There are many top 10 lists of ERP systems available but be careful what you ask or wish for. These lists are all biased in some way as they can’t possibly include the top 10 systems that are applicable to a specific organization. The top 10 systems should vary by industry, company size and geography.
Industry
Your needs will vary widely by industry. But even then, there are big differences for a particular industry such as manufacturing . For example, here is a list of different manufacturing types suggested by ChatGPT. Each of these will have different ERP requirements.
| System Type | Volume | Flexibility | Example Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Shop | Low | High | Custom machinery |
| Batch | Medium | Medium | Paint, baked goods |
| Repetitive (Assembly) | High | Low | Cars, electronics |
| Continuous | Very High | Very Low | Gasoline, chemicals |
| Discrete | Variable | Medium | Appliances, tools |
| Lean | Any | Depends | Process improvement |
| Flexible (FMS) | Medium–High | High | Modular equipment |
| Additive (3D) | Low | Very High | Prototypes, implants |
| Cellular | Medium | Medium–High | Small electronics |
Company Size
Small compaies will have very different needs and budget than a large company. There are very different systems available for both small and large companies, but it makes no sense for a small company to consider systems designed for a large company. However the mid-sized companies will find some systems targeted just for them, but will also hear that the systems designed for larger companies like SAP, Oracle or Workday may also apply. They have preconfigured solutions that are less costly and easier to implement. Generally, you should find enough good mid-market systems, but occasiosnally there may be challenging requirements that are best handled by the big systems such as one solution for both construction and manufacturing.
Geography
- Language – You may want a system where the entire user interface including help is in the language of your users. You may also want certain customers, such as those in Quebec, to receive their invoices in French
- Implementation – You will want some onsite meetings, and local resources will reduce costs.
- Support – You may want the vendor to support you in the language of your users.
Conclusion
Start your search by industry such as “Apparel ERP Software” and you may be surprised by what you find.