Extend ERP. Accelerate processes.
The comprehensive guide for the right strategy for individual processes and existing ERP systems.
Decision help
Do you need customizations to your ERP?
ERP Customization
- ERP core modified
- Update issues
- High costs
Safe Extension
- Clean Core
- Update-safe
- Flexible
The Strengths of Standard ERP Systems
Why ERP systems form the backbone of modern enterprises
Proven Business Processes
ERP systems bring decades of best practices and optimized standard processes that have proven successful in thousands of companies.
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 optimized 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
Major providers guarantee long-term support, regular updates, and continuous development of their systems.
ERP systems are and will remain indispensable for your company's core processes. The challenge lies in optimally complementing them for your individual special processes.
Customization vs. Extension
Understand the differences and make the right decision
Technical Aspects
| Aspect | ERP Customization | 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| Technology Stack | Bound to often outdated ERP technology.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. |
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 Customization | 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 specialized 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. |
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 specialized 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.
Organizational Impact
| Aspect | ERP Customization | 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. |
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.
Schedule ConsultationBest Practices for ERP Projects
Learn from successful digitalization projects
Recommended Approaches
-
Conduct Clear Process Analysis
Document your special processes precisely and identify which are truly individual.
-
Use APIs and Interfaces
Modern ERPs offer extensive APIs. Use them for clean integrations.
-
Proceed Modularly and Iteratively
Start with the most important processes and expand step by step.
-
Plan for Future-Proofing
Consider updates, scaling, and technological advancement.
-
Involve Users Early
The best solutions emerge in close collaboration with actual users.
Avoid Common Mistakes
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Modify ERP Core
Hands off the source code! Every change will haunt you during updates.
-
Customize Standard Processes
Use a customized extension instead of tinkering with the ERP core – stable, update-proof, fast.
-
Digitalize Everything at Once
Big-bang projects often fail. Proceed step by step.
-
Ignore Technical Debt
Old customizations become increasingly expensive. Plan for modernization.
-
Underestimate Vendor Lock-in
Avoid dependencies on specialists and proprietary solutions.
Remember: The right decision depends on your specific situation.
Get Expert AdviceDecision Guide: Which Approach When?
Customize 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 utilized
Quick adjustments are needed
Further Resources
Expert opinions and studies that confirm our approach
techconsult / heise
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 studyEviden / SAP
Clear 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 articleBiquanda
How 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 articleMSG Advisors
Modern 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 articleIndependent Validation
These resources come from leading analysts, consulting firms, and technology providers. They independently confirm the advantages of the extension approach over core modifications.
Ready for the Right Approach?
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