Choosing the right ERP software: Bespoke or standard?
Posted by Dawn Aldwinckle on March 13th, 2012
That is the ERP dilemma .. or is it?
ERP (enterprise resource planning) software is commonplace throughout many industries, and there is always risk associated with buying and implementing a new solution. Changing your ERP system will undoubtedly affect multiple people, groups, stakeholders, and your core business processes, leaving you in a dilemma, choosing between a bespoke or standard ERP solution.
“Should we go for an ‘off the shelf’ solution? One that will have been created for our industry with specific modules added on but requires us to change our business processes? Or should we look at a tailored solution because we like our specialised business processes?”
Choosing the right software solution for your business will take time. Your selection criteria will see you scrutinise ‘off the shelf’ solutions and the more ‘tailored made’ ones.
The pros and cons
| Pros to buying an off the shelf ERP solution | Cons to buying an off the shelf ERP solution |
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| Pros to buying a bespoke ERP solution | Cons to buying a bespoke ERP solution |
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But what if you could have both?
A bespoke ERP solution with some industry standard functionality built in?
Wouldn’t it be good if you could take all the positives of both these approaches with none of the negatives? Surely that’s possible?
With Lakeview, it is indeed possible: I hear you say “how”.
How can you have an ERP solution capable of being tailored to the business model offer the same affordability and ease of implementation that comes with an off the shelf solution?
And, how can an off the shelf ERP solution be implemented into a business and still be upgradable?
The answer is… cleverly designed ERP software. Software designed using modern technologies, and that allows for third party integrations, upgrades and add-on modules, and built on a platform with specific industry needs in mind.
Author: Angela Kennedy, Marketing, Lakeview ERP
