ERP2 min read
How to Calculate ERP ROI (With a Simple Worked Example)
A practical method for calculating ERP return on investment: which benefits to count, which to leave out, how to estimate costs honestly, and a worked example you can adapt.
Solution · Platform
Business intelligence built on numbers people agree on
Reporting arguments usually aren't about charts. They're about definitions: what counts as revenue, when an order is 'late', which cost goes into margin. BI only works when those definitions are agreed.
Overview
Why this area matters
We define KPIs with the business, build reporting views on ERP data and deliver dashboards in the ERP or in tools like Power BI.
01Typical problems
Signs the current setup has run out of road
01
Conflicting numbers
Different reports show different figures.
02
Spreadsheet reporting
Analysts spend days assembling exports.
03
Slow reports
Heavy queries slow down the ERP.
04
No KPI ownership
Metrics without owners or targets.
02Capabilities
What a well-built setup includes
01
KPI definitions
Documented, agreed metric definitions.
02
Operational dashboards
Real-time views for teams in the ERP.
03
Reporting views
SQL views optimised for analysis.
04
Power BI integration
Data feeds for management reporting.
05
Scheduled reports
Email delivery of key reports.
06
Row-level security
Users see only data they're entitled to.
03Workflow
How the process runs end to end
- 01
Define
Agree KPIs and owners.
- 02
Model
Build reporting views and data model.
- 03
Visualise
Dashboards per role.
- 04
Distribute
Scheduled and embedded reports.
- 05
Review
Metrics used in regular meetings.
04 — Technical notes
Design decisions worth getting right
Heavy analytical queries should run against a read replica or a data warehouse, not the production database during business hours.
Incremental refresh and pre-aggregated views keep dashboards fast as data grows.
Where it applies
Industries, integrations and services
Services
How we deliver it
ERP ConsultingSelection, readiness, process design and roadmaps from consultants who also deliver.ERP DevelopmentEngineering for ERP platforms: modules, APIs, reports, portals and performance work.ERP Performance OptimizationFind and fix slow screens, reports, batch jobs and integrations with evidence, not guesswork.
Insights
Related reading
ERP2 min read
ERP for Small Business: Where to Start
ERP for small business: what to implement first, realistic budgets and timelines, free and low-cost options, and how to avoid buying too much system.
ERP2 min read
Cloud ERP vs On-Premise ERP: How to Decide
Cloud ERP vs on-premise ERP compared on cost, control, security, performance, customisation and compliance, with the hybrid and private-cloud options most comparisons ignore.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do we need Power BI?
Not always. ERP dashboards cover operational needs; Power BI helps for cross-system and management reporting.
Will reports slow down the ERP?
Not if heavy queries use replicas or a warehouse.
Can we combine data from other systems?
Yes, in a BI tool or warehouse.
Next step
Reports nobody agrees on?
We will start with KPI definitions and data.