Proven Business Processes
ERP systems bring decades of best practices and optimised standard processes that have proven successful in thousands of companies.
Extend ERP.
Accelerate processes.
The comprehensive guide for the right strategy for individual processes and existing ERP systems.
The Strengths of Standard ERP Systems
Why ERP systems form the backbone of modern enterprises
Integrated Data Landscape
All company data in one system - from finance to inventory to sales. No data silos, no redundancies.
Compliance & Legal Security
Built-in compliance features for tax law, data protection, and industry-specific regulations are continuously updated.
Scalability & Performance
Professional ERP systems are optimised for millions of transactions and grow seamlessly with your business.
Comprehensive Functionality
From accounting to HR to production - modern ERPs cover all core processes of a company.
Support & Development
An active vendor provides support, regular updates, and continuous development of its system.
ERP systems are and will remain indispensable for your company's core processes. The challenge lies in optimally complementing them for your individual processes.
Customisation vs. Extension
Understand the differences and make the right decision
Technical Aspects
| Aspect | ERP Customisation | ERP Extension |
|---|---|---|
| System Integrity | Core modifications endanger stability. Every change can have unforeseen effects on other modules. | ERP core remains untouched. Extensions communicate via defined interfaces and never endanger system stability. |
| Update Capability | Updates become nightmares. Every ERP update requires extensive adjustments and testing of all custom developments. | Updates run smoothly. Extensions use stable APIs and remain unaffected by ERP updates. |
| Performance | Custom code in ERP can impair overall performance. Database queries and processes become slower. | Optimal performance through separate resources. Extensions don't burden the ERP and can be scaled independently. |
| Technology Stack | Bound to often outdated ERP technology. Modern frameworks and tools cannot be used. | Free technology choice enables modern architectures. Use current frameworks, cloud services, and best practices. |
Economic Factors
| Aspect | ERP Customisation | ERP Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Costs | High initial investments for ERP specialists. Complex development directly in the ERP system is time-consuming and expensive. | Moderate startup costs through efficient development. Developers can use modern tools and deliver quickly. |
| Maintenance Costs | Exploding maintenance costs over time. Every update, every change becomes more expensive and riskier. | Predictable, low maintenance costs. Changes are isolated and don't affect the overall system. |
| Vendor Lock-in | Total dependency on ERP vendor and specialised consultants. Switching practically impossible. | Flexibility preserved. Extensions can be replaced or migrated to other systems as needed. |
| ROI Speed | Long ROI due to high costs and risks. Benefits often only visible after months or years. | Fast ROI through agile development. First results often productively usable after just weeks. |
Organisational Impact
| Aspect | ERP Customisation | ERP Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Agility | Cumbersome change processes. Every small adjustment requires long planning and testing phases. | Maximum agility for quick adjustments. Changes can be implemented iteratively and without risk. |
| Innovation | Innovation hampered by technical constraints. New ideas often fail due to ERP limitations. | Innovation freedom through modern technologies. AI, IoT, mobile apps - everything is possible and integrable. |
| Knowledge Management | Critical knowledge concentrated with few ERP experts. High dependency on individuals. | Knowledge broadly distributed through standard technologies. New developers can be onboarded quickly. |
| Compliance & Security | Compliance risks through core modifications. Security updates can break custom code. | Compliance remains ensured. Security updates for ERP and extensions can be performed independently. |
The conclusion is clear
ERP extensions are the superior choice in almost all cases. They offer more flexibility, lower costs, and greater future security while reducing risk.
Book a callAnd what if the ERP is built for extensions?
ElbDesk, the foundation we build on, runs either way: as an extension alongside the ERP you already have - sign-in, permissions, collaboration and documents come with it, accounts and warehouse stay in your ERP - or as the ERP for your whole business, should your system one day be replaced. Your workflows are built as their own layer on top - the Core stays untouched, updates remain possible, and yet nothing ends up in an Excel list alongside.
- As an extension alongside your ERP
- As the ERP for the whole business
If your ERP runs well, ElbDesk can complement it as an extension. If there are no more updates for your system, ElbDesk replaces it one area at a time.
How ElbDesk is usedBest Practices for ERP Projects
Learn from successful digitalisation projects
Recommended Approaches
- Conduct Clear Process AnalysisDocument your special processes precisely and identify which are truly individual.
- Use APIs and InterfacesModern ERPs offer extensive APIs. Use them for clean integrations.
- Proceed Modularly and IterativelyStart with the most important processes and expand step by step.
- Plan for Future-ProofingConsider updates, scaling, and technological advancement.
- Involve Users EarlyThe best solutions emerge in close collaboration with actual users.
Avoid Common Mistakes
- Modify ERP CoreHands off the source code! Every change will haunt you during updates.
- Customise Standard ProcessesUse a customised extension instead of tinkering with the ERP core - stable, update-proof, fast.
- Digitalise Everything at OnceBig-bang projects often fail. Proceed step by step.
- Ignore Technical DebtOld customisations become increasingly expensive. Plan for modernisation.
- Underestimate Vendor Lock-inWhat is built for you should belong to you: source code, data and documentation.
Decision Guide: Which Approach When?
Customise ERP only when:
When to modify core ERP
- Absolutely no alternative exists
- Legal requirements demand it
Extend ERP when:
When to build extensions
- Special processes need mapping
- Flexibility should be preserved
- Modern technologies are utilised
- Quick adjustments are needed
Further Resources
Expert opinions and studies that confirm our approach
Quality instead of costs - companies are increasingly relying on custom software
Overall, 74 percent of companies that use custom software attribute their business success to the use of these individual solutions.
Read studyClear majority of German SAP customers want the Clean Core
74 percent of German companies follow the Clean Core approach to ensure flexibility, agility, and rapid access to innovations.
Read articleHow modern ERP systems seamlessly integrate external tools
The ability to flexibly adapt existing systems to new requirements and close gaps in existing processes often determines the long-term success of a company.
Read articleModern IT architectures as key for future-proof business processes
The increasing complexity makes maintenance, scaling, and releases more difficult: Instead of individual modules, the entire system […] must be adapted - this slows down development and increases susceptibility to failures. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a modern, microservice-based architecture for the ERP.
Read articleContact
Customise, extend or replace?
In 20 minutes we work out which route fits your system - no presentation, straight to the point. If an extension is not enough, we say so.
Tobias KietzmannManaging Director
Your permanent point of contact, from the first conversation to day-to-day operation.
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