Whether you are taking over a company with outdated computer systems or simply want to modernise your processes to improve efficiency, you will quickly become interested in a fundamental aspect of your company’s operations: management software or ERP.
But given the multitude of business management software available, it is difficult to make the best choice. Let’s take a closer look.
Category 1: “Box” ERP software
This may be what your company is currently using. Traditionally meant for very small businesses, it is not uncommon to see companies with 50 to 100 employees still working with this type of tool.
In this category you will find well-known names such as Sage, EBP, API, SAP Business One and Ciel.
This type of ERP for small businesses is very simple to install (you buy it and install it on a few PCs, hence its nickname “box software”) and to operate: you adapt all your company’s processes to the way the software works.
But for a medium-sized company, or even a very small company with serious ambitions or operating in a niche business, this type of software will often prove insufficient: limited number of simultaneous users, limited functional scope, and above all… it is impossible to adapt it to the specific needs of your company.
Category 2: “Major Accounts” ERP
At the other end of the scale, you will find business management software for companies with more than 500 employees: SAP R3, Sage X3, Microsoft Nav, etc.
These solutions are designed for large organisations with complex processes and strong international operations (multi-currency management, certified accounting in most countries, etc.). Fully customisable, their implementation requires very detailed specifications to be prepared by the internal IT department. Such projects often take several years and cost several hundred thousand dollars.
In short, suitable for very large companies, but completely unsuitable for medium-sized businesses.
Category 3: ERP for medium-sized companies.
For a company with 10 to 500 employees, an intermediate category of management software is preferable.
Among these, you will find some big names such as Divalto, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and the bestseller of recent years: Odoo.
These solutions were created to give small and medium-sized businesses the flexibility and power of “key account” solutions, but with more realistic deployment times and budgets.
Their main advantage is that they are available in standard versions (such as the Boîte software), so they do not require a custom build from the start, yet they are not closed: a competent service provider can therefore adapt them to the constraints and specifications of your company.
Make your choice!
