Buy vs. Build: The Advantages of Purpose-Built Enterprise Software for Heavy Equipment Manufacturers

The right enterprise resource planning and document management systems are vital for any business but especially important for industries like heavy equipment manufacturing.

In this industry, you need a sophisticated system to navigate the complex supply chains and regulatory requirements. Generic solutions won’t cut it—you need a system that’s customized to your business.

Getting the right software means choosing between two options: Should you build your software in-house precisely to your specifications? Or should you adopt existing solutions?

In this article, we discuss the advantages of partnering with established experts—like Formpipe and XAPT—and explain why leveraging ready-made solutions is often the best path for efficiency, scalability, and long-term success.

Cost Efficiency and Long-Term Savings

When you develop a custom solution, costs can quickly spiral out of control.

Beyond the initial investment in development, unforeseen expenses are often tied to testing, bug fixes, and system adjustments. You must also budget for ongoing maintenance, regular updates to keep pace with technological changes, and dedicated IT support to ensure the system remains functional.

“In the ERP market, as many as 70% of all ERP owners require customizations. We hear from customers that these customizations create unscalable programs that lead to increased IT and project spend, and ultimately lead them to investigating 3rd party, ISV solutions after years of a DIY approach. Working with a partner reduces the overhead costs associated with building and maintaining these custom programs and can decrease long-term sunk cost.”

– Mike Rogers, EVP Formpipe

Formpipe and XAPT offer pre-built and customizable solutions, giving you the features you need with predictable pricing models. Our platforms come ready for integration with your other tools, providing a faster return on investment and reducing the overall implementation time and cost.

Deep Industry Knowledge and Specialized Knowledge

XAPT is a global provider of industry-specific enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, specializing in helping the heavy equipment industry streamline operations, manage complex processes, and drive business growth through NAXT, built on Microsoft Dynamics 365. Formpipe is a leading provider of advanced document and data management solutions, helping businesses streamline processes, ensure compliance, and optimize their use of information.

Both companies bring decades of experience to our customized solutions for industries with complex operational needs, such as heavy equipment manufacturing. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges in this sector—from managing intricate supply chains and production cycles to ensuring strict regulatory compliance—our solutions are built to address these specific pain points.

XAPT’s NAXT ERP solution is purpose-built for the heavy equipment industry. It incorporates features like asset lifecycle management, custom configuration tracking, and maintenance scheduling, which are crucial for companies that manufacture, sell, and service large-scale machinery. For example, in one case study, Ziegler reported that the data obtained from NAXT 365 provided them with critical business insights that made a meaningful difference for their business—and that wouldn’t have been possible for them before.

With over 30 years of experience, Formpipe specializes in output and document management for ERP systems. Their flagship low-code product, Lasernet, integrates data from across your IT infrastructure to streamline document creation, management, and distribution. Customers use Lasernet to build customer experience portals, optimize labeling, invoicing, and product documentation, and centralize data for improved efficiency and compliance. For example, Cross Manufacturing uses Formpipe’s Lasernet to streamline customer data and enhance its reporting capabilities.

As Pedro Rodriguez, XAPT’s US Delivery Director says: “In the heavy equipment industry, efficiency and scalability are essential. Partnering with XAPT provides a purpose-built ERP solution tailored to your unique operational challenges, ensuring quicker implementation, smooth integration, and ongoing support so you can focus on your core business. Additionally, Formpipe’s Lasernet enhances this solution by offering out-of-the-box templates that can be easily customized—eliminating the need for complex, ground-up customizations and increases the speed in which the reports are delivered. Together, XAPT and Formpipe reduce costs, minimize risks, and accelerate time-to-value.”

Both companies bring deep industry knowledge to our software, saving you the time and resources it would take to build an in-house team of this caliber.

Faster Deployment and Speed to Market

In the competitive heavy equipment industry, speed matters.

Building an ERP or document management system from scratch could take many years to complete.

Formpipe and XAPT’s off-the-shelf solutions get you to market faster. These solutions are designed for efficient implementation with minimal downtime—you’ll start streamlining operations and seeing results in a fraction of the time.

Scalability and Futureproofing

As your business grows, so do its operational demands. In-house solutions require constant re-engineering to keep up with new technologies and industry trends, leading to further delays and costs.

Formpipe and XAPT, on the other hand, continuously upgrade our platforms to ensure we use current technologies, such as cloud computing, mobile accessibility, and even AI integration. Our products come with out-of-the-box features that help you grow your business, like advanced business intelligence tools and a robust data architecture.

When you partner with us, you ensure your systems stay ahead of the curve without continually investing in costly re-development.

Built-in Compliance and Security

Meeting regulatory standards is non-negotiable, especially in heavily regulated industries. Our solutions provide out-of-the-box features that help you maintain compliance.

Formpipe, for example, not only simplifies adherence to strict privacy and information management regulations, such as GDPR and ISO but also serves the finance and banking sector globally—industries known for having the most stringent IT security standards. Similarly, XAPT’s ERP has robust security measures for data protection and operational integrity. Both solutions leverage Microsoft’s Azure, one of the most secure cloud platforms, ensuring maximum safety and reliability.

Building an in-house solution would require dedicating significant resources to meet these stringent requirements, whereas partnering with vendors means compliance is built in from the start.

Seamless Integration with Existing Systems

Integrating new systems with your existing IT infrastructure is often one of the biggest challenges in digital transformation.

Custom-built solutions may face compatibility issues or delays when connecting with other tools like Microsoft Dynamics 365—especially when those tools are constantly upgraded.

Formpipe and XAPT provide seamless integration, allowing smooth data exchange and operational efficiency without disrupting your workflows. We ensure our systems stay compatible with your other tools, so you don’t have to.

Continuous Support and Regular Updates

The work doesn’t stop once the software is up and running. Maintaining and updating in-house solutions can drain internal resources. And don’t forget, someone needs to train your teams to use the new features—offering adequate support for your software is non-trivial.

Formpipe and XAPT offer ongoing support, ensuring your teams can get the help they need to use the software. Regular updates optimize your systems and keep them aligned with industry advancements.

We take care of upgrades and support so you can focus on your core business rather than devoting time and energy to managing internal IT projects.

Reduced Risk, Greater Focus

Building an in-house system comes with risk. Development delays, unexpected costs, and long-term maintenance can derail even the most well-planned projects.

Partnering with Formpipe and XAPT mitigates these risks because our solutions are tried and tested in the market. They have been proven across industries and have undergone rigorous testing over years of use with other clients.

“Concentrate on innovating what makes you unique, and partner for the utility tasks you don’t need to build yourself. Collaborate with like-minded partners to develop resilient, scalable solutions, future-proofing together for the unknown challenges ahead.” Mike Rogers, EVP Formpipe

By reducing implementation risks, your business can reduce the risk of delays, costly fixes, or performance setbacks. It allows you to maintain your focus on core competencies—from manufacturing and service delivery to customer satisfaction.

Streamline Your Operations with Formpipe and XAPT

When it comes to enterprise software systems in the heavy machinery industry, the “wheel” already exists. You could reinvent it, but doing so would be expensive, with significant risks.

Partnering with trusted vendors like Formpipe and XAPT offers numerous benefits, from cost savings and faster time-to-market to scalability, compliance, and ongoing support, rather than building a custom solution that could drain your resources, partner with XAPT and Formpipe to stay competitive and agile in an increasingly complex technological landscape.

Ready to streamline your ERP and document management systems? Contact us to see how Formpipe and XAPT can transform your operations today.

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