Let us face it: doing business isn’t a piece of cake and might just as well be likened to an uphill task. You have so many things to juggle at once-orders that are to be filled, stock to be accounted for and replaced when needed, a staff whose performances are to be observed, customer information that needs sorting, and books that have to be kept up meticulously. It would be just like juggling ten balls while doing acrobatics on a unicycle along a zigzag path. It is here that an ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning system, comes in-it’s that unicycle with inbuilt stabilizers which would provide you with that support to help keep your balance as all the complexity rages around your operation. But the really interesting question is whether a generic ERP system may just not fit your needs-that are so singular and unique-after all.
This is the belief that seems to be drawing a growing number of companies towards an ERP system fitted to their specific needs. Let’s have a closer look at why.
What Makes ERPs So Indispensable?
It is also known as an Enterprise Resource Planning system, which works much like the central nervous system in the body, interlinking all other parts within the organization-from operational processes down to the very management of customers.
The following are major benefits of ERP explaining why this system is a must-have for any business enterprise willing to increase both its speed and agility:
Single Source of Truth, Singularly and Verifiably
Just think about having all of this literally at your fingertips: inventory, sales, HR-you name it. Sure, the systems like SAP or Oracle NetSuite do it, but a custom ERP does it better because how that information is stored and how it is accessed will be fitted to your needs.
Time-Saving Automation
Think of all those tasks you loathe performing, like manual entry, reporting, or even the maintenance of inventory levels. Systems like Microsoft Dynamics offer such automation. A custom ERP, however, means this automation was tailor-made for your particular workflow.
Scalable and Adaptable
Your business isn’t static; it keeps growing, keeps evolving, and faces all kinds of challenges. Well, such tools as Oracle NetSuite are meant to be scalable, but with a custom ERP, you are not constrained by any kind of configuration: you build only what you need, when you need it.
It is amply evident that ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning systems, do indeed help on a few counts. But the question is: why customize? Why not just ram in some box-type software off the market shelf and be done with it? Let us take another, closer look at the matter at hand.
Why Develop Your Own ERP?
But here is the thing: no two businesses are exactly alike. Solutions that are off-the-shelf are designed to be everything to everybody, which often means being perfect for nobody. Custom ERP flips that script-it is built for just you.
It’s Cut Out for Your Requirements
Ever bought a “one-size-fits-all” shirt? Yeah, it’s just never quite right. That is what an out-of-the-box ERP feels like for so many businesses. Take Tesla, for instance, whose custom-made ERP followed every step of its quirky manufacturing process, and as such kept workflows as smooth as possible.
Sustained Financial Savings Over Long Periods
Sure, a tailored ERP is much more expensive upfront. Now, think of this: no licensing fees, not paying for unused functionality, and no costly workarounds trying to force a pre-built system to fit your needs. Over time, it’s the difference between bottled water and installing a really nice filter at home.
Agility and Growth
Your business today is not going to be what it’s going to be five years from now. A custom ERP develops with you. Take Amazon for example; it built its proprietary ERP to manage its complicated logistics and grew with the expansion of its global operations.
Improved Security
An out-of-the-box ERP has wider availability and hence is used by a lot of companies in different sectors, hence becoming a far bigger target for hackers looking to exploit certain vulnerabilities. A custom-made ERP would be like a well-concealed safe-very difficult to crack because of its very nature: custom-made for certain needs and kept at optimal levels of security.
Life Drawings
Let’s make this real with some examples:
- This compelled Amazon to develop its own ERP for the management of logistics, updating in real time, and scaling its highly explosive business.
- Tesla has developed an advanced system specifically designed to handle the most cumbersome manufacturing processes with ease. This system, besides being greatly helpful for waste reduction, caters to almost all the imperative aspects of fostering efficiency in their operations.
- Wal-Mart: Its customized ERP is so integrated with supply chain optimization that even inventories can be traced.
If all this already seems worth it for the industry giants, for whom tailor-made and customized solutions have been devised in relation to their specifics, then isn’t this something with which a question should be raised in your mind about how much more sophisticated and fitted systems can do for your business?
Does a Custom ERP Solution Suit Your Business?
Now, I get it, custom might sound like overkill. But if you are a small business with basic needs, an out-of-the-box ERP would work just great. If growth, unique workflows, or operation within a niche industry are part of your case, though, a custom ERP could be a godsend.
Imagine running your business the way you have always wanted. The solution with a custom ERP is that you can indeed do it-your way and without compromise. This is an investment in efficiency, scalability, and staying ahead of the competition.
Therefore, are you really ready to take hold of your business in a manner that you have never explored? Let me take you into a discussion of possibilities that a custom ERP could offer you and how it may change your operations.
