Alexander Kunevich, S/4HANA Conversion PM, ACBaltica
ERP systems used to be seen as heavy, costly, and suited only for the largest enterprises. For many small and mid-sized businesses, the price tags and complexity were enough to keep them away.
But the business environment has changed. SMEs face mounting pressure to work more efficiently, compete with bigger players, and keep up with customer expectations for speed, service, and transparency. Basic apps and spreadsheets can only carry them so far.
The ERP market has responded. Vendors like SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft are not just extending their flagship products to the midmarket – they’re also embedding best practice business processes directly into their systems. For SMEs, this shift is a game-changer: it means faster rollouts, lower costs, and a smoother path to efficiency.
In this post, we’ll unpack what ERP best practices are, why they matter, and how they help growing businesses unlock value without overcomplicating implementation.
What ERP best practices actually mean
Think of ERP best practices as prepackaged, proven workflows. Instead of starting with a blank page, companies get access to ready-made processes – designed, tested, and refined over decades across industries.
Traditional ERP projects often involved tailoring every detail to fit existing company processes. Modern ERP takes a different approach: start with standard processes that already work, and only adjust where absolutely necessary.
The benefits are clear:
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Lower costs (fewer custom builds)
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Faster implementation (weeks or months, not years)
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Reduced risk (industry-standard compliance built in)
Take GROW with SAP as an example. It brings the power of S/4HANA ERP to midmarket companies, complete with hundreds of preconfigured processes. These cover everything from finance to HR to supply chain – essentially 50 years of SAP’s experience, out of the box.
Where best practices deliver real value
Best practices aren’t abstract – they solve everyday challenges SMEs face. Let’s look at three areas where they make a big difference.
1. Core business scenarios
Growing businesses often struggle with cash flow and credit risk. With Basic Credit Management, a best practice built into the S/4HANA, the system automatically checks customer creditworthiness, applies limits, and blocks risky orders. This prevents late payments from snowballing into bigger problems – without weeks of custom setup.
2. Industry-specific processes
Retailers, manufacturers, distributors – each has its own quirks. Modern ERPs reflect that. A retailer, for instance, can use built-in inventory workflows for automated demand forecasting and reordering. This prevents overstock, avoids empty shelves, and improves cash flow – all based on best practices proven in the retail sector.
3. Compliance made easier
Running operations across multiple countries adds another layer of complexity. Modern ERPs come with localized compliance processes built in – whether it’s tax reporting in Germany or lockbox cash management in the US. For SMEs without large compliance teams, this is invaluable. Instead of scrambling with spreadsheets, they can rely on ERP defaults designed for accuracy and regulatory alignment.
Adapting your business to ERP – not the other way around
One of the common worries SMEs have is: “Will we lose what makes us unique if we adopt standard processes?”
The short answer: no. Modern ERP best practices are designed to cover the 80–90% of processes where uniqueness doesn’t add value (invoicing, payroll, reporting). That leaves plenty of room to adapt the few processes that truly differentiate your business.
The key is to follow a simple rule:
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Standardize wherever possible
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Customize only where it creates competitive advantage
This not only lowers implementation costs but also keeps your ERP clean, upgrade-friendly, and easier to scale.
At ACBaltica, we often help clients balance this equation – advising where to trust SAP’s built-in frameworks and where it’s worth tailoring. The right balance avoids technical debt while keeping the system aligned with business goals.
Why best practices mean faster ROI
ERP no longer has to mean years of design workshops and skyrocketing budgets. By leaning on built-in best practices, SMEs gain:
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Faster time-to-value: implementation in months, not years
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Lower risk: proven processes reduce errors and compliance gaps
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Lower costs: minimal customizations keep projects lean
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Future readiness: systems stay up-to-date with standardized processes
In short: instead of reinventing the wheel, SMEs can hit the ground running with a system built on decades of global business experience.
Final thoughts: best practices as a growth accelerator
ERP best practices are more than templates – they’re a strategic shortcut. They let SMEs skip the trial-and-error of process design and focus on what really matters: growth.
By trusting ERP’s embedded frameworks, companies save time, cut costs, and gain a scalable foundation aligned with industry and compliance standards. And when paired with the right partner, the journey becomes even smoother.
At ACBaltica, we’ve seen firsthand how SMEs thrive when they embrace best practices rather than fight against them. The message is simple: treat ERP best practices as assets, not limitations – and let them help your business grow smarter and faster.
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