From Customisation to Integration: The New ERP Development Mindset

From Customisation to Integration: The New ERP Development Mindset

Every organisation needs its ERP system to mirror how it truly operates. For years, the default answer was to customise the ERP core — modifying standard modules to match unique processes. This worked, up to a point. But as customisations grew, systems became fragile, harder to maintain and almost impossible to upgrade.

Today, the new ERP development mindset is about integration, not modification. By extending ERP systems with apps and connected services instead of embedding custom code into the core, businesses can achieve flexibility without sacrificing stability. This shift unlocks faster innovation, better scalability and easier maintenance — especially with modern cloud ERPs such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

This article explores the journey from old-style customisation to modern, integration-driven ERP development — and why it’s essential for future-proofing your digital operations.

The Old Way: Customising Inside the ERP Core

Traditionally, consultants would build custom functionality inside the ERP system — adding or altering data structures, business logic and user interfaces. At first, this seemed like a dream solution: you could make your ERP do anything.

But it came at a cost. Every modification tightly coupled the new code with the ERP’s internal logic. Like tinkering with a car’s engine and still expecting the manufacturer’s warranty to hold, these changes made it almost impossible to guarantee long-term stability.

Over time, this approach introduced several critical issues:

• Dependency on consultants who originally built the system — often the only ones who truly understand its structure.
• Upgrade paralysis: tightly coupled customisations make new version deployments complex or unfeasible.
• Rising maintenance costs: every patch or improvement risks breaking other components.
• Lost agility: introducing new modules, automations or integrations becomes increasingly difficult.

The result? A rigid ERP platform that can no longer evolve with the business. As Zoosh’s integration experts often highlight, over-customisation doesn’t just slow innovation — it can paralyse it.

The Modern Approach: Developing Beside the ERP

Modern ERP systems such as Business Central were designed with extensibility in mind. Instead of modifying the core, they allow you to build beside it — through apps and integrations.

Apps encapsulate specific business logic or data extensions in modular, upgrade-safe packages. Multiple independent apps can coexist on the same platform without conflicting. This approach keeps the core clean and ensures smooth updates — a core principle of the AppSource ecosystem promoted by Microsoft.

The next evolution is side-by-side development: building web or mobile applications that sit outside the ERP but communicate with it through APIs. These applications might have their own databases or front-end layers, but the ERP remains the single source of truth.

These apps can be built with:

• Modern frameworks: Node.js, React, .NET, etc.
• Low-code/no-code platforms: such as Microsoft Power Apps or Power Automate.
• Cloud-native tools: deployed in Azure alongside Business Central for performance and security alignment.

This setup allows businesses to extend ERP functionality freely — whether creating a mobile app for warehouse operators, a supplier portal or an analytics dashboard powered by AI.

The integration-first mindset combines control (the ERP defines the rules) with creativity (external apps handle innovation).

Benefits of Side-by-Side Development

Adopting an integration-first model is not just a technical upgrade — it’s a strategic transformation. Here are the core benefits:

Decoupled Architecture

Independent components mean independent teams. Each app can be developed, deployed and maintained separately, using the most suitable technology stack.

Simpler Upgrades and Maintenance

Because integrations rely on stable APIs, updates to either side rarely cause disruption. The ERP can evolve without breaking extensions, and vice versa.

Faster Innovation

Need to launch a new digital service? Develop and connect a new app — without touching the ERP’s internals. This enables continuous innovation rather than disruptive overhauls.

Improved User Experience

Custom apps can offer intuitive, role-specific interfaces. Instead of navigating complex ERP menus, employees or customers interact with clean, focused tools — reducing errors and saving time.

Broader Cloud Capabilities

External apps can use AI services, data analytics and third-party APIs — unlocking capabilities far beyond what any ERP alone can offer.

Sustainable Growth

With the ERP as the stable backbone, your digital ecosystem becomes adaptable and future-ready — a cornerstone of Zoosh Digital’s integration philosophy.

Real-World Applications of the Integration Mindset

The benefits of app-based extensions and integrations are already visible in real-world use cases across industries.

Customer Self-Service Portals

A connected web app lets customers place orders, track deliveries or log support requests directly — all synced to Business Central. This reduces manual work while improving customer satisfaction.

E-Commerce and Webshops

Businesses can connect platforms like Shopify or build fully bespoke stores integrated with Business Central for inventory, pricing and order management. This creates new revenue channels while keeping ERP data as the single source of truth.

Operational Automation

Bespoke apps streamline workflows previously reliant on manual input across multiple systems. For example, warehouse staff can update inventory via a mobile app that syncs in real-time with the ERP, cutting hours of admin work.

Data and Analytics Extensions

Integration with tools such as Power BI or Azure Machine Learning allows for advanced visualisation, predictive analytics and AI-driven insights — beyond traditional ERP reporting.

Industry-Specific Integrations

External systems like production monitoring tools, IoT data streams or logistics tracking can connect seamlessly to the ERP. This integration enables insights into areas previously isolated, such as environmental monitoring or machine efficiency.

These examples show that integration is not just a technical pattern — it’s a driver of digital transformation, opening doors to agility and competitive differentiation. Gartner’s report also highlights that leading ERP vendors are prioritising open integration capabilities as a critical driver of innovation and long-term competitiveness. (Source: Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP Services)

Key Considerations for Businesses

To successfully adopt a modern ERP mindset, businesses must view the transition not as a simple software switch, but as the foundation of a scalable, integration-first digital ecosystem. The first and most crucial step is choosing a platform explicitly built for extensibility — one that leverages APIs and modular apps rather than operating as a closed monolith. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central embodies this philosophy by enabling continuous expansion and seamless connectivity.

It’s essential to define the application landscape early on: identifying which functions should stay native within the ERP, which should be delivered through apps within the same platform and which should live as external integrations. Clarity is key — no duplicated logic, no ownership confusion. This approach works best when implemented gradually: start small, launch a single low-risk integration or app first, then expand iteratively as confidence and internal capability grow.

To make this integration-first model work in practice, companies must embrace both technical and organizational readiness. That requires a partner who understands both ERP and modern software engineering. Zoosh is uniquely positioned here, combining deep ERP expertise with in-house engineering capability. Throughout the process, strong governance is essential — ensuring data models, APIs and workflows remain consistent, with the ERP always serving as the single source of truth.

Key takeaways:

• Select an extensible, API-driven ERP — e.g. Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Clearly define what lives in the ERP, what runs as apps, and what integrates externally
• Implement in phases — start small, then expand iteratively
• Work with a partner skilled in both ERP and modern engineering
• Maintain strict governance — ERP remains the authoritative data source

Conclusion

The era of heavy ERP customisations is ending. Embedding code inside the core system locks businesses into complexity, high maintenance and slow upgrades. In contrast, integration-first ERP development keeps systems clean, modular and innovation-ready.

By combining ERP stability with the flexibility of integrated applications, businesses gain agility, scalability and lower long-term costs. The future belongs to companies that treat their ERP not as a monolith, but as the hub of a connected digital ecosystem.

If your organisation relies on an ageing, over-customised ERP, it’s time to rethink your approach. Review your current system architecture, identify areas suitable for decoupling and consider a step-by-step modernisation roadmap — with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Zoosh Digital as your trusted integration partner.

FAQ

Q1: Is customising ERP always bad?
Not always — some configuration is necessary. But code-level changes should be minimised. Customisations should be packaged as apps that don’t alter the ERP core.

Q2: Does integration cost more than customisation?
Not in the long term. Integrations are easier to upgrade and maintain, reducing total cost of ownership.

Q3: Can older ERP systems support APIs or connectors?
Some legacy systems offer APIs, but their scope is limited. Modern ERPs like Business Central are purpose-built for integration and scalability.

Q4: What tools support side-by-side development?
From low-code solutions like Power Apps to full-stack builds using Node.js and React — the choice depends on your goals and resources.

Q5: How does integration improve security?
By keeping the ERP core untouched, security updates remain valid. External apps can use modern authentication (OAuth, Azure AD) to ensure secure data exchange.

Q6: What’s the role of APIs in this model?
APIs act as the bridge between ERP and external applications, ensuring stable, structured and safe data communication.

Q7: How does an integration-first ERP strategy contribute to a company’s digital transformation?
It enables automation, advanced analytics and innovation without disrupting the ERP core — helping organisations evolve continuously rather than through large, disruptive change projects.

Q8: How should businesses start the transition?
Begin by assessing existing customisations, mapping them to integration opportunities, and planning incremental replacements with apps and services.

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