Exact Globe / Exact Online

Exact: The Benelux ERP Giant You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, Exact barely registers on most ERP shortlists. That's a mistake. With 675,000 customers and 40 years in business, they've quietly built one of Europe's most reliable mid-market ERP platforms.

Two Products, One Brand

Exact Globe is the traditional on-premise ERP — think manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and professional services. It's mature, stable, and deeply customizable. Exact Online is the cloud successor, handling accounting, CRM, project management, and inventory in a modern browser-based interface. Most new customers go straight to Online now, but Globe still runs thousands of manufacturing operations.

The transition between the two products isn't always smooth. Some Globe features haven't fully migrated to Online yet, which frustrates customers trying to move to the cloud. Exact has been closing this gap steadily, but it's not complete.

Financial Management Done Right

Accounting is Exact's bread and butter. The general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, bank reconciliation, and multi-currency handling are rock-solid. Dutch and Belgian accountants love it because the tax compliance is native — VAT returns, annual accounts, and regulatory filing all work without add-ons.

Why do 400+ accounting firms in the Netherlands use Exact as their primary platform? Because it connects accountants directly to their clients' books in real-time, eliminating the quarterly data dump that plagues other systems.

Project and Inventory Capabilities

The project management module tracks time, expenses, budgets, and profitability per project. Professional services firms and engineering companies rely on it heavily. Inventory management covers warehousing, serial/batch tracking, and basic manufacturing (bill of materials, work orders).

Don't expect deep manufacturing functionality on par with dedicated MRP systems. Exact handles light manufacturing well — assemble-to-order, kit building, simple production runs. Complex multi-level BOMs with routing and shop floor control? You'll need an add-on or a different platform.

Integration and Ecosystem

Exact's API is well-documented and actively maintained. The app marketplace (Exact App Center) has 350+ integrations covering e-commerce, logistics, POS, and specialized industry tools. Shopify, WooCommerce, Mollie payments — the standard European tech stack connects without custom development.

Honest Limitations

Reporting is adequate but not exceptional. Power users often export to Excel or connect Power BI for serious analysis. The mobile app works for approvals and time entry but lacks the full desktop experience. And if you're outside Europe, finding local Exact partners and support takes real effort.

Pricing

Exact Online starts at €9/month for basic accounting (solo users). The full ERP package with manufacturing and project management runs €59-149/user/month. Exact Globe pricing is quote-based and typically involves upfront licensing plus annual maintenance. Implementation for Online is fast — many companies go live in 2-4 weeks. Globe implementations take 3-6 months.