ERP - Crunch the Real Numbers

Most ERP quotes look reasonable (here’s a typical mid-sized manufacturing company costs example - for illustration purposes): $50k for software, $25k for basic implementation, $10k for training. Total = $85k. Tempting? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Real-world projects often balloon to $550k after custom coding, data migration, integrations, change management and consultant fees. Small business makers just don’t have that kind of cash.

The 5 Biggest Money Pits

1. The Customization Trap - If you want your ERP to match how you actually work-managing cut lists, batch recipes or track sample kits-vendors call it “custom development.” You’re on the hook for the bill and every future upgrade.
2. The Integration Tax - Connecting your CRM, e-commerce site, machine monitors or lab instruments becomes a mini-project. $20k for CRM, $15k for shipping, $30k for machine monitoring. It adds up.
3. The Upgrade Ransom - Stay current or lose support. Upgrades break your customizations. You pay either way.
4. The User License Gotcha - You start with ten users. Growth means more licenses forever. It’s a tax on your success.
5. Consultant Dependency - Your own team can’t touch the core system. Every change is billable hours back to the vendor.

Why Tangle Wins

Tangle.io smashes this model. Pricing is transparent-one subscription covers everything. Updates and support are included, and they don’t break your operations. Configurations-not customisations-let you adapt the system without code. AI prompts empower your team to build new checks and workflows by simply describing them in plain english.