If you’ve ever been involved in an ERP implementation—or worse, inherited one that was “completed” by a previous team—you already know how things can go.
ERPs promise structure, efficiency, and better control. Yet, in many companies, they quietly turn into a daily source of frustration. People click through endless screens, reports don’t match, and Excel becomes the unofficial ERP replacement.
I’ve spent over 18 years working hands-on with manufacturers, distributors, service companies, and trading businesses across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. After hundreds of implementations and just as many rescue projects, I’ve learned something reassuring:
Most ERP problems are not unique.
Most are predictable.
And almost all of them are fixable—without throwing away the system you already invested in.
Whether your ERP is newly implemented or several years old, the issues you’re facing are likely on this list. More importantly, so are the solutions.
Here are the ten ERP problems I see most often—and how real businesses fix them without starting from scratch.
1. “The system is painfully slow—nobody wants to use it.”
This is the most common complaint I hear. A user hits “Save,” goes to grab a coffee, returns, and the screen is still loading. Reports take forever. Posting a journal voucher feels like a mini project.
Why it happens:
- Databases filled with 7–10 years of unarchived transactional data
- Custom scripts running behind every save
- Underpowered servers (especially for on-prem installations)
- Poor database indexing or overloaded workflows
How to fix it:
- Start with a proper performance audit—check server load, RAM, disk I/O, and slow-running queries.
- Archive old data. You don’t need 2014 entries in your live table to process a 2025 sales order.
- Review custom code—remove or optimize anything unnecessary.
- If you’re on the cloud, recheck your plan. Many companies try to save ₹2,000 per month and end up with half the performance they need.
Slow ERP systems are rarely caused by the ERP itself.
They slow down because no one maintains them after go-live.
2. “This ERP doesn’t match how our business actually works.”
This usually happens when a system was configured based on assumptions—or someone tried to force-fit old habits into the new ERP.
Common causes:
- No detailed process mapping before implementation
- The system was modelled around what managers thought users did, not what they actually do
- Customizations built to match inefficient legacy routines
How to fix it:
- Bring frontline users—storekeepers, sales coordinators, production planners—into process redesign discussions.
- Try the standard ERP workflow first before demanding customization.
- Only customize when it genuinely saves time or reduces risk.
ERPs shouldn’t blindly follow old processes.
They should help you adopt better ones.
3. “People are back to using Excel again.”
This is the loudest alarm bell. When users create workarounds, it means something is wrong—not with them, but with the system or the training.
Why users revert to Excel:
- Screens are cluttered with fields they don’t understand
- They were never properly trained
- They fear making mistakes in the ERP
- The workflows feel long or confusing
How to fix it:
- Simplify screens. Most users need 20% of the fields 80% of the time.
- Provide role-specific training instead of generic sessions.
- Identify “ERP Champions” inside each department—people others trust.
- Highlight early wins: “Since adopting batch tracking, delivery errors dropped by 60%.”
Adoption is less about software and more about comfort, trust, and clarity.
4. “The reports are wrong—inventory, costing, everything.”
Whenever someone tells me the ERP is showing wrong values, ninety percent of the time the root cause is messy data.
Duplicate masters. Incomplete entries. Wrong UOMs. Incorrect cost categories.
ERP doesn’t fix bad data; it exposes it.
How to fix it:
- Create standard naming rules for customers, suppliers, and items.
- Set validation rules so users can’t save incomplete or incorrect records.
- Schedule quarterly data cleanups—merge duplicates, freeze inactive items.
- Avoid dumping everything into “General” or “Miscellaneous.”
Clean data is not optional—it’s the backbone of every accurate report.
5. “We customized too much—now we’re stuck.”
This is one of the biggest reasons companies fail to upgrade. Every custom field, every modified posting, every special calculation becomes a long-term burden.
Why it happens:
- Assumption that “We’re different.”
- Consultants saying yes to everything to close the project.
- Pressure to replicate the old software instead of improving the process.
How to fix it:
- Conduct a yearly customization review to see which ones you can retire.
- Document every customization—why it exists, how it works, and how to test it.
- Keep custom code isolated—never interfere with core logic.
Strong ERP teams say “No” far more often than they say “Yes.”
6. “We can’t get the reports we need.”
Managers expect real-time dashboards; instead, they get outdated PDFs someone emailed last quarter.
How to fix it:
- Use the ERP’s built-in reporting tools—most modern systems include dashboards, drill-downs, filters, and export options.
- Fix data quality first; no reporting tool can compensate for bad input.
- Train department heads to build basic reports themselves—removing dependency on IT.
ERP reporting becomes powerful only when users understand both the data and the tools.
7. “Our systems don’t talk to each other.”
A lot of companies run a messy mix of ERP + spreadsheets + Tally + custom e-commerce portals + WhatsApp order logs. The result? Duplicate data and mismatched numbers.
How to fix it:
- Use API-based integrations rather than fragile Excel imports.
- Map each field carefully during integration—small mismatches snowball quickly.
- Test with live data, not demo samples.
- Check the sync logs weekly instead of waiting for errors to pile up.
A good integration quietly saves dozens of hours every month.
8. “We trained them once—why don’t they know it?”
Because ERP knowledge fades.
And businesses change faster than the training material.
How to fix it:
- Create short internal video tutorials for routine tasks.
- Run refreshers every 6–12 months.
- Build a simple internal wiki or SOP hub—easy to update, easy to find.
Training is not a one-time event.
It’s an ongoing habit that protects your investment.
9. “We rely entirely on the ERP vendor.”
If your ERP stops working every time your consultant is unavailable, that’s a major operational risk.
How to fix it:
- Train at least one super-user in each department.
- Document your workflows, setups, and key processes.
- Own your ERP internally—don’t outsource control.
A business should never be fully dependent on a single developer or consultant.
10. “People resist change.”
This is the quiet killer of every digital transformation. Some fear technology. Some fear exposure. Some fear losing control.
How to fix it:
- Communicate early—explain the purpose of the change.
- Involve people in design decisions.
- Roll out in phases, not all at once.
- Appreciate users who adapt early; recognition spreads motivation.
When people feel heard and supported, they embrace change faster.
Final Thought: Your ERP Can Work—If You Work With It
No ERP is perfect. Every system has constraints, and every business has quirks. But the difference between a successful implementation and a painful one usually has little to do with the software itself.
It’s about how you configure it.
How you maintain it.
How you support the people using it.
You don’t always need a new ERP.
Most of the time, you need the right corrections.
Want an ERP That Avoids These Problems From Day One?
At BRS Infotek, our ERP approach was shaped by years of rescuing failing implementations. We saw businesses struggle with systems that were over-customized, rigid, or built for consultants instead of users. That experience led to two practical ERP paths.
Cyprus ERP, built in-house by BRS Infotek on proven Adempiere foundations, is designed to solve real operational problems without unnecessary complexity.
Onfinity ERP, where BRS Infotek is a legal and implementation partner, delivers the same execution-first philosophy with added enterprise scalability.
Here’s what both ERPs focus on:
- Unified finance, inventory, sales, and manufacturing
- Clean, intuitive screens for faster user adoption
- Smart configuration instead of fragile customization
- Real-time dashboards and accurate costing
- Transparent, predictable implementation approach
👉 To see how Cyprus ERP or Onfinity ERP can support your organization, request a practical demo with BRS Infotek at www.cypruserp.com or at Onfinity ERP.
About the Author
Surya Sagar
Founder & ERP Solution Architect – BRS Infotek
With 18+ years of hands-on ERP experience, he has helped companies across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia transform manual, fragmented processes into stable, data-driven operations.
He co-designed Cyprus ERP and leads Onfinity ERP implementations as BRS Infotek’s legal partner.
His belief is simple:
ERP should make life easier—not more complicated.
