Qad

What is QAD

QAD is a cloud-based provider of enterprise software for manufacturing and supply chain operations. Its product set centers on cloud ERP and connected applications designed for manufacturers in discrete and process industries — including automotive, industrial, high-tech, consumer packaged goods and life sciences. QAD positions its suite as a set of Adaptive Applications that combine core ERP capabilities with planning, execution, integration and analytics.

QAD products are delivered primarily as multi-tenant cloud services and through partner-hosted or managed-cloud arrangements. The vendor emphasizes industry-specific process support (e.g., make-to-order, configure-to-order, complex multi-site manufacturing) and global commerce capabilities such as multi-company consolidation, multi-currency, and regulatory compliance. QAD also publishes customer cases showing measured operational improvements for typical manufacturing problems: reduced cycle times, improved OEE, fewer stock shortages and faster new-site rollouts.

Typical QAD customers range from mid-market manufacturers expanding internationally to larger OEMs replacing legacy on-prem ERP suites. Adoption patterns favor organizations that need manufacturing-specific workflows (shop-floor scheduling, execution, traceability) combined with supply chain planning and supplier collaboration features that span multiple plants and geographies.

QAD features

What does QAD do?

QAD provides a modular set of cloud applications designed to manage manufacturing and supply chain operations end-to-end. Key capabilities include:

• Core financials and accounting integration with manufacturing ledger support
• Production planning and scheduling, including finite scheduling and capacity management
• Manufacturing Execution System (MES) features for shop-floor control and OEE tracking
• Supply chain planning: demand planning, replenishment, and multi-echelon inventory optimization
• Order management and configurable fulfillment flows for complex orders
• Supplier portals and supplier collaboration tools for purchase-to-pay workflows
• Quality management with lot and serial traceability, non-conformance handling, and corrective actions
• Analytics and dashboards that combine operational and financial metrics for decision support
• Integration framework and partner ecosystem (e.g., integration platforms) to connect MES, equipment, third-party logistics and CRM

QAD also focuses on industry templates and pre-configured processes to reduce time-to-value for industry verticals. The platform supports localization (tax, regulatory reporting), distributed manufacturing models, and multi-site data consolidation for global visibility.

QAD pricing

QAD offers flexible pricing tailored to different business needs, from individual product evaluations to full enterprise implementations. Their pricing structure typically includes subscription licensing with both monthly and annual billing options and discounts for multi-year commitments and bundled product suites. Pricing is frequently quoted per module or per user role (e.g., named users for finance or planner roles, plus site or transaction-based fees for execution and integration).

In practice, QAD engagements vary from small subscription deployments for single-site manufacturers to multi-year enterprise agreements that include implementation, configuration, support and optional managed services. Customers should plan for software subscription fees, implementation and integration costs, data migration, and ongoing support and training budgets.

For implementation and total cost of ownership guidance, QAD publishes case studies and partner resources describing typical timelines and cost drivers. For tailored, up-to-date quotes and to compare monthly versus annual savings, contact QAD sales directly. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

How much is QAD per month

QAD offers flexible subscription options and does not publish a single per-month price publicly. Monthly prices are typically provided as part of a custom quote that reflects selected modules, user counts, transaction volumes and integration requirements. Organizations often receive per-user or per-site monthly subscription rates combined with implementation fees and optional managed services.

To estimate monthly costs, request a detailed quote from QAD that separates recurring subscription fees from one-time professional services. For many mid-market manufacturers, monthly subscription costs are comparable to other enterprise cloud ERP vendors when normalized across modules and support levels. Check their official pricing page to request a quote and compare monthly versus annual billing.

How much is QAD per year

QAD structures annual pricing as subscription agreements with discounts commonly applied for annual or multi-year commitments. Annual contracts typically roll up monthly subscription charges into a yearly invoice and often reduce effective monthly rates through a contractual discount. Enterprise deployments will also include annual maintenance, support and potential hosting or managed services charges.

When planning annual budgets, include license subscriptions, support fees, cloud hosting or managed services, and ongoing enhancement and integration costs. Speak with QAD or a certified partner to obtain a detailed annual estimate for your selected product mix. Visit their official pricing page to start that process.

How much is QAD in general

QAD pricing ranges from modular subscription fees for single-site deployments to multi-hundred-thousand dollar annual agreements for enterprise global deployments. Small implementations focused on a limited set of modules or a single plant typically fall at the lower end of that spectrum, while global rollouts that include multiple modules, complex integrations and professional services push the total into higher enterprise pricing bands.

Budget planning items to consider when evaluating QAD include:

• Software subscription: per-module or per-user recurring fees
• Implementation costs: configuration, data migration, testing and training
• Integration and middleware: connecting PLCs, MES, CRM, and third-party logistics
• Support and maintenance: annual support contracts and SLAs
• Change management and training: internal adoption and process redesign

Visit their official pricing page for a tailored quotation that reflects your environment and deployment model.

What is QAD used for

QAD is used to run the end-to-end operational backbone of manufacturing companies. Its core use cases include:

• Managing production operations across multiple plants, including scheduling, execution and performance monitoring
• Consolidating supply chain planning, procurement and supplier collaboration to reduce lead times and stockouts
• Ensuring product quality and regulatory traceability across batch, lot, and serialized production
• Integrating transactional manufacturing data with financials for accurate cost accounting and margin analysis
• Automating order-to-cash and procure-to-pay processes to reduce manual work and increase throughput

Organizations deploy QAD to replace legacy on-prem systems, standardize processes across sites after mergers and acquisitions, and enable cloud-first strategies for manufacturing systems. It is commonly used where manufacturing-specific capabilities (shop-floor control, quality workflows) are required alongside enterprise financial controls and global compliance.

Pros and cons of QAD

Pros:

• QAD delivers deep manufacturing and supply chain functionality tailored to industries that require traceability, complex scheduling and multi-site coordination. Customers benefit from built-in workflows for typical shop-floor tasks and industry templates that reduce configuration time.
• The cloud delivery model reduces on-premise infrastructure requirements and supports centralized upgrades and security management. QAD’s partner ecosystem can provide integrations to equipment, IoT platforms and third-party logistics providers.
• QAD provides case studies showing concrete operational improvements (reduced cycle times, lower inventory levels, faster site rollouts) which can inform ROI calculations for prospective customers.

Cons:

• Pricing and licensing are typically quoted per engagement and can be complex; organizations need careful scoping to avoid unexpected professional services costs during implementation. Large rollouts often require substantial change management resource commitments.
• Deep industry-specific functionality sometimes means steeper initial configuration compared with more generic ERP systems, and organizations may need vendor or partner-led implementation to realize full capability.
• Integration with heterogeneous legacy systems and shop-floor equipment can require significant middleware or partner expertise; expect additional costs for custom integrations and real-time telemetry from plant equipment.

QAD free trial

QAD does not normally offer a public self-serve free trial in the way consumer SaaS products do. Instead, the vendor typically provides structured evaluations that include product demonstrations, sandbox access for pilot projects, proof-of-concept engagements and time-limited sandbox environments for testing. These evaluation options are designed to let a manufacturing team validate core workflows such as planning, execution and quality before committing to a full deployment.

If your organization prefers hands-on testing, request a sandbox or pilot environment through QAD sales or a certified implementation partner. Pilots commonly run for a set number of weeks to exercise critical scenarios — production scheduling, order fulfillment, and supplier onboarding — and produce measurable acceptance criteria.

For details on available evaluation programs and to request a demo or pilot, contact QAD via their contact and demo request resources.

Is QAD free

Is QAD free

No, QAD is not a free product. QAD is sold as subscription software and professional services; licensing, implementation and support fees apply. Small-scale demos or sandbox trials may be provided for evaluation, but production use requires a paid agreement.

QAD API

QAD provides integration capabilities and APIs to connect third-party systems, shop-floor devices and analytics platforms. The integration story typically includes RESTful APIs, data exchange services, and support for integration platforms through certified connectors. QAD also works with integration partners that provide pre-built connectors to popular middleware platforms.

Developers and IT teams use QAD APIs to:

• Automate data flows between ERP and MES, WMS, CRM and e-commerce platforms
• Push and pull BOM, inventory and routing data for synchronization with PLM and CAD systems
• Receive event-driven notifications from QAD for order changes, quality events or production completions

For technical documentation, available endpoints and authentication details, consult QAD developer resources and partner documentation. To begin integration work and request API access, see QAD’s technical resources and contact channels on their site: QAD developer and integration resources.

10 QAD alternatives

Paid alternatives to QAD

• SAP S/4HANA — Enterprise-grade ERP with deep manufacturing, planning and global finance features; strong for large multinational manufacturers with complex supply chains.
• Oracle NetSuite — Cloud ERP well-suited to mid-market organizations that need unified financials, order management and basic manufacturing modules with rapid deployment options.
• Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) — Manufacturing-focused cloud suite with strong discrete and process manufacturing capabilities and industry-specific templates.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain — Integrated ERP and planning solution with a broad partner ecosystem and native Microsoft stack integration.
• IFS Applications — Enterprise suite used by manufacturers and service-centric businesses, with strengths in asset management, field service and complex project manufacturing.
• Plex Systems — Cloud manufacturing ERP with strong MES and shop-floor integration, aimed at mid-market manufacturers prioritizing production execution.
• Epicor ERP — ERP for manufacturing with functionality across production, planning, supply chain and financials targeted at mid-market to enterprise customers.

Open source alternatives to QAD

• Odoo — Open-source ERP with modular apps for manufacturing, inventory and accounting; suits smaller manufacturers that can customize the platform.
• ERPNext — Open-source ERP focused on SMBs with manufacturing, inventory and quality modules; community-driven and extensible for production workflows.
• Dolibarr — Lightweight open-source ERP/CRM with basic inventory and sales features; appropriate for smaller operations or proof-of-concept evaluations.
• Apache OFBiz — Framework for building custom ERP and e-commerce solutions; requires development resources to implement manufacturing workflows.

Frequently asked questions about QAD

What is QAD used for?

QAD is used for cloud-based manufacturing and supply chain management. It helps manufacturers manage production planning and execution, supply chain planning, quality control, and finance functions across multiple sites. Organizations use QAD to consolidate operations, gain visibility into plant performance and support industry-specific manufacturing processes.

How does QAD handle manufacturing execution?

QAD includes manufacturing execution capabilities focused on shop-floor control and performance tracking. Typical features include order dispatching, resource and routing management, time and attendance capture, and OEE reporting. Integration with equipment and MES devices is commonly achieved through middleware or partner connectors for real-time telemetry.

Does QAD integrate with third-party systems?

Yes, QAD integrates with third-party systems using APIs and partner connectors. Integrations commonly link QAD to PLM, CRM, WMS, PLCs and analytics platforms, and QAD works with integration partners and middleware providers to accelerate those connections. Organizations should plan integration scope carefully to account for data mapping and error handling.

Can QAD support multi-site and global operations?

Yes, QAD is designed for multi-site, multi-company and multi-currency operations. The platform supports consolidation across plants, localized compliance, and global master data management to provide consolidated reporting and distributed execution. Implementation best practices include harmonizing master data and testing localization scenarios early in the project.

Is QAD suitable for small manufacturers?

QAD can be suitable for small manufacturers but is often targeted at mid-market and larger organizations. Small shops with simple needs may prefer lighter-weight or open-source alternatives, while manufacturers with multi-site complexity or stringent compliance and traceability requirements benefit more from QAD’s industry features.

Why choose QAD over a generic ERP?

QAD provides manufacturing-specific workflows and industry templates that reduce the need for heavy customization. Where manufacturers require features such as serial/lot traceability, shop-floor scheduling and supplier collaboration tailored to production, QAD delivers those capabilities out of the box compared with more general-purpose ERPs.

When should a company evaluate QAD?

A company should evaluate QAD when it needs cloud-native manufacturing and supply chain capabilities across multiple sites or expects rapid expansion. Typical triggers include legacy ERP end-of-life, merger-driven consolidation, need for improved traceability or quality processes, and strategic moves to standardize manufacturing processes across plants.

Where can I find QAD customer references and case studies?

QAD publishes customer success stories and case studies on its website and blog. These references document outcomes such as reduced overtime, inventory improvements and faster site deployments; review them to compare similar industry scenarios and ROI metrics. See the QAD blog for recent customer stories and press releases: QAD blog and customer stories.

How much does QAD cost per user?

QAD offers custom pricing rather than a single published per-user price. Costs depend on selected modules, user roles, transaction volumes and deployment model; quotes are provided by QAD sales or certified partners. Request a tailored estimate through their official pricing page to get per-user or per-module rates.

Does QAD provide training and support?

Yes, QAD provides onboarding, training and support services as part of its offerings. Training options include instructor-led sessions, on-demand content, role-based learning paths and partner-delivered workshops; enterprise customers can negotiate dedicated support SLAs and customer success services. Confirm available training packages and SLAs during contract negotiations.

QAD careers

QAD maintains a corporate careers site where roles across product development, cloud operations, sales, professional services and customer support are listed. Positions vary by geography and may include remote opportunities, particularly for cloud engineering and support roles. Prospective candidates should review job descriptions for required domain experience in manufacturing or ERP implementations.

QAD also offers internships and graduate programs in some regions, and it partners with implementation partners and customers to create career paths in manufacturing IT and operations. For up-to-date openings and recruiting events, consult QAD’s careers page and corporate LinkedIn presence.

QAD affiliate

QAD operates a partner ecosystem rather than a public consumer-affiliate program; partners include system integrators, consulting firms and technology alliances that license and implement QAD solutions. Referral and partner programs vary by region and partner level; qualified resellers and implementation partners can provide regional sales and delivery services.

If you are interested in partner opportunities or sales referrals, contact QAD’s partner program team via their partner pages to learn about requirements, certification paths and business models.

Where to find QAD reviews

Independent reviews of QAD can be found on enterprise software review platforms and analyst reports that cover manufacturing ERP and supply chain solutions. Customer reviews, feature comparisons and deployment stories are available on sites such as software review marketplaces and industry analyst summaries. To get balanced perspectives, read both user-submitted reviews and analyst evaluations and, where possible, request peer references from QAD for organizations in your industry.

For vendor-supplied materials, case studies and press releases that document specific outcomes, see QAD’s customer resources and the QAD blog: QAD blog and press releases.