What is Unit4 and is it the right ERP platform for your organisation?

Unit4 is a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform built specifically for people- and project-focused organisations.

With strong capabilities across finance, project management, human capital management (HCM), and planning, Unit4 is designed to meet the needs of service-centric industries such as education, government, not-for-profit, and professional services.

Unlike traditional ERP systems built around manufacturing or supply chains, Unit4 focuses on empowering knowledge workers with intuitive tools, self-service functionality, and flexible workflows. Its modern architecture and “People Experience” approach make it a strong contender for organisations looking to unify finance, people, and planning in a single system.

This page outlines what Unit4 offers, who it suits best, and how to assess whether it aligns with your digital and operational strategy.

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Key features of Unit4 ERP

  • Financial management with multi-entity, multi-currency support
  • Project costing, billing, and resource planning
  • Human capital management including core HR and talent tools
  • Budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
  • Self-service portals for employees, managers, and project leads
  • Workflow automation and document management
  • Built-in analytics and reporting
  • Cloud-native platform with modular deployment

Which organisations is Unit4 best suited for?

Unit4 is typically a strong fit for:

  • Mid-sized to large organisations with project- or people-driven business models
  • Teams managing complex billing, funding, or grant structures
  • Organisations in higher education, local government, professional services, or not-for-profit sectors
  • Businesses seeking to modernise finance, HR, and project delivery in parallel
  • Those requiring strong localisation and compliance for Australia and New Zealand

Pros and cons of Unit4 ERP

Where Unit4 delivers value:

  • Designed specifically for service-based organisations
  • Strong project management and billing capabilities
  • Modern user experience with self-service functionality
  • Modular platform with flexibility to scale and adapt
  • Emphasis on user adoption, engagement, and productivity

Where it may fall short:

  • Not optimised for asset-intensive or manufacturing-led organisations
  • Smaller market presence in ANZ compared to major ERP brands
  • May require partner support for localisation and implementation
  • Depth of some modules may vary depending on deployment scope

Alternatives to Unit4

Depending on your size, industry, and operational complexity, alternatives to consider include:

  • Workday – strong for HCM, finance, and planning in professional and public services
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 – modular cloud ERP for service businesses needing flexibility
  • Oracle NetSuite – cloud-first ERP for fast-growing services firms
  • Deltek – purpose-built for project-based professional services
  • SAP S/4HANA – robust ERP for organisations with large finance and planning needs

Compare these in our Cloud ERP Software Solutions Guide.

Planning your Unit4 ERP journey

Whether you’re evaluating Unit4 for the first time or reviewing it against other service-sector platforms, SMC can help you plan your transformation with confidence.

Expert insights from SMC

At Solution Minds Consulting, we’ve supported organisations across professional services, government, education, and not-for-profit to assess and implement platforms like Unit4.

Unit4 stands out when people, projects, and finance are tightly interwoven. But like any ERP decision, success relies on aligning platform strengths with business outcomes, user needs, and internal capability. Our vendor-neutral approach ensures your decision is guided by strategic fit – not software hype.

Explore our support for ERP Selection, Change Management, and Digital Strategy and Roadmaps.