The definitive guide to ERP implementation costs
February 8, 2024
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Head of Itransition's ERP Center of Excellence
ERP solutions are costly, so you should ensure your company can afford to implement one. Multiple factors affect an ERP’s final price. Carefully considering your business specifics and ERP pricing factors, you can get a ballpark estimate of your ERP implementation project and decide whether the investment is worthwhile. Meanwhile, professional ERP consultants can analyze your business needs and requirements, create a detailed project plan, and provide an accurate estimation.
In this guide, we share ERP implementation cost factors, give examples of popular ERP vendor pricing, and give actionable cost-cutting tips to help you minimize cost overruns.
How much does ERP cost?
Creating an ERP budget can be challenging, with the cost depending on many factors, ERP vendors obscuring their pricing plans, and ERP implementation partners having complex pricing structures. To help you, we share how much a mid-sized company can roughly spend on an ERP solution.
from $50,000 to $1,000,000
Implementation of a platform-based ERP solution for a midsized company may range from $50,000 to $1,000,000 (excluding software license fees) depending on the functional scope, customization, the number of users, integration scope, user training, organization structure, and more.
from $1 million
Implementation of a full-scale custom ERP solution for a midsized company may cost from $1 million depending on industry requirements, existing processes and technologies, specific business needs, the number of users, training needs, and more.
Note: These are ballpark estimates given for general understanding and are not Itransition’s official pricing.
ERP implementation cost factors
The following factors impact the final ERP implementation cost:
- Functionality – the more capabilities and functional modules you implement, the more expensive the ERP implementation is.Â
- Customizations – most ERP vendors charge extra for modules not included in the core price, industry-specific features, and advanced functionality; so many companies with specific workflows opt for custom ERP development as a more cost-efficient option.
- The number of ERP users – many vendors charge per user, so the more people use an ERP, the more expensive it gets.
- Transactional volume – typically increases with the user count and is dictated by business size.
- Integration scope and integration approaches.
- User training – some vendors offer essential training services for free, but customized ERP training on-site comes with additional costs.
- Organizational structure and geographic footprint.
- In-house IT specialists’ expertise and availability to assist with ERP implementation.
- ERP implementation partner’s experience and implementation methodology.
Contact our experts to get a ballpark ERP cost estimation
5 types of ERP implementation costs
Here are key aspects to factor in during ERP planning, grouped into direct, ongoing, and hidden costs.
Software licensing costs
If you choose an off-the-shelf ERP platform, an ERP software license is an essential budget item. ERP software vendors traditionally offer two pricing models: perpetual and subscription-based. To decide between the two options, you can audit your existing infrastructure and security requirements and estimate the possible growth rate of your user base and transactional volumes.
Perpetual
Subscription-based
Pricing model
Pricing model
A company pays a one-time upfront fee to access the ERP platform.
A company pays monthly or yearly for accessing the ERP software.
Cost
Cost
The fee can be based on the functional scope, system configuration/customization, and the number of users. The price doesn’t include recurring costs like maintenance, support, and upgrades.
The fee depends on the functional scope, system configuration/customization, and the number of users or resources consumed. The price includes maintenance, support, and upgrade costs.
Strengths
Strengths
Straightforward total cost of ownership No ongoing subscription costs Potential TCO reduction in the long run
Cheaper to start Access from anywhere/anytime by default Greater flexibility and scalability
Limitations
Limitations
Large upfront investments Unavailable across different geographical locations Scaling requires further infrastructure upgrades
Ongoing subscription costs can outweigh the cost of the perpetual license, especially for larger businesses Complex cost management due to potential spikes in demand Vendor lock-in
Best for
Best for
On-premises deployments Larger companies with sufficient infrastructure to support the ERP software
Cloud deployments Smaller businesses aiming to grow and be flexible
Infrastructure costs
Infrastructure costs can include:
- Hardware costs for hardware devices and equipment to host the ERP system on-premises. These include storage, servers, physical space, cooling system, network, and power consumption.
- Hosting or cloud fees for using cloud resources for ERP solutions deployed in the cloud (except for SaaS).
- Additional device costs for mobile or other handheld devices that enable remote access to the ERP solution, wireless scanning, electronic signature capture, and other operations.
Infrastructure costs greatly depend on the chosen deployment model. This way, deploying an on-premises ERP system implies heavy upfront investments. In contrast, cloud deployment allows companies to rent resources on an as-needed basis.
Personnel costs
Personnel costs include the cost of labor for ERP consulting, development, and implementation. To estimate the personnel budget, you need to factor in the average market hourly rates of ERP consultants and developers and the project’s implementation timeline.
You will pay your ERP team for the following:
- ERP consulting (business analysis, solution conceptualization, design, and software selection)
- Project management
- ERP configuration/customization
- ERP development
- User training
- Quality assurance and technical deployment
- Performance tuning
Ongoing ERP costs
Apart from the implementation costs, ERP systems can incur ongoing costs for:
- Сloud resources
- ERP infrastructure maintenance and upgrade
- ERP solution administration
- Customer support packages, including priority support and access to a dedicated customer service manager 24/7
Hidden costs
Here are some not-so-obvious costs that you need to make provisions for. To successfully address unseen expenditures during and after the ERP implementation, we recommend having about a 10% contingency budget for the ERP solution cost.
- Training costs for new employees
- Data management costs, as the amount of data grows and data operations grow more complex
- Temporary personnel costs during ERP implementation
- Change management costs for ERP improvement
- Security costs for creating a security management framework equipped with data encryption, multi-factor authentication, user permissions, and other tools.
Pricing for top ERP platforms
NetSuite ERP is a cloud business management solution deployed in a multi-tenant environment, with the provider offering four service tiers.
NetSuite is available for an annual license fee comprising three components: a core platform, optional modules, and the number of users.
The vendor offers advanced modules for specific and niche industries, the cost of which varies depending on the edition type.
NetSuite editions
NetSuite Starter/Limited Edition
for small companies with one legal entity and up to 10 full user licenses and/or up to 50 employees
NetSuite Mid-Market Edition
for midsized businesses with two or more legal entities, from 10 up to 1,000 full-user licenses
NetSuite Enterprise Edition
for enterprises with 1,000+ full-user licenses
Service tiers
- Standard
- Premium
- Enterprise
- Ultimate
Support
NetSuite technical support is included in the NetSuite license subscription.
24/7 NetsSuite technical support is available upon the upgrade to NetSuite Premium Support, the cost of which depends on the software’s contract value percentage.
Odoo is an out-of-the-box open-source ERP suite that helps automate and optimize financial, resource, and inventory management, sales, website content management, CRM, HR, and marketing operations.
Odoo editions
Odoo Community Edition
free of charge, limited functionality
Odoo Enterprise
monthly/annual billing based on the number of users and the country where business operations take place
Odoo pricing models
One App
any one application in Odoo ERP is entirely free with unlimited users.
Standard
an Odoo Online platform for all applications with a fixed price based on the number of users and the country/region. The pricing starts from $24.90/user/month for the US/UK and some other countries.
Custom
best for companies operating on a multi-company basis that need more Odoo customization and third-party applications deployed on the Odoo.sh or on-premises. Custom starts from $37.40/user/month for the US/UK and some other countries.
Odoo hosting platforms
Odoo Online
provides a cloud-based system for all its end users that includes a software service, 24/7 monitoring service, and unlimited and timely bug fixing and security systems, all maintained by Odoo.
Odoo.sh
is an advanced and flexible option that allows companies to install custom modules and customize the ERP further.
On-premises
is a solution deployed on a third-party external or local server, with the customer taking care of upgrades and maintenance and, in return, having no limitations for the number of customizations and add-ons.
All plans include unlimited support, hosting, maintenance, and access to the eLearning platform.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an all-in-one business process management solution that helps companies across versatile industries automate financial, sales, supply chain, manufacturing, and project management.
Licensing types
Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials for all core features except for service order management and manufacturing. The pricing starts from $70 per user/month
Dynamics 365 Business Central Premium covers all functionality available for the Essentials license, with additional service order management and manufacturing modules. The pricing starts at $100 per user/month
Additional Dynamics 365 Business Central Team Members subscription offers users lightweight access to limited ERP functionality. The pricing starts from $8 per user/month
Dynamics 365 Business Central free trial is available for 30 days
Hosting platforms
Dynamics 365 Business Central Online
allows customers to store all data in Microsoft Azure cloud
Dynamics 365 Business Central On-premises
for companies to store data locally. Business Central also offers a server administration tool to tune and manage installed applications
Support
- Microsoft offers comprehensive documentation on all its products.
- Standard support is included with any Dynamics 365 purchase.
- Professional Direct support includes priority issue handling and proactive servicing and is available for at least 20 users at $9 per user/month.
- Unified Enterprise support is best suited for enterprises requiring comprehensive support of all Microsoft apps across the organization. The services includes Professional Direct support plus on-site diagnostics and servicing and comes at custom pricing
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (now available upon the Dynamics 365 Finance & SCM licenses) offers a suite of applications for medium-sized companies and enterprises across multiple verticals to manage core finance, supply chain, human resource, and commerce operations.
Licensing types
The pricing for separate Finance and Supply Chain Management applications starts from $180 for a standard license and from $300 for a premium license
Microsoft Dynamics 354 Human Resource comes at $120 per user/month
Dynamics 365 Project Operations is available for $120 per user/month
Dynamics 365 Commerce is available for $180 per user/month & Dynamics 365 Commerce (e-Commerce add on) - for $4,000 per user/month
Purchasing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations as an integrated solution comes at a discounted price
Free trial is available for 30 days
Hosting platforms
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is primarily designed to run on Microsoft Azure as a SaaS application, guaranteeing data safety with Azure’s advanced security features and ensuring seamless integration with a wide range of Microsoft Azure services.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 on-premises enables greater control over the IT environment and software customization options.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 hybrid deployment allows companies to leverage the benefits of both cloud and on-premises deployment.
Support
- Standard support plan is included in any Microsoft Dynamics 365 application purchase.
- Microsoft Professional Direct support plan is available at $9 per user/month for companies requiring faster support and expert advisory services.
- Unified Enterprise support plan comes at a custom price and is available to companies requiring support of all Microsoft products across the entire company.
Acumatica is a cloud ERP solution aimed at small and mid-sized companies in the manufacturing, distribution, services, construction, software and technology, retail, and ecommerce sectors.
Acumatica’s cost is based on the edition (includes a set of modules for specific industries and a number of modules for specific business functions), type of licencing, and the projected resource consumption to handle your transactional volumes Acumatica offers each of its editions for the three different categories of business size - small business, advanced, and enterprise.
Acumatica editions
- General Business
- Distribution
- Manufacturing
- Retail-Commerce
- Construction
Licensing types
SaaS subscription
for an annual subscription fee
Private cloud subscription
for an annual fee, software installation, and implementation is performed on-premises or at your preferred hosting provider
Private perpetual licensing
for a one-time upfront cost and a recurring annual maintenance fee
Support
Acumatica offers two tiers of support that range in price based on the size of the customer and the level of support requested.
Acumatica offers a free pre-recorded, video-based training program complete with quizzes, certificates, and specialized learning paths at Acumatica Open University.
Get a clear picture of your ERP implementation cost
ERP implementation ROI
ERP projects require heavy investments. To ensure they are worthwhile and justify them to the decision-makers, you must carefully consider how your business can benefit from implementing ERP. Here are some of the main ways ERP can bring a return on investment:
Improved employee productivity & organizational efficiency
due to routine tasks automation, duplicate work reduction, and creation of a single source of truth.
Increased employee engagement & retention
due to freeing them up from mundane data-handling tasks.
Reduced inventory carrying costs
and minimized stock-outs due to increased supply chain visibility and supply and demand balancing.
Faster & smarter decision-making
due to better data capture and analysis, fewer human errors, and reduced delays caused by slow, siloed, and outdated systems.
Enhanced customer satisfaction rates
due to the availability of 360-degree customer data, which helps deliver omnichannel customer experience, targeted and personalized support, faster response times, improved order accuracy, and smoother deliveries.
Minimized risk of administrative fines & penalties
for regulatory non-compliance due to a centralized approach to data security and governance.
Easier data search
due to enhanced communication and collaboration between departments across geography and time zones.
Reduced cybersecurity risks
due to the protection of most sensitive data from unauthorized access with comprehensive data security mechanisms.
Scheme title: Organizations that realized expected benefits (percent of respondents)
Data source: Panorama Consulting Group — The 2022 ERP Report
Sucess stories
5 tips to reduce ERP implementation costs
Here are some proven tips to help you save money on ERP implementation without undermining the solution’s value:
1 Negotiate software licenses
ERP vendors' licensing and pricing have become increasingly complicated and differ from vendor to vendor. Thus, thorough platform research, a flexible negotiation strategy, and a skilled negotiation team are a must to reach optimal software agreements. When working with ERP vendors for the first time, we recommend turning to professional ERP consultancy or hiring a trustworthy ERP implementation partner to help you decide whether a longer-term commitment in exchange for better ERP pricing is a good option.
2 Be meticulous about large cloud contracts
Many companies choose cloud ERP software for its low entrance fee, believing that long-term commitments will save them money. However, even though cloud ERP providers take care of software maintenance, the reality is that you can spend more on annual fees than on an on-premises ERP solution, especially if you have a large user base and huge transaction volumes.
3 Rationalize the use of external resources
Ensure your ERP implementation partner does not overstaff the ERP project. To avoid overprovisioning human resources, look for maximum accountability and transparency as well as focus on comprehensive project planning and timely delivery of project documentation.
4 Avoid excessive customization
Be mindful of your company's requirements and avoid unnecessary customizations. You can opt for packaged ERP software if it covers 80% or more of your functional scope. Firstly, customizations of most off-the-shelf solutions are relatively pricey and can result in cost overruns. Secondly, customized software might not get updates from the vendor since each release would require a change in the custom code.
5 Draw up the ERP feature set
ERP scope expenditure and uncertainty are critical reasons behind ERP project budget overruns. To avoid paying more for the functionality you don’t need, you have to carefully plan key ERP features based on your budget and key requirements. First, focus on the most immediate business needs and then consider additional functionality. Finally, when drawing up the functionality scope, try to remain flexible about accommodating business growth.
Budget your ERP project with expert help
Pricing is an essential factor for any business investing in an ERP solution, and in this guide, we have covered all the critical aspects to help you set realistic ERP budget expectations. To get a more accurate evaluation, you can turn to Itransition. Our ERP experts will analyze your business case, come up with a relevant ERP software implementation scope, estimate needed efforts and resources, and prove the ERP initiative is worth investing your time and money in.
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