ERP System: Why One-Size-Fits-All Software Is Counterproductive for Most Businesses

Businesses within the same industry might have the exact same departments, but that does not mean they function the same way either. In fact, their internal processes might be vastly dissimilar, in which case forcing your company to adapt to generic software can spell operational doom pretty quickly.

In fact, if you do not break away from the mold of rigid systems, unnecessary complexities, workarounds, and operational inefficiencies are bound to make their presence felt sooner rather than later – and that is just one of the problems of using cookie-cutter tools.

In today’s blog, ERPion, a modular ERP system made for Ontario businesses, will discuss why adapting is not the best idea for your company when it comes to off-the-shelf solutions.

Why Generic ERP Systems Create More Issues Than They Solve

Implementing a brand new software system comes with the obvious expectation that it will make your business processes faster and more efficient. But this expectation is largely misplaced when working with generic tools.

As an insider, you know that your company’s processes are not as rigidly structured as one-size-fits-all systems imply. For example, if you are into custom manufacturing, you may require detailed production routing and job tracking. On the other hand, a distributor may assign greater weight to inventory availability and order fulfillment.

Looks like chalk and cheese, right? That is because it is. Even when companies use the same broader ERP modules, their workflows are entirely different and bound to change.

In fact, this is true for businesses within the same industry as well. An ERP system that works well and reflects the pricing structure, approval processes, production methods, etc. for one company may fail to align on any level with another.

As a result, problems such as the following can crop up:

Employees are forced to adapt to the software:  This might sound fine on paper, but it can unnecessarily complicate simple tasks, creating friction and inefficiencies. 

Workarounds begin to exist outside the system: When a system that was implemented to prevent unofficial workarounds outside of its scope causes them, it is a huge problem.

Visibility and data management are bound to take a hit. 

Growth makes matters worse: Growth is supposed to be a good sign for a company, but generic systems cannot handle it. They tend to break down as operational burden increases, creating more hurdles for businesses that can potentially halt their growth.

How Flexible, Modular ERP Systems Solve The Rigidity Problem

Customizable ERP systems are built on the foundation of flexibility, which means they do not attempt to box businesses into unflinchingly rigid workflows. This brings a couple of key operational advantages, which include:

• Built around how your business actually functions

No guesswork, no awkward manual workarounds. Your company gets to work with a system that accommodates its real processes and workflows instead of forcing them into predefined fields. This gives you the freedom to configure how information flows between departments, among other things.

• Add the functionalities you need

Drop the ones you absolutely do not require. With modular ERP systems, you get to choose which features should and should not be implemented. This, in turn, ensures you have the flexibility to expand the feature set of your ERP system as your company grows.

Customization and modularity are key to making your ERP system more relevant to your operational workflows. A customizable ERP provides all the bells and whistles of generic systems – namely data centralization, automation, and accurate reporting – while being fully tailored to your workflows.

Conclusion

It is a fact that every business has its own processes, priorities, and operational challenges that are unlike any other. Expecting a one-size-fits-all software to solve them is only going to lead to disappointment. The best course of action is to choose ERP software that can actually adapt to your business instead of forcing predefined workflows.

ERPion is one of the most modular and customizable ERP systems available in Ontario. Coming at an affordable subscription fee with support for unlimited users, it is what your company needs for sustainable growth. Contact us to learn more about our transparent and modular system.

FAQs

What types of business benefit most from customizable ERP software?

Businesses involved in manufacturing, custom fabrication, distribution, and industrial services tend to have complex and unique workflows that customizable ERP software can fully cater to.

Does extensive ERP customization make implementation more challenging?

Not necessarily difficult, but it can be more time-consuming, as it requires greater planning. But the result is a more well-intentioned system that’s simply better, so it is worth it.

Should a business customize existing ERP or replace it with a truly customizable one?

If the current system is highly rigid and extremely expensive to customize, it might make more financial and operational sense to replace it with an ERP that features an innately customizable architecture.