| Top ERP Functionality | Naughty List Signs | Nice List Signs |
| Real-Time Visibility and Accuracy |
- Relying on outside manual processes - Frequent data discrepencies - No real-time updates |
- Single source of data across organization - Real time updates to data, dashboards, and reporting |
| Ease of Use |
- Clunky outdated interface - No mobile/tablet support - Steep learning curve for new users |
- Modern user interface - Mobile/tablet access on the shop floor - Intuitive design for faster onboarding |
| Integration and Automation |
- Systems don't talk to each other - Double entry between CAD, CRM, Financials - Data inconsistencies between platforms |
- Automated data flow across departments - Easy integration with partner software solutions |
| Scalability and System Performance |
- Slows down during periods of high demand - Difficult to add users or sites - Can't support growing product lines |
- Add users, features, and sites easily - Upgrades without breaking configurations - Performance built for growth |
| Reporting Capabilities |
- Reports take days to build - Relying on excel for dashboards - No real-time KPIs |
- Real-time dashboards and analystics - Easy customizable KPIs - Clear visibility into key data marks such as costs, margins, delivery performance, etc. |
Mostly naughty? Mostly nice? Now it’s time to walk through the list in detail and mark where your current ERP system falls. While this represents only a portion of what a modern ERP can deliver, it’s worth extending this same exercise to every area of your software.
If you checked more items on the naughty list than the nice list, this may be the right time to evaluate a transition to a modern ERP system that better supports your manufacturing operations.
When you’re a make-to-order manufacturer, ERP isn’t just a “nice-to-have” piece of software, it’s the engine that should drive every aspect of your organization. A sleek, modern, easy-to-use ERP system delivers the functionality your business needs to thrive in a fast-paced, competitive industry, without relying on spreadsheets or manual workarounds.
If you focus on the “nice list” capabilities outlined above when selecting a new ERP system, your business will see meaningful gains—faster ROI, stronger margins, improved on-time delivery performance, lower total cost of ownership, and more engaged, productive teams.
🎁 Give your team the advantage of a modern, easy-to-use ERP and schedule a demo before the start of 2026.