ERP or All-in-One Platform? How a Small Business Should Choose
A traditional ERP promises one system for everything, but it often comes with long setup, many consultants and a price that only makes sense for large companies. An all-in-one platform covers a lot of the same ground with less setup. Which is right depends on how unusual your business is.
This guide gives you questions to ask before you pick either, and where Zavik, our own platform, fits.
Five questions to ask first
Write down your answers before you look at any product.
- How many people need to log in, and how fast will that grow?
- Which departments must share records: HR, sales, finance, stock, purchasing?
- How standard are your processes, or do they differ a lot from other businesses like yours?
- Who will set the system up, and how long can you wait before it is useful?
- Is the price per user predictable, or does it depend on consultants and add-ons?
Where an all-in-one platform fits
If your processes are fairly standard, an all-in-one platform usually gets you running sooner. Zavik covers HR, sales, finance, procurement, inventory, manufacturing, projects and more in 14 modules, priced per user from ₹170 to ₹400 a month, with a 5-day free trial.
Its payroll is worked out from base salary and attendance, and it does not calculate PF, ESI or TDS. That is worth checking against how you run payroll today.
When a full ERP or custom software makes sense
If your process is what sets you apart, or you need deep industry-specific rules, a ready platform may keep forcing workarounds. In that case a custom build can be the better long-term choice, and our team builds custom software, including HRMS and subscription asset management systems.
A sensible way to decide
Shortlist two options, run each with a real week of your own data, and compare how much you had to bend your process. Time spent on the trial usually answers the question faster than a feature list.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zavik an ERP?
Zavik covers many of the areas an ERP covers, including finance, procurement, inventory and manufacturing, together with HR, sales and support. It is a cloud platform you subscribe to per user rather than a customised ERP project.
How long does setup take?
You sign up, verify your email and your workspace is created, with no setup call needed. Bulk-importing employees from a CSV and switching on modules is up to you and your team.
What if our process is unusual?
Try the free trial first. If a ready platform keeps forcing workarounds, our team builds custom software around your workflow.
Can we start with fewer modules?
Yes. Starter includes 6 modules, Growth 11 and Business all 14, so you can begin small and add modules by moving up a tier.
Compare it against your own process
Run the 5-day trial, or talk to us about a custom build.