Efficient interfaces: Extending standard software with customized solutions

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are the backbone of many companies. They integrate various business processes such as finance, human resources, procurement and warehousing in a central database. Customer relationship management (CRM) focuses on managing customer relationships and sales processes, while production planning and control systems (PPC) optimise internal production processes.

Financial accounting (FIBU) is a central component of corporate management and forms the basis for recording, processing and analysing all of a company’s financial transactions.

Industry-specific ERP systems

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems are versatile software solutions that integrate and automate various business processes. However, they not only offer general functions, but also special modules that are tailored to the needs of specific industries. Here are some examples of such industry-specific ERP modules:

LMS (warehouse management systems)

Warehouse management systems optimise a company’s warehousing and logistics. They support the management of stocks, the planning of storage areas and the control of warehouse processes. LMS modules are often integrated into ERP systems to ensure a seamless connection between warehousing and other business areas such as procurement and sales.

TMS (Transport Management Systems)

Transport management systems are designed to efficiently plan, monitor and optimise the transport of goods. They include functions such as route planning, freight selection and shipment tracking. TMS modules enhance ERP systems with the ability to manage transport processes, which is particularly important for companies with extensive logistics requirements.

HIS (Hospital Information Systems)

Hospital information systems support the management of medical data, the planning of treatments and the billing of services. They are crucial for efficient and safe patient care. HIS modules in ERP systems enable hospitals and healthcare organisations to integrate clinical and administrative processes, resulting in better patient care and operational efficiency.

Although ERP, CRM and PPS systems cover many functions, there are often specific business requirements that these standard solutions cannot fulfil, as they are designed to meet the general and frequently occurring requirements of many industries. Despite their versatility, standard solutions often reach their limits when it comes to specific, unique business requirements.

Standard software is often not flexible enough in its basic configuration to fully support special requirements. This is where customising can help. Customising allows standard software solutions such as ERP, CRM and PPS to be adapted to specific business requirements that are not covered by the basic functions. This can be done through configuration, extensions or integration with third-party solutions, but is often costly and time-consuming.

Securing competitive advantages

In a highly competitive market, the ability to stand out from the competition with customised solutions can be crucial. Customised software solutions allow companies to offer unique features and services that would not be achievable with standard software alone. This can help attract new customers and retain existing ones by offering added value that goes beyond what competitors can offer.

Cost efficiency

There is a widespread misconception that customised software is more expensive and more complicated to develop than standard software. In fact, programming customised solutions is often simpler and more cost-effective, as it is tailored to the company’s specific requirements and does not contain any unnecessary functions.

Instead of expanding a standard solution in a complicated way, which may still not optimally cover all of the company’s needs, customised solutions can be developed in a targeted manner to ideally complement existing systems. This not only saves costs, but also increases the effectiveness and user acceptance of the software. By optimising processes and reducing inefficiencies, companies can achieve considerable savings.

Flexibility and customisability

Standard software solutions offer a wide range of functions, but they are often rigid and not very customisable. Customised solutions, on the other hand, can be designed to be flexible and dynamic in order to respond quickly to changing business requirements. This is particularly important in an environment characterised by rapid technological and market changes.

Companies can continuously adapt and expand their customised solutions to keep pace with the latest developments. The extensibility of customised solutions is a major advantage. Companies must be able to adapt their software quickly and cost-effectively to changing requirements. This means that customised solutions should have a modular structure to facilitate future extensions and adaptations.

Customised software solutions are an essential part of a successful business model. They complement and extend the functions of ERP, CRM, PPS and FIBU systems and offer customised solutions for specific business requirements. The seamless integration and simple expandability of these solutions are crucial to increasing efficiency and securing a competitive advantage. Companies that rely on customised solutions are better equipped to meet the dynamic demands of the market and continuously optimise their business processes.

Interested in expanding your ERP, CRM, PPS and FIBU systems with customised software development? Contact us now and let’s talk about how we can realise your specific requirements! Click here and fill out the contact form to get in touch with our experts. We look forward to hearing from you and optimising your business solutions!