How to Choose the Right Acumatica Partner for Your Manufacturing Business

Choosing the right Acumatica partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when switching your manufacturing business to an ERP platform. Acumatica’s platform is powerful, flexible and designed for growth – but the success of your Acumatica implementation depends heavily on the partner who delivers it.

A strong partner doesn’t just configure software. They guide your teams through change, ensure the system supports your real-world operations, and help you build long-term value across the organisation.

This guide explores the qualities to look for in an Acumatica partner, how the best partners reduce implementation risk, and why the right choice plays a decisive role in the success of your project.

1. Proven experience that delivers confidence

Experience is one of the strongest predictors of success in an ERP project. A reliable Acumatica partner knows and understands the challenges that businesses face and can offer tried and tested solutions to overcome them.

Strong partners demonstrate:

• A clear, structured implementation approach
• Case studies that reflect similar business models or operational complexity.
• Experience with multi-entity groups, manufacturing workflows, costing, reporting and operational processes
• Continued engagement with Acumatica training and industry developments

Cedar Bay has been delivering innovative solutions to businesses for over 15 years, helping clients across the UK and globally to digitally transform their businesses. Our teams stay up to date with all the latest Acumatica and cloud ERP training, continuously building on their extensive software knowledge. We’ve shared our expertise in our blog, Your Guide to a Successful ERP Implementation.

2. Certified Acumatica Gold Partner status

Certification is a strong indicator of quality, capability and consistency. An Acumatica Gold Partner has demonstrated excellence in product knowledge, customer satisfaction and technical delivery. Certified Acumatica consultants are trained across Acumatica Finance, Distribution, CRM, Manufacturing and Project Accounting modules.

Cedar Bay is not only an Acumatica Gold Partner, but also winner of the Acumatica International Partner of the Year 2023, which recognises outstanding customer outcomes and implementation success.

This level of recognition provides confidence that your implementation is supported by accredited and experienced consultants.

3. Integration expertise that builds a stronger system

One of the biggest advantages of Acumatica is its ability to integrate seamlessly across finance, operations, manufacturing, supply chain and data capture systems. A skilled partner with Acumatica expertise understands how to leverage the platform’s native functionality while designing clean, secure integrations that enhance – not complicate – your operations. 

For example, Acumatica for manufacturing integrations might include CAD/PDM systems such as SolidWorks and AutoCAD, ecommerce platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce, EDI, carrier networks, and financial tools. These integrations are critical for sectors like manufacturing and distribution, where disconnected systems can slow operations and cause errors. 

Cedar Bay’s expertise in designing custom Acumatica solutions helps you build a scalable, future-proof platform that will protect your investment for years to come.

4. Industry knowledge that speeds up adoption

The most successful implementations happen when your Acumatica partner knows and understands your sector – its workflows, priorities, cost structures, and operational challenges. This industry insight allows you to make smarter decisions around configuration, reporting, controls and processes. This is explained more in our blog, How A Sector-Specific ERP Partner Can Help Accelerate Your Growth.

Industry-aware partners can:

• Anticipate challenges before they appear
• Align the system with operational reality
• Recommend best practice without slowing down the project
• Reduce friction and help users see value faster

Cedar Bay’s experience in manufacturing environments means we can help you implement a more intuitive and relevant system across your business.

5. A people-first approach to change management

Switching from legacy systems to a new ERP system like Acumatica is a significant shift for any organisation. Long-standing processes and comfort with familiar tools can create anxiety among employees. A strong Acumatica partner recognises this and guides your teams with empathy, clarity and reassurance.

A people-first partner will:

• Engage end users early to understand their concerns
• Implement a phased rollout to help employees gain confidence 
• Communicate the purpose behind change clearly
• Stay present and hands-on throughout go-live

This approach creates confidence, reduces resistance and ensures Acumatica becomes a positive step forward for the whole organisation.

6. Long-term partnership, not one-off delivery

A great Acumatica partner remains committed long after go-live. ERP evolves with your business, and your partner should support that evolution.

A good long-term partner provides:

• Ongoing system optimisation
• Continuous improvement recommendations
• Training and support as needs change
• Roadmap planning to align ERP with future goals

This ensures your Acumatica system continues to deliver value long after the initial implementation, and can adapt as your business grows.

1. What does an Acumatica partner actually do?

An Acumatica partner designs, configures, implements and supports your ERP system. They map your processes, integrate other systems, train users and ensure Acumatica meets your operational and financial needs.

2. Why choose a certified Acumatica Gold Partner?

An Acumatica Gold Partner has demonstrated consistent delivery quality, deep product expertise and a strong track record of successful Acumatica implementations. They help to reduce project risk and provide a higher standard of support.

3. How important is industry knowledge when choosing an Acumatica partner?

Industry knowledge is very important when choosing an Acumatic partner as this shapes smarter configuration, better workflows, and faster adoption. Partners familiar with your sector can anticipate challenges and provide best practice tailored to your environment.

4. How can an Acumatica partner help with user adoption?

Acumatica partners help bring your team on board through early engagement, clear communication, tailored training and hands-on support at critical moments like go-live. This reduces resistance and drives long-term success.

5. What are the red flags when choosing an Acumatica partner?

Lack of certification, reliance on third-party plug-ins, limited discovery, unclear methodology, and a purely technical (not people-focused) approach are all signs of a risky partner.

Your Acumatica partner plays a crucial role in shaping the success of your ERP project. The right Acumatica consultant brings experience, certification, industry insight and a thoughtful approach to change – ensuring the system delivers real value across the organisation.

By choosing a partner with strong credentials and a collaborative mindset, Acumatica becomes a strategic asset, not just a software upgrade. Find out more about how we implement Acumatica in manufacturing businesses with our Guide to Successfully Adopting a new ERP.