Growth is usually a good problem to have. More customers, more revenue, more opportunity. But for many UK businesses, growth is also the point where cracks start to show.
Finance teams spend days reconciling numbers. Stock levels stop making sense. Reporting becomes a monthly scramble. What once worked in spreadsheets or disconnected systems no longer keeps up.
This is typically when ERP enters the conversation.
For growing UK businesses, two ERP platforms dominate the mid-market discussion: SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Both are proven solutions. Both can support scale. And both can fail if best practice is ignored.
This article looks at practical ERP best practices, based on real-world implementation experience, to help growing businesses get value from SAP Business One or Business Central without unnecessary pain.
Why Growing Businesses Reach a Breaking Point with Systems
Most ERP projects don’t start with a grand strategy. They start with frustration.
- Finance cannot trust the numbers
- Sales and operations work from different data
- Leadership lacks real-time visibility
- Manual workarounds multiply
At a certain size, these issues stop being inconvenient and start holding the business back.
ERP solves this by creating one system of record across finance, operations, inventory, and reporting. But choosing ERP is not enough. The way it is selected, implemented, and used matters more than the software itself.
Best Practice 1: Choose ERP Based on How You Actually Operate
One of the most common mistakes is selecting ERP based on brand recognition or past experience rather than operational fit.
The right ERP depends on:
- How structured your processes are
- How quickly your business changes
- How much control versus flexibility you need
When SAP Business One Is the Better Fit
SAP Business One works well for organisations that:
- Need strong financial control
- Operate in manufacturing, wholesale, or distribution
- Prefer defined processes over constant change
It suits businesses where consistency and accuracy matter more than flexibility. Many UK organisations choose SAP Business One because it brings discipline as they scale.
When Business Central Makes More Sense
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is often a better fit for businesses that:
- Are service-led or project-based
- Already rely heavily on Microsoft tools
- Want flexibility as they grow
Its integration with Outlook, Excel, Teams, and the wider Microsoft ecosystem makes it particularly attractive for fast-moving organisations that want ERP to feel familiar rather than restrictive.
Choosing between the two should be a business decision, not an IT preference.
Best Practice 2: Treat ERP as a Business Change, Not an IT Upgrade
ERP fails when it is treated as “new software”.
Successful ERP projects are run as business change programmes, with:
- Clear ownership from leadership
- Early involvement from finance and operations
- Agreed outcomes beyond “the system works”
If the goal is simply to replace an old system, ERP will disappoint. If the goal is to improve how the business runs, ERP becomes a catalyst for change.
This applies equally to SAP Business One and Business Central.
Best Practice 3: Fix Broken Processes Before ERP Goes Live
ERP exposes inefficiencies. It does not hide them.
Before implementation, growing businesses should take a hard look at:
- Manual approvals that add no value
- Duplicate data entry
- Spreadsheet-based controls
Trying to replicate every existing process inside ERP usually leads to over-customisation, higher costs, and limited flexibility later on.
A better approach is to:
- Use standard ERP functionality where possible
- Simplify workflows
- Customise only where there is a clear business case
This keeps SAP Business One and Business Central easier to upgrade, support, and scale.
Best Practice 4: Cloud ERP Should Be a Strategic Decision
For most growing UK businesses, cloud ERP is now the default option.
Business Central was built cloud-first, offering:
- Automatic updates
- Predictable costs
- Easier scalability
SAP Business One is also widely deployed in hosted and cloud environments, allowing businesses to modernise without losing control over data or compliance.
The key best practice is not “cloud versus on-premise”, but planning properly for cloud adoption, including:
- Security and access controls
- Performance expectations
- User experience for remote teams
Cloud ERP works best when governance is considered early, not bolted on later.
Best Practice 5: Take Data Seriously from Day One
ERP magnifies data quality issues.
If customers, suppliers, or products are poorly defined before migration, users will lose confidence quickly. Once trust is gone, adoption follows.
Best-practice ERP projects:
- Clean data before migration
- Define who owns which data
- Agree reporting definitions early
Both SAP Business One and Business Central provide strong reporting and analytics. But they rely on accurate data to deliver insight.
Best Practice 6: Focus on People, Not Just Processes
ERP adoption is as much about people as it is about systems.
Common mistakes include:
- One-size-fits-all training
- Little explanation of why changes are happening
- No support after go-live
Better results come from:
- Role-based training
- Clear communication of benefits
- Ongoing optimisation after implementation
Business Central’s familiar interface can ease adoption for some teams, while SAP Business One’s structured workflows help guide users through core processes. In both cases, ongoing support is critical.
Best Practice 7: Choose a Partner Who Will Challenge You
ERP is not a one-off purchase. It is a long-term relationship.
The right ERP partner should:
- Challenge assumptions
- Be honest about limitations
- Support optimisation after go-live
Codestone works with growing UK businesses to implement and optimise SAP Business One and Business Central with a focus on long-term value, not just technical delivery. That difference is often what separates successful ERP projects from expensive disappointments.
ERP Done Right Supports Growth, Not Just Control
ERP should not slow a business down.
When best practices are followed, SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central become platforms for:
- Better decision-making
- Scalable operations
- Sustainable growth
For growing UK businesses, ERP success is not about choosing the “best” system. It is about choosing the right system, implementing it properly, and continuing to evolve it as the business grows.
