Is Excel an ERP system?
Sept. 26, 2025
Is Excel an ERP – System?
Many companies use Excel to keep records, projects or customer data. But can Excel really function as an ERP system? The short answer is: no. In this blog, we explain the difference between Excel and an ERP system, and why an integrated solution often works better.
What is ERP?
ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. It is software that manages all major business processes in one system, such as finance, purchasing, production, sales, HR and project management. All data from different departments is stored in one central database. The biggest advantage of an ERP system is that all processes come together in one place, giving you real-time insight into your organization’s activities.
Want to learn more about how to manage projects efficiently and organize your work in an orderly fashion? Then also read our blog on project-based work.
Excel versus ERP
Excel is one of the most widely used administration, planning and data management tools worldwide, but it is not an ERP system. Many start-up companies begin with Excel to keep track of their records and projects because it is simple and inexpensive. It often works fine in the beginning, but as a company grows, Excel falls short.
While Excel can be useful for simple tasks, such as keeping track of customer data or a project schedule, it lacks the core functions of an ERP system:
- Integrated processes: ERP brings all business processes together in one system, Excel does not.
- Automation: ERP can perform tasks automatically, Excel requires manual updates.
- Real-time overview: ERP provides up-to-date insights across all departments, while Excel is often scattered across multiple files.
- Scalability: As a company grows, Excel becomes cumbersome and error-prone; an ERP system grows along with it.
Want to make the switch from Excel to an ERP system and discover how it helps your organization work more efficiently? Then also read our blog on from Excel to ERP.
Functionalities that make ERP unique
One of the biggest advantages of an ERP system is that it offers much more than data tracking. Two features that companies often find particularly valuable are dashboards and communication feeds.
Dashboards provide instant insight into key business information. Financial figures, project progress, sales results and other crucial data are clearly displayed. This allows managers and teams to make quick decisions, recognize trends and identify bottlenecks in the organization.
In addition, communication feeds within ERP allow teams to work better together. Instead of endless emails or separate chat conversations, you can communicate directly in the system about projects, tasks and processes. All relevant information is together, so everyone is always up to date.
These functionalities make ERP much more efficient than traditional tools like Excel, where overview and communication are often fragmented and must be maintained manually.
ERP with integrated communication
An ERP system is not just for managing business processes; it can also improve the way you communicate with customers. In some systems, such as Maki, messages can be linked directly to projects, tickets or tasks. This creates a WhatsApp-like chat overview where you can see all communication in one place.
This feed shows all conversations linked to specific projects, tickets or tasks. You can read back messages, see follow-ups and take immediate action. This keeps all information clear, traceable and easily accessible to the entire team. This way, you efficiently combine project management and customer communication in one platform, keeping your growing organization organized and no valuable information lost.
Want to discover how this works in practice and how Maki can help your team increase overview and efficiency? Then try the 30-day free trial and experience it for yourself.