ERP introduction: Customizing vs. standard processes – What is the right way for the middle class?

The decision for a new Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) is one of the strategically important points for a company. It influences efficiency, scalability and ultimately market strength.

A central question that arises at every ERP introduction in the middle class is.

Should we adapt to the standard processes of the software or adapt the software to our custom processes? This decision between standard and customizing has far-reaching effects.

In this paper, we will examine both approaches, show their benefits and disadvantages and provide guidance for your decision-making.

What are standard processes in an ERP system?

A standard ERP system comes “out of the box” with a series of predefined business processes.

These are based on industry best practices built over the years from the experience of countless companies.

The idea behind this is to provide proven and efficient processes for areas such as financial accounting, warehouse management, production or sales.

This can be adopted by many companies without major changes.

Advantages of standard processes

The decision for a new Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) is one of the strategically important points for a company.

When planning ERP introduction: Customizing vs. standard processes – What is the… from idea to delivery, API & Integration Projects, Cost Calculator: API Development, Solution: Integration Chaos sowie RPA vs. API Integration offer practical next steps on our site.

• Fast rollout: As the processes are already defined, the introduction time is significantly shortened. The system is ready to use faster and return on investment (ROI) is achieved earlier.
• Slower costs: Initial licensing and rollout costs are usually lower, as complex programming and adaptation work is omitted.
• High stability and safety: Standard functions are widely tested and maintained by the manufacturer. Updates and security patches can be easily played without jeopardising the stability of the system.
• Access to best practices: Companies benefit from improved processes that have proven themselves in their industry and can thus increase their own efficiency.

Disadvantages of standard processes

• Short room to adapt: Your own, often historically grown and proven business processes may need to be adapted to the software. This can strike resistance in-house.
• No competitive advantage: As all competitors using the same standard software rely on the same processes, it is not possible to generate a unique market advantage.

The alternative: ERP-Customizing

Customizing means adapting the ERP system to the specific needs and unique processes of a company by custom programming.

New modules are built, existing functionalities are expanded or interfaces are created to other systems that are not provided in the standard.

Benefits of Customizing

• Perfect process image: The software fits s.

References and further reading

The following separate references complement the topics in this article:

• Bitkom – German digital industry association.
• German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
• European Commission – Digital strategy.
• MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium.

"APIs are the backbone of modern systems; stabilise contracts early or pay twice in integration work later."

— Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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This post explores ERP introduction. Customizing vs. standard processes – What is the right way for the mi… from the perspective of needs, typical pitfalls.

And sensible next steps. In short. The decision for a new Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) is one of the strategically important points for a company.

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Useful for project leads and product owners in Software development who must choose between standard software, custom development, and integration.

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Technically and organizationally, alignment with experienced partners pays off — from requirements to operations; start with the [services overview](/en/services/software-development). For multi-system landscapes, [IT consulting and architecture](/en/services/it-consulting) helps align vendors and internal teams.

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