MRP vs ERP: which one do you actually need?
ERP systems are famous for long implementations and high costs. Many small manufacturers only need the planning part: what to make, what to buy, and when. This page compares MRP and ERP so you can choose the right starting point.
Side-by-side comparison
| MRP (Planvance) | Full ERP | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Material planning: what to make, what to buy, when | Finance, HR, sales, procurement and planning in one system |
| Implementation time | Minutes to a day | Months to years |
| Cost | Free to start | High license and implementation fees |
| What you get | BOM explosion, stock netting, dated shortage list | A single source of truth across departments |
| Best for | Small manufacturers living in spreadsheets today | Complex cross-department processes and reporting |
Key takeaways
- If your pain is "I don't know what's short and when" — MRP solves it directly.
- If your pain is scattered finance and HR data — ERP addresses that, but at a much higher cost and effort.
- You can start with MRP and keep your data portable; no lock-in.
- Most small manufacturers never need a full ERP to get reliable material planning.
Start with MRP, grow when you need to
Planvance gives you the material planning power of an ERP without the project. Free to start.
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