Alternatives to ready-made CRM and ERP systems
Ready-made CRM and ERP systems — Odoo, Bitrix24, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho CRM, Salesforce — and Excel spreadsheets work when the company's process fits the product's logic. A custom system is the alternative when the process does not fit the ready-made product, licences grow with the team, or the system must sync with Horizon or Jumis.
What is a custom system and how does it differ from a ready-made one?
A custom system is a CRM, ERP or warehouse system built for one company: the custom system's data model, statuses, screens and integrations follow the company's way of working. A ready-made system is a product used by many companies; the ready-made system can be set up within the product's limits and is usually paid per user or per organisation per month. A custom system has no per-user licence; the cost of a custom system is development, hosting and maintenance. A ready-made system is a faster start and a wide feature set; a custom system is a narrower but more precise tool for one process. In this section each popular product has its own page with facts from the vendor's official site, an honest list of when the product is the right choice, and how switching or extending works.
Which system suits whom?
The table gives each product's typical use and the moment to consider a custom system; prices and facts are on each product's page, with the source and the date checked.
| Product | Suits | When to consider a custom system |
|---|---|---|
| Odoo | A company that needs many areas in one product and whose processes fit the Odoo apps | The process does not fit the Odoo modules, customisation needs a partner, you need your own server and code |
| Bitrix24 | A team that needs CRM, tasks and projects in one workspace at a fixed price per organisation | There are more tools than the team uses, but its own process is missing |
| HubSpot | A company whose growth is driven by marketing and e-mail campaigns | Seat costs grow, and the CRM has to describe a process beyond marketing |
| Pipedrive | A sales team with a clear pipeline from lead to deal | After the deal you need fulfilment, planning or invoices in one system |
| Zoho CRM | A company that wants many Zoho tools in one subscription | The process does not fit the Zoho modules; you need integration with Latvian accounting |
| Salesforce | A large sales team with a complex process and an implementation partner | A small or medium company with one clear process |
| Excel | Simple record keeping done by one person | Several people use the sheet, data is retyped, stock does not match |
Pipedrive, Zoho CRM, Salesforce and Excel are compared in detail in the Latvian version of this page.
How to choose: 5 questions
Choosing between a ready-made and a custom system starts with the process, not the product. Five questions show whether a ready-made system is enough.
- Does the company's process follow the typical model the ready-made product describes, or does it have its own steps, data and approvals?
- How many people need access now and in three years — and how will per-user licences change with the team?
- Where does accounting stay — Horizon, Tildes Jumis, Zalktis — and must the system sync clients, invoices and stock with it?
- Where must the data be kept — the vendor's cloud, the EU or the company's own server — and does the company need the system's code as its own?
- Who will maintain and develop the system — the vendor, a partner or a developer — and how soon do you need to start?
If most answers are «typical process, small team, fast», a ready-made system is a sound choice. If the process is specific and needs integration with Latvian accounting, a custom system is often the more precise path: After full payment, the source code and the intellectual property rights to the developed solution pass to the client. The data can be exported at any time.
When is a custom system not needed?
A custom system is not needed when the ready-made system already describes the process and the team works in it without extra spreadsheets. Then it is better to keep the ready-made product and, if needed, add one integration or module through the product's API.
Each alternatives page has a section «Can you keep it and extend it?» on connecting a ready-made system with a custom module. The way to connect is chosen by what the system and its licence allow: the system's API or web services, a regular file exchange (XML, CSV) or an intermediate database.
Our services
- Custom CRM development A CRM built around your sales funnel, statuses and workflows.
- Custom ERP systems Accounting integration, warehouse, production and staff in one platform.
- Warehouse management system Barcode scanning, real-time stock and integration with your ERP.
- social.tech in English All English pages.
Frequently asked questions
Free assessment: is a ready-made system enough, or do you need your own
Tell us which system you use and what does not fit, — in a consultation we assess whether an add-on is enough or a custom system is needed.
Request an assessmentOdoo is a trademark of its owner. Bitrix24 is a trademark of its owner. HubSpot is a trademark of HubSpot, Inc.. Pipedrive is a trademark of its owner. Zoho CRM is a trademark of Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd.. Salesforce is a trademark of Salesforce, Inc.. Excel is a trademark of Microsoft. social.tech is not affiliated with the makers of these products; the product names are used only to name them.