Industry-specific or vanilla 365 Business Central solutions?

An industry-specific ERP system is an ERP system that has been adapted to a particular industry.

The name rather gives it away.

But why should you learn anything about it — you may be thinking — and the answer is actually simple.
There are industries that make big mistakes by not stepping away from the standard —
or vanilla — versions of their ERP system and moving closer to a bespoke, industry-specific ERP.

If you are not yet aware of what an ERP system is, then click here.

If you are fully up to speed and ready to see industry-specific ERP in a head-to-head battle against
vanilla ERP, then stick around.

The overall problem with vanilla ERP systems

The problem with standard ERP systems is that they are standard. That is the short answer.

The slightly longer answer is that several different industries have different, or higher, requirements for specific
factors in their ERP system.

It may be that the data flowing in the system has to be compliant with rules and
regulations. It may be that the customer journey is far more unique and different than what you can
set up in Business Central from the start.

It may be that a particular and highly necessary tool simply does not exist in the program.

Then we go from Business Central to Business Critical, very quickly. We cannot have that.

But let us not paint the devil on the wall too much. There can be good reasons why

you do not need to do all that much with your ERP, and vice versa.

It all depends on your industry, your company, your IT foundation and your product.

Context is king. We cannot be the judge of it — you have to be that yourself.

And here you get the opportunity. In the next section you can read about the advantages and disadvantages, both of
industry-specific Business Central and of vanilla Business Central.

Advantages and disadvantages of standard 365 Business Central

In this section we look at the ERP that all BC users start out with. The standard version.

Advantages

Flexibility: General ERP systems are designed to be flexible and
adaptable. That makes them suitable for a wide range of industries.

Scalability: They are often more scalable and can grow with your company, as they
are designed to be adaptable to different types and sizes of business.

Customisation: They offer a wide range of modules such as finance, HR and production, which
can be adapted as needed.

Community support: 365 BC has an enormous user base, which means that
there is more community support, third-party extensions and documentation available.

Disadvantages:

Complexity: Can be too extensive and complex for smaller companies.
Companies with very specific needs may experience the opposite.

Implementation time: Because a standard ERP has to be adapted to your company’s
specific needs, implementation can take longer.

Costs: Customisations and bespoke development can lead to higher costs
over time.

Advantages and disadvantages of industry-specific 365 Business Central

Advantages:

Fast implementation: it is specially adapted to the needs of a particular industry, which can
make the implementation process faster and smoother.

Less need for customisation: Since the system is designed for a specific industry, there are
fewer customisations to be made, which can reduce future costs.

Industry expertise: The supplier often has in-depth knowledge of the
industry in question and can offer specialised features that are directly
relevant to the company’s operations.

Compliance: The system is designed to help you comply with
industry standards and legislation, which can simplify compliance work.

Disadvantages:

Less flexibility: If you want to expand into new markets or diversify, it can
be more complicated with an industry-specific solution.

Dependence on the supplier: Since the solution is highly specialised, it can be
harder to switch to another supplier or system.

Costs: Even though there may be less need for customisation, the software itself
can be more expensive because of its specialised nature.

Summary:

There can be both advantages and disadvantages to having an industry-specific version of 365
Business Central.

Our experience at Connectify, however, is that operations get a good helping hand when the ERP system is in
order and running like clockwork.

It is up to you and the company to assess whether a standard ERP will do.
But do not be fooled by high prices when you choose a supplier. Connectify runs on a fixed
subscription solution. Fixed price. Every month. Free support. Always.

See our prices here.

If you are curious to learn more about the great possibilities that come with bespoke

IT solutions, then we have a little extra reading for you here:

Shopify native integrations vs. bespoke integrations

What the most successful B2B manufacturers have in common

Integration guide: small or large partner?

Trimit

An extension that focuses on specialised industries such as fashion, furniture and manufacturing. It adds industry-specific features such as product configuration and variant management to Business Central. This makes it possible for companies in these sectors to manage their entire operation from a single Business Central solution.

Wisefish

An extension for 365 Business Central designed to meet the needs of the fishing industry. It adds specialised features to handle aspects such as catch registration, production planning, quality control and supply chain management. This makes it easier for companies in the fishing industry to integrate and optimise their business processes in a single 365 Business Central solution.

DSM

The solution helps companies that deal in machinery and spare parts.

Cloud9

A process-heavy solution for manufacturers.

Bejour

A solution for auditors and auditing in general.

Printvis

A complete solution for companies working with print.

iNecta

A solution for fish traders

NP Entertainment

NaviPartner’s solution for museums and events.