The definitive guide to
ERP implementation costs

The definitive guide to ERP implementation costs

July 6, 2023

Konstantin Pilkevich
by Konstantin Pilkevich, 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

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. 
  • 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

Get a quote

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

Perpetual

Subscription-based

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

Perpetual

Subscription-based

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

Perpetual

Subscription-based

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

Perpetual

Subscription-based

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

Perpetual

Subscription-based

On-premises deployments Larger companies with sufficient infrastructure to support the ERP software

Cloud deployments Smaller businesses aiming to grow and be flexible

Pricing for top ERP platforms

NetSuite ERP

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. There is also a one-time implementation fee for the initial setup.

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.

Get a clear picture of your ERP implementation cost

Contact us

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 and organizational efficiency

due to routine tasks automation, duplicate work reduction, and creation of a single source of truth.

Increased employee engagement and 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 and 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 and 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

An Odoo-based fleet management solution

80%

manual tasks automated

Itransition delivered a BPM solution for the automotive maintenance service provider to automate the daily tasks of service managers and technicians. The solution reduced operational expenses by 50% and increased client satisfaction due to operations transparency and faster service.

ERP system for a repair and maintenance service company

100%

accelerated work order management

Itransition implemented a cloud-based ERP solution with Odoo, which automated multiple business processes, minimized manual operations, reduced purchase order approval time by 50%, and automated 90% of manual tasks.

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.