Why your ERP is a container ship and why you need speedboats
The perfect trio for an agile application landscape
Are you wondering whether your current ERP solution still meets today’s dynamic requirements? ERP selection is not only about choosing the right software. It is primarily about understanding the role that different systems play in your digital transformation.
Your ERP as a reliable System of Record
Imagine your company as a gigantic container ship. It is strong, reliable and follows a steady course. That container ship is your ERP system: the System of Record of your organisation.
Your ERP forms the backbone of your business. It securely stores essential data and ensures that your core processes continue to run reliably. It manages areas such as finance, inventory, production and customer data with the robustness a modern organisation requires.
Without that solid foundation, your operational ship would soon run into trouble.
A System of Record provides
- Reliable and consistent data
- Standardised core processes
- Control and traceability
- Stability and continuity
- A solid basis for reporting
But a container ship cannot change course quickly
The world is changing rapidly. An unexpected geopolitical decision can drastically affect market conditions. A new technology can transform an entire sector, while a temporary customer need may require immediate action.
In such situations, the cumbersome container ship falls short. An ERP system is not designed to manoeuvre continuously at high speed or explore unknown waters.
This is exactly where many ERP implementations go wrong. Organisations expect their new ERP system to deliver maximum stability and unlimited flexibility at the same time.
Expensive customisation
Every specific requirement is built directly into the ERP system, making maintenance and upgrades increasingly complex.
Lengthy implementations
The scope keeps expanding because one system is expected to support every possible process and exception.
Insufficient agility
Even after implementation, the system may still prove unable to respond quickly enough to new market requirements.
You do not need one all-encompassing solution
Alongside your container ship, you need speedboats: agile software solutions that can change direction quickly and complete your digital fleet.
Those speedboats are your Systems of Differentiation and Systems of Innovation. They complement your ERP without putting the stability of your core systems at risk.
Systems of Differentiation
Systems of Differentiation support the processes that set your organisation apart from the competition. They help you respond more quickly to specific customers, markets and business models.
Examples include:
- Customer-facing applications that deliver a personalised experience
- Industry-specific software that supports unique processes
- Low-code platforms that allow processes to be adapted quickly
- Portals and applications for customers, suppliers or employees
Is demand for a particular product or service suddenly increasing? These speedboats enable you to respond quickly, while your ERP continues to handle logistics and administration reliably in the background.
Systems of Innovation
Systems of Innovation are the exploration vessels of your digital fleet. They are designed for experiments, prototypes and the development of new ideas.
Examples include:
- AI applications for process optimisation
- New customer interaction channels
- IoT integrations for smart manufacturing
- Prototypes for new digital products or services
You can test new possibilities without forcing your entire container ship to change course immediately. If an experiment proves successful, it can later be integrated into your System of Record or continue to evolve as a System of Differentiation.
System of Record
Provides stability, reliable data and standardised core processes.
System of Differentiation
Supports the unique processes that distinguish your organisation.
System of Innovation
Enables experimentation, prototyping and rapid innovation.
The right balance for your organisation
Finding the right balance between these three types of systems helps you maintain control in a rapidly changing market. You need the stability and reliability of your System of Record to create a solid foundation.
At the same time, you need the flexibility and innovative power of Systems of Differentiation and Systems of Innovation to respond quickly, seize new opportunities and strengthen your competitive position.
By combining these systems intelligently, your organisation becomes not only stable and reliable, but also agile and ready for the future.
Your container ship continues steadily on its course, while your speedboats explore the horizon, discover new opportunities and help you stay one step ahead of the competition.
The essence of a strong application landscape
Not every process belongs in your ERP. Give each system a clear role and build a landscape in which stability and agility reinforce one another.