Why is it hard to upgrade/change an ERP?

Upgrading an ERP system isn’t like upgrading Microsoft Office on your desktop.

ERP’s by their nature are very complicated pieces of software. They cover all of the potential functions of a corporation, accounting, supply chain management, inventory control - even things like HR management and other functions.

Since every business is different, implementing an ERP involves a lot of customization to make it work for the business. So upgrading or changing an ERP system, while not impossible, carries with it a lot of risk and effort.

This can be a huge problem when market conditions change quickly and the current ERP system doesn’t give the visibility needed to solve immediate business problems.