If you’re in manufacturing and exploring enterprise-level software, you’ve almost certainly encountered SAP Business One. As part of SAP’s extensive ERP suite, it’s a heavyweight solution that promises total control over operations—from inventory and production to accounting and customer management. But while it’s powerful, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right fit for every manufacturer.
Here, we’ll look at what SAP Business One offers, why some businesses struggle with it, and why a custom software solution might be the smarter, leaner alternative.
What Is SAP Business One?
SAP Business One (often referred to as SAP B1) is a comprehensive ERP system designed for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It’s particularly popular with manufacturing and wholesale businesses due to its rich feature set and deep integration across business functions.
Key capabilities include:
- Inventory and warehouse management – Track stock across multiple locations, including serial numbers, batches, and expiry dates.
- Production and MRP – Manage bills of materials (BOMs), issue work orders, and automate material requirements planning.
- Purchasing and procurement – Streamline supplier management, procurement, and inbound logistics.
- Finance and accounting – Handle everything from general ledger to cost accounting, banking, and multi-currency transactions.
- CRM and sales – Track leads, manage customer data, and monitor the sales pipeline from quote to invoice.
- Custom dashboards and reporting – Access real-time business intelligence across departments.
SAP B1 can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud and is supported by a vast global network of partners and consultants.
Where SAP Business One Falls Short
There’s no doubt SAP Business One is feature-rich—but those features come at a cost, and not just a financial one. For many smaller or fast-moving manufacturers, SAP B1 may feel overly rigid, expensive, or cumbersome.
- High cost of ownership – Licensing, consulting, customisation, and training add up quickly—especially for SMEs.
- Complex implementation – Getting SAP B1 set up properly often takes months, with heavy reliance on external consultants.
- Not truly “modular” – While it covers many areas, you often need to pay for and implement whole chunks you may never use.
- Difficult to customise – Adapting SAP B1 to fit niche or rapidly changing processes can be challenging and costly.
- User training requirements – Its interface and navigation can be complex, making onboarding difficult for non-technical users.
Why a Custom Solution May Be a Better Fit
If you feel like you’re bending your business around your software—instead of the other way around—it may be time to consider a custom-built alternative.
A tailored manufacturing platform can offer:
- Only the features you need – Nothing more, nothing less. No bloated modules or confusing interfaces.
- Quick deployment, easy iteration – Designed specifically for how your team works, with clear user flows and fast updates.
- Lower long-term costs – No licensing fees, no dependency on third-party consultants, and lower overhead as you scale.
- Complete flexibility – Change how things work as your operations evolve, without breaking the system.
- Deep system integration – Seamlessly connect with machinery, accounting software, e-commerce platforms, or your CRM.
Shoothill: When You Need ERP-Level Power Without the ERP-Level Baggage
At Shoothill, we help manufacturers who are outgrowing entry-level tools—but don’t want to take on the weight of systems like SAP Business One. Our custom-built software delivers the control and insight you need, without the unnecessary complexity or cost.
Let’s build a system around your business, not someone else’s idea of what it should be.
Speak to Shoothill today and discover a smarter, more agile way to manage your manufacturing