Visual explainer · Illustrative
Why Inventory Goes Out of Sync
How connected systems end up telling different stories about the same stock.
← Research
Decision framework · Illustrative
Do You Actually Need an ERP?
A practical framework for recognising when a growing business has outgrown spreadsheets and disconnected tools.
The short answer
An ERP decision should begin with the work that is breaking down: purchasing, stock ownership, financial reconciliation or reporting. Growing revenue alone does not tell you which capabilities you need.
See what happens
Business systems
Connected records
Operational decisions
An illustrative view. Each connection needs clear ownership and a way to handle incomplete or delayed information.
Systems involved
Product Information Management
PIMStores and distributes product information across ecommerce, marketplaces and other sales channels.
View systemEnterprise Resource Planning
ERPThe central system that connects inventory, purchasing, finance and core business records.
View systemFinance Systems
FINANCEConnects sales, purchasing, payments and reconciliation to financial reporting.
View systemA decision framework
| Signal | Question to investigate |
|---|---|
| Repeated manual reconciliation | Are systems using compatible definitions? |
| Unclear stock ownership | Do processes need redesign before new software? |
| Fragmented purchasing and finance | Would shared records remove duplicated work? |
| Limited reporting | Is the constraint missing data or missing software? |
Before selecting a platform
- Map the critical workflows and exceptions.
- Assign a business owner to each record.
- Separate essential capabilities from preferences.
- Budget for migration, training and support.
- Consider whether improving current tools solves the problem.