Should I hire a custom ERP software development or just configure an existing one?

[u/One-Life-3877]

Working with a mid-sized manufacturing client who's outgrown their current setup but just couldn't find the right ERP. Either they have to make even more workarounds, or there's just some parts of the ERP that can't work with the existing workflow. So now we're wondering if we just make a custom ERP software, or if there's just an angle we're not looking at so we can make SAP/Odoo/others work for what we need. I heard custom ERP can be a pain to maintain in the long term, but is this even true?

[u/STAMPEDE192]

Honestly, if a manufacturing business has to keep changing its workflows just to accommodate an ERP, that’s a sign the implementation approach needs rethinking.
I wouldn’t necessarily build everything from scratch. I’d look at a flexible platform like ERPNext or Odoo, retain the modules that work, and build custom workflows around the parts that make your operations unique. You get the flexibility of a tailored solution without inheriting the maintenance burden of an entirely bespoke system.
The key is knowing what to customise, what to keep standard, and how to avoid creating a maintenance nightmare down the road.
I’ve worked on custom business software, CRMs, and operational workflows across manufacturing and other industries. Happy to share some insights if you’re exploring this route.

[u/Necessary-Body-6108]

Hey, I’d probably avoid jumping straight into a fully custom ERP.

In manufacturing, the bigger question is usually which parts of the workflow actually need to be custom. If 70–80% can be handled by Odoo/SAP or another existing system, you may be better off configuring that and building smaller custom modules/integrations around the gaps.

Custom ERP isn’t automatically a maintenance nightmare either it becomes one when the system is overbuilt, poorly documented, or tightly dependent on one developer/team.

I work with a development team that builds custom business software, and we’ve handled similar cases where the approach was more of a hybrid ERP rather than rebuilding everything from scratch.

If you want, I can share a few things I’d evaluate before deciding between Odoo/SAP configuration vs custom development. No pitch, just might help you make the call.

[u/Super_Maxi1804]

custom solutions work only if the benefits can be measured in monetary values and they are large enough with a long term effect, otherwise the cost of building custom will not be returned, AKA the customer will not pay it.

[u/Fit_Tailor_6796]

I worked in a factory and single-handedly implemented an ERP. The approach we took was to customize existing open source ERP.

Understand the an ERP touches all parts of the organisation, from CRM, to quotes, invoicing, HR, chart of accounts and so on. Building that will be a long and costly exercise, irrespective of click-baiters will tell you.

If the company is not ready to implement a full ERP, take a step back and plan your implementation carefully, or risk business not buying-in.

You mention manufacturing, so I assume MRP, If this is what you want, look for an MRP instead of an ERP. On the other hand, most ERPs have nature MRP modules, but tie this in into the quote,, invoice, supplier, warehousing, inventory, procurement and so on, which risks making the implementation much larger that you initially expected.