The smarter alternative to QAD for medical device teams
Matrix Quality is built by medical device engineers and delivers faster onboarding, richer AI tools, and end-to-end compliance — without QAD's complexity or cost.
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This comparison is based on publicly available information and internal analysis as of June 2026. Features and capabilities may change over time. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, you can refer to the official website of QAD.
Common frustrations with QAD
Teams switching from QAD consistently report the same pain points.
Deployments take far too long
QAD implementations are routinely measured in years, not weeks. The platform is built on a large ERP foundation that requires extensive configuration, data migration, and validation before a quality team can begin doing real work. For medical device companies under regulatory timelines, a 12–24 month deployment cycle is simply not viable.
The QMS is a module, not a product
QAD's quality management capabilities exist as a layer on top of a broader manufacturing ERP. This means quality teams are working inside a system that was not designed with their workflows in mind. Navigation is complex, terminology leans toward manufacturing operations rather than design controls or post-market surveillance, and teams often need expensive customisation to make standard MedTech workflows function properly.
Cost is disproportionate for dedicated quality teams
QAD is priced and scoped for large enterprise manufacturers. For a medical device company that primarily needs a robust eQMS — not a full ERP — the total cost of ownership is extremely high. Licensing, implementation partners, ongoing maintenance, and upgrade cycles all add up to a budget that dwarfs what a purpose-built quality platform would cost.
Heavy reliance on system integrators
Virtually every QAD deployment requires a certified implementation partner, and ongoing changes — even minor workflow adjustments — often require external consulting resources. This creates a long-term dependency that slows agility and inflates operational costs well beyond initial projections.
No meaningful AI capabilities
QAD was designed in an era before AI was a practical tool for quality management. There is no native AI for requirements analysis, no intelligent risk signal detection, and no automated test case generation. Quality teams are left doing manual, repetitive work that modern platforms now automate, putting them at a competitive disadvantage on speed and accuracy.
MedTech-specific workflows are an afterthought
Design controls, DHF management, post-market surveillance, and MDR/FDA submission-ready traceability are not native to QAD's architecture — they require configuration or third-party modules. Medical device teams frequently find that they are bending the software to fit their regulatory obligations rather than the software supporting those obligations out of the box.
All-in-one QMS solution managing compliance, quality, and operations
The challenge
Maintain quality and traceability with a simple workflow
- Complex regulatory requirements
- Data silos and inefficient processes
- Audit readiness
- Scalability and global operations
- Traditional QMS validation is complex
- Conventional QMS implementations are expensive
Our solution
All-in-one QMS solution managing compliance, quality, and operations
- Compliance (pre-configured workflows)
- Unified Platform (CAPAs, change management, training)
- Real-Time Visibility (Salesforce analytics)
- Scalable & Secure
- Reduced validation effort
- Low cost of ownership
See exactly how the two platforms stack up on the criteria that matter most to regulated quality teams.
This comparison is based on publicly available information and internal analysis as of June 2026. Features and capabilities may change over time. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, you can refer to the official website of QAD.
Switching is easy / Migrate from QAD in 4 simple steps
We analyse your QAD configuration and map it to Matrix Quality.
Documents, CAPA records, and training data migrated with full traceability and version history preserved.
Workflows, roles, and templates configured with IQ/OQ documentation ready.
Full onboarding with a dedicated Customer Success Manager from day one.
Stop fighting your quality system. / Start shipping safer products.
Join 500+ life sciences companies that chose Matrix Quality. Book a demo with one of our specialists today.