Many organisations invest in business software to boost productivity and profits — but selecting the right combination of systems is where it gets tricky. This is especially true when weighing up big-ticket items like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Business Process Management (BPM) software.

While both aim to improve operational efficiency, they serve very different purposes — and they’re not interchangeable.

“The fact that many organisations believe ERP and BPM are the same is based on a misunderstanding of what each is designed to do,” says Denis Bensch, CIO at FlowCentric.

ERP vs BPM: Different Strengths, Different Functions

ERP software provides a central database accessed across departments (finance, inventory, sales, logistics) giving everyone the same view of the same data in real time.

“ERP delivers convenience and improved efficiency. But fundamentally, it’s transaction-based — something has either been ordered, paid, or shipped,” says Bensch.

BPM, on the other hand, is all about the process — not just the outcome. It helps organisations understand, manage, and automate the steps that lead up to those transactions.

So why the confusion?

Most ERP systems come bundled with basic workflow tools, which businesses often try to use as if they were full BPM systems. That’s where problems start.

“An ERP workflow module isn’t built to automate processes across different systems. It’s designed for the tasks within the ERP environment — not beyond it,” Bensch explains.

Better Together: BPM Extends ERP

Instead of choosing one over the other, the two can — and should — work together.

“We recommend managing the process in a BPMS, like FlowCentric Processware, and integrating with the ERP to create the transaction. This plays to both systems’ strengths,” says Bensch.

Customisation: Know What You’re In For

If your business has simple, standardised processes, a “vanilla” ERP installation may be enough — it’s quick to implement and doesn’t require much tinkering.

But if your processes are more unique or complex, extensive ERP customisation may be required — and that gets expensive fast.

In such cases, a BPM solution may be the smarter starting point. BPM systems are built to adapt and evolve as your business grows, often with shorter deployment times.

“The problem with ERP customisation isn’t just the initial cost — every upgrade needs re-testing. ERP vendors can’t predict or support all field-level tweaks. BPM systems are built for flexibility,” warns Bensch.

Integration Capabilities Matter — a Lot

When choosing ERP software, pay close attention to its ability to integrate with other systems. If the integration tools are poor, linking it to a BPM platform later will be painful and expensive.

If you’re planning to run both ERP and BPM:

• Start with the ERP — it’ll define what integration looks like.
• Keep the ERP standard wherever possible.
• Build customisations into the BPM system instead.

Also, host them in the same environment — either both on-prem or both in the cloud — to avoid unnecessary complications.

“Having both solutions on the same infrastructure makes installation and integration far easier,” says Bensch.

TL;DR

Don’t Pick One. Pick the Right Tool for the Job

ERP handles transactions and data.

BPM manages processes and decisions.

When combined thoughtfully, ERP and BPM systems complement each other — improving transparency, compliance, and agility across your organisation.

Not sure if your core systems are helping or hindering your business?

Let’s talk about how FlowCentric can help you simplify, integrate, and take control.