Custom vs Prebuilt Sage ERP Integrations: Choosing the Right Approach

3 min read ● Silk Team

Custom Sage ERP Integrations vs Prebuilt Connectors: Which Is Right for You?

As manufacturers and distributors develop and implement their digital ecosystems by connecting ERP with eCommerce, CRM, Logistics and other Systems, the inevitable question arises, “Should I go with my own custom Sage ERP integration, or should I rely on pre-built connectors?”

Either method can be successful, but making the wrong choice can lead to the creation of scalability problems, unknown costs, and operational friction. The purpose of this guide is to explain the differences of both methods, so you can create a solution that meets your needs today and will support your business as you move forward into the future.

Understanding Both Methods of Integration

At a high level, the difference between the two integration methods is based on flexibility (custom) vs speed (pre-built).

Pre-built connectors are packaged integration products that connect Sage ERP to popular platforms with predefined logic.

Custom integrations are created by developing a custom solution around your specific business workflows and data needs.

In general, the decision of which integration method to choose, for companies using Sage ERP, is dependent upon how complex, scalable and what the future holds for your organization.

When Do Pre-built Connectors Make the Most Sense

Pre-built connectors are generally more attractive due to the fact they offer faster deployment and less of an upfront expense.

Pre-built connectors are the best choice when:

• Business processes have followed established patterns.
• Data structure requires little to no transformation.
• Transaction volumes are moderate.
• Integration needs are relatively straightforward.

Advantages of pre-built connectors include:

• Faster time-to-market for implementations.
• Less of an upfront financial commitment.
• Updates and maintenance of the connector are supported by the vendor.

However, the limitations of connectors are based on the design of the connector. If your business has workflows that do not fit within the standard use case (which is common in manufacturing), you will soon realize the limitations.

Some of the common challenges associated with pre-built connectors include:

• Difficulty supporting complex pricing and contracts.
• Support for edge cases and exceptions is limited.
• Little to no control over data flow and logic.

While pre-built connectors can be a good starting place, they typically do not scale well with increasing operational complexity.

When Should Custom Integrations Be Chosen

Custom integrations are built specifically around your business, not the other way around.

Custom integrations are the better choice when:

• Your pricing, fulfillment and/or customer rules are highly customized.
• You must keep multiple systems in sync.
• You need to optimize the performance of the integration due to high transaction volumes.
• Your company’s ability to compete relies heavily on the quality of your integration.

Benefits of custom integrations include:

• Control over your data and logic.
• Support for complex B2B workflows.
• Scalability and long-term flexibility.

While custom integrations will cost more initially and take longer to build, they often reduce the number of manual processes required, prevent costly data errors and eliminate the need to replatform in the future.

Total Cost of Ownership Matters More Than the Upfront Cost

While many organizations select connectors to save money, only to replace them later; ultimately, it is the total cost of ownership (TCO) that matters.

As orders increase and requirements evolve, workarounds develop and costs for maintaining the connector increase.

A custom integration may cost more initially, but it will often:

• Reduce the amount of manual processing.
• Prevent costly data errors from occurring.
• Eliminate the need for expensive replatforming in the future.

When evaluating TCO over three to five years, you can get a clear view of which method is best for your business.

Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Method

Before selecting a method, you should consider the following:

• How complex are our pricing and fulfillment rules?
• How many systems do we need to integrate with our ERP system?
• Are there large amounts of growth or new channels we anticipate expanding into?
• How much control do we want over our data and workflows?

Answering these questions will usually help determine which path to pursue.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, there is no “best” or “worst” method for creating Sage ERP custom integrations and pre-built connectors. What is best for your business is determined by your current and future operational complexity, growth plans and tolerance for future changes.

For simple environments, connectors are a great way to achieve quick wins. For complex or scaling businesses, custom integrations provide the level of control and resiliency necessary to ensure long-term success.