Read Time: 3 minsEnterprise resource planning (ERP) software like NetSuite and Acumatica can save time and streamline necessary tasks, such as payroll and human resources (HR) management, but not every business needs an ERP solution. From cost to complexity, there are many tell-tale signs that your ERP software isn’t the right fit for your business.
We’ve compiled a list of these common signs that ERP software isn’t for you, including a high price and all-too-common ERP implementation challenges. We’ll also point out where inventory management software like GOIS can provide the scalability, data visibility, and efficiency you need without the ERP price tag.

5 Signs You Need to Ditch Your ERP Software

If the challenges of your ERP software are making you doubt its value, keep an eye out for these signs that it’s time to make a change:

It’s Too Expensive for What It Does

ERP systems are often priced for enterprise businesses, meaning they’re beyond the budget and needs of small and medium businesses (SMBs). Depending on the ERP vendor you choose, you might even have to pay a consultant to help with setup and basic tasks, like pulling reports. And don’t forget maintenance costs for tasks like system updates and data backups, which can be around 20% of the initial price of an ERP system. With these potential cost overruns, it’s no surprise that savvy product businesses are switching to inventory management solutions with advanced ERP functionalities, like GOIS.
GOIS offers all the major benefits of ERPs at a competitive price, including the ability to pull your own customizable reports quickly. By choosing a feature-rich inventory management solution instead of pricey ERP software, you’ll free up funds for growing your product business.

You Pay for (but Don’t Use) Key Features

With all-in-one ERP solutions, you’ll get a laundry list of features that might help one business but don’t provide value to another. If you have a small business, you might not need human resources (HR), project management, or customer relationship management (CRM) functionality just yet. But with an all-in-one ERP, you’ll pay for these features anyway.
To reduce the complexity of your software stack, you should choose a solution that’s specifically designed for product businesses. GOIS offers all the features you need to stay profitable, like accounting integrations, reporting, and cross-channel sales management. You’ll find value in our software capabilities whether you’re a manufacturer, product seller, or both.

It Isn’t User-Friendly

Many ERP systems claim to be user-friendly, but that’s not always the case. Even with a long onboarding process, your employees might complain that they can’t find, use, or customize certain features that are supposed to make their job easier.
There’s also the risk of feature overkill with some ERPs — if your team members mainly use your ERP for inventory management, they might get overwhelmed with all the clunky options for features they don’t need. Not to mention that the technical complexity of some ERP systems can make them slow, frustrating users even more.
In some cases, your ERP will provide generic onboarding with minimal support, which can leave your staff with more questions than answers. To get full onboarding assistance, you might need to pay for an ERP consultant, who you’ll need to call on long after traditional onboarding is finished.

It’s Not Cloud-Based

According to data from Bloomberg, ERPs are lagging behind in terms of Cloud migration, with 48% still on-premises. When you store an ERP on local machines, its usability and availability are limited. If there’s a power disruption or malfunction on a local system, work will be interrupted for your entire organization. Unfortunately, even a short period of downtime can affect your profitability.
To overcome this challenge, look for Cloud ERP alternatives, like GOIS. With Cloud-powered availability, we provide much more flexibility for globally distributed project teams and people on the move.

The Integrations Are Challenging and Limited

If your business uses different types of software, like accounting, manufacturing, and sales solutions, application integration is crucial. Some ERP software has limited integrations or doesn’t often update its list of integrations. You might even need another piece of third-party software to connect your ERP to your tech stack. If integrations aren’t your ERP’s strong suit, it might be time to look elsewhere.