curve for new users.
Pros and Cons
After thoroughly evaluating Aquilon ERP’s capabilities, pricing, user feedback, and competitive positioning, here is our assessment of the product’s key strengths and weaknesses.
Pros
- Strong value for money, especially for businesses under $5 million in revenue; significantly cheaper than mid-market competitors like Sage 300 or Dynamics 365
- Remarkably fast implementation with the FAST methodology; some deployments completed in under three weeks
- Deep inventory management capabilities including real-time tracking, multiple units of measure, landed cost tracking, and bin-level control
- Modular 17-module architecture lets businesses pay only for the functionality they need and scale up over time
- Responsive, hands-on development team that actively incorporates customer feedback into product enhancements
- Easy migration path from Sage products with strong Excel import/export tools for data loading
Cons
- No API available, severely limiting integration options with third-party business tools and custom applications
- Inconsistent user interface across modules creates a disjointed experience and steepens the learning curve
- Limited and inflexible reporting; no drag-and-drop report builder or easily customizable report templates
- English-only language support restricts usefulness for multilingual or international operations
- Day-to-day support quality is mixed; adequate but not on par with larger ERP vendors
- No free trial or self-service demo; evaluation requires scheduled discovery calls and personalized demos
Who Should Use Aquilon ERP?
Best fit: Small manufacturers and wholesale distributors with 3 to 50 employees and annual revenues under $5 million. Specifically, companies that have outgrown entry-level accounting software (like QuickBooks or Sage 50) and need real inventory management, multi-level BOM support, or production planning capabilities without the six-figure price tag and 6-month implementation timeline of mid-market ERPs.
Ideal industries: Wholesale distribution, discrete manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, jewelry manufacturing, food production, nutraceuticals, and import/export businesses. Canadian companies benefit from the built-in Canadian Payroll module and the vendor’s local presence in British Columbia.
Companies transitioning from Sage products are particularly well-served, as the migration path is reportedly smooth and the system’s accounting discipline mirrors what Sage users expect.
Who should look elsewhere: Companies that need extensive third-party integrations should be cautious, as the lack of an API is a hard limitation. Businesses with more than 50 users or revenues significantly above $10 million will likely need the scalability and ecosystem of a mid-market ERP like Dynamics 365 Business Central or NetSuite. Organizations that need multilingual support (the product is English-only), mobile-first workflows, or self-service customer portals should also consider alternatives. If your business depends on connecting your ERP to a CRM like Salesforce, a shipping platform like ShipStation, or a BI tool like Power BI via live integrations, Aquilon’s closed ecosystem will be a deal-breaker.
Aquilon ERP Alternatives
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Business Central is the natural step up from Aquilon for growing companies that need a broader integration ecosystem, multi-language support, and the backing of Microsoft’s infrastructure. It excels at connecting with the broader Microsoft 365 suite and offers a vast partner network for customization. However, it costs significantly more (starting around $70/user/month for Essentials, but implementation costs are much higher), takes longer to implement, and can be overkill for a 5-person distributor. Choose Business Central if you’re growing past 50 users or need deep Power BI integration.
Sage 300 (formerly Sage Accpac)
Sage 300 is a direct competitor in the Canadian small-to-mid-market ERP space. It offers broader third-party integration options and a larger partner ecosystem than Aquilon. However, it’s more expensive, implementations are typically longer and more complex, and the interface is showing its age. Several Aquilon customers specifically cite switching from Sage products and finding Aquilon more affordable and faster to deploy. Choose Sage 300 if you need more extensive reporting, multi-currency capabilities, or a larger support network.
Katana Manufacturing ERP
Katana is a modern, cloud-native manufacturing ERP with a clean interface and strong Shopify/WooCommerce integrations. It’s easier to learn than Aquilon and has a proper API for custom integrations. However, it lacks the depth of Aquilon’s financial management modules and is less suited for complex distribution operations. Choose Katana if you’re a small manufacturer selling primarily through e-commerce and value a modern UX over accounting depth.
DEAR Systems (now Cin7 Core)
Cin7 Core offers strong inventory management with more native integrations than Aquilon, including connections to major e-commerce platforms, accounting tools, and shipping carriers. It has a proper API and a more modern interface. However, its manufacturing capabilities are less mature than Aquilon’s, and it’s priced similarly or higher for comparable user counts. Choose Cin7 Core if integrations and e-commerce connectivity are your top priorities.
NetSuite
Oracle NetSuite is the enterprise cloud ERP that growing companies often evaluate alongside Aquilon. It offers vastly more functionality, a mature API, global multi-entity and multi-currency support, and a massive ecosystem. It also costs 5 to 10 times more, takes months to implement, and is dramatically more complex. Choose NetSuite if you’re a $10M+ revenue company with plans to scale significantly and need a platform you won’t outgrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Aquilon ERP offer a free trial?
No. Aquilon Software explicitly states on its website that it does not offer trial software. The vendor’s position is that the software needs to be configured to your specific business needs and requires training to evaluate properly. Instead, Aquilon offers personalized one-on-one demos via screen share after an initial discovery call to understand your requirements.
What is the minimum number of users for Aquilon ERP?
Aquilon ERP requires a minimum of 3 users for cloud deployment. The Starter bundle option is capped at a maximum of 5 users and includes a limited set of core modules at a discounted rate. Tiered pricing is available for deployments exceeding 10 cloud users.
Can Aquilon ERP be deployed on-premise?
Yes. Aquilon ERP offers three deployment options: on-premise, hosted, and SaaS (cloud). On-premise pricing is not publicly listed and requires a direct inquiry with the vendor. Cloud deployment is the most commonly discussed option and includes support, updates, and upgrades in the subscription fee.
Does Aquilon ERP have an API?
No. Aquilon ERP does not currently offer an API for custom integrations. The confirmed integrations are limited to Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, WooCommerce, Shopify, Sphere WMS, and BarTender. If you need to connect Aquilon to other business systems programmatically, this is a significant limitation to consider.
What industries does Aquilon ERP serve?
Aquilon ERP primarily serves small and mid-sized manufacturers and distributors. Specific industries include wholesale distribution, discrete manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, jewelry manufacturing, food production, nutraceuticals, import/export businesses, and multi-entity companies. The software is English-only, which limits its usefulness for organizations operating in non-English-speaking markets.
How long does Aquilon ERP take to implement?
Aquilon uses its proprietary FAST Implementation methodology, and some deployments have been completed in under three weeks. However, implementation timelines vary based on data migration complexity, the number of modules being deployed, and customization requirements. More complex implementations with legacy system migrations can take considerably longer.
Does Aquilon ERP support mobile access?
Yes. Aquilon offers mobile access through Aquilon2Go, which runs on Windows tablets and devices. The extent of mobile functionality compared to the full desktop application is not clearly documented; contact the vendor for details on mobile capabilities for your specific use case.
The Bottom Line
Aquilon ERP is a focused, well-executed product that punches above its weight for a specific buyer: the small Canadian manufacturer or wholesale distributor with under $5 million in revenue who needs real ERP functionality without real ERP pricing. Its 17-module architecture, fast implementation methodology, and responsive development team make it a genuinely compelling option in a market dominated by either oversimplified tools or overpriced enterprise platforms.
The product’s weaknesses are real but predictable for a small-vendor ERP. The lack of an API is the single biggest limitation, effectively isolating Aquilon from the broader ecosystem of business tools that modern companies rely on. The inconsistent interface across modules, limited reporting customization, and English-only support further narrow the ideal buyer profile. If you need your ERP to talk to Salesforce, ShipStation, or Power BI, Aquilon is not your product.
For the right company, though, Aquilon delivers outstanding value. A 3-user cloud deployment with full financial and distribution management for roughly $360/month, implemented in under three weeks, is a proposition that Sage 300 and Dynamics 365 Business Central simply cannot match. If you’re a small distributor or manufacturer in Canada (or elsewhere in North America) struggling with spreadsheets or outgrowing basic accounting software, Aquilon deserves a spot on your shortlist. Request a demo, be specific about your requirements, and evaluate it against at least one of the alternatives listed above before committing.
