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An AI-native quoting engine versus an established Microsoft-based ship-supply ERP. Here is how they compare, on the facts.
ShipCentric (Denmark, operating since 1988) provides standard, Microsoft-based business-management software for ship suppliers and chandlers. Its Dynamic Ship Chandler and Dynamic Ship Supplier products manage the whole business from one system, including cross-referencing between vendor and internal product codes, order and quote processing, vendor pricing, inventory and Microsoft Outlook integration. Tidal is AI-native and focused: it reads email RFQs and generates margin-protected quotes automatically.
Both handle catalogue item codes. The main difference is the AI layer and the deployment model.
| Tidal | ShipCentric | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI software that turns email RFQs into margin-protected quotes | Established Microsoft-based ship-supply and chandling business-management software |
| AI email-RFQ to quote | Yes, reads email RFQs and generates quotes automatically | Not publicly disclosed; provides order/quote processing and Outlook integration |
| Item code matching | item-code matching to your own catalogue, 90%+ first-pass | Yes, cross-references vendor and internal codes |
| Automated margin-protected quoting | Yes, margin rules enforced automatically on every quote | Profit-margin analysis and quote processing; automated AI quoting not publicly disclosed |
| Platform | AI-native, cloud, standalone or ERP-integrated | Built on standard Microsoft technology (Dynamics 365 Business Central); Microsoft Certified Partner |
| Pricing | Pricing is scoped to your volume and the modules you need, so contact us for a quote. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Maturity | Newer, focused platform | Established 1988, Denmark; decades in ship supply |
| Best for | Chandlers wanting AI RFQ-to-quote automation | Suppliers wanting an established, full Microsoft-based business-management ERP |
Competitor details reflect publicly available information at the time of writing; "Not publicly disclosed" means the vendor does not publish that detail. Nothing here is a guess.
ShipCentric suits suppliers who want a mature, all-in-one business-management system built on Microsoft Dynamics, with order processing, inventory, vendor management and financials in one place, from a vendor that has served ship supply since 1988.
Tidal suits chandlers who want to automate the specific, painful step of turning inbound email RFQs into priced quotes, using AI and item-code matching, without adopting a full ERP first.
To be fair: ShipCentric has more than 35 years in ship supply and the breadth of a full Microsoft Dynamics business-management ERP, which Tidal does not attempt to replace. Tidal is a newer company with SOC 2 Type II in progress. Tidal's edge is the AI RFQ-to-quote layer and transparent pricing, not ERP breadth or track record, and Tidal can integrate with ERP systems like ShipNet and Bassnet rather than replace them.
Explore Tidal ship chandler software
See more comparisons: best ship chandler software in 2026.
Tidal is sold as separate modules, so you only add the part that removes typing. Approved quotes and supplier invoices go into your ERP through its API or an import file.
RFQs read in any buyer layout, every line priced from your catalogue, approved quotes sent to your ERP as sales orders.
See Quote Desk →Supplier invoices sent as a photo or PDF, read line by line, checked and approved, then created in your ERP as bills.
See Invoice Capture →
Screenshots from the live system at a Trinidad marine supplier, details blurred. See which ERPs Tidal connects to.
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