Evaluating the pros and cons of in-house versus partner-led rollouts
By Rick Kostopoulos, CEO, NewGen Business Solutions
Every growing business reaches a point where spreadsheets, disconnected tools, and manual workarounds no longer cut it. The hours spent on administrative tasks and redundant data entry in finances, procurement, operations, and client services cut into the bottom line and sacrifice efficiency.
Businesses reclaim time and efficiency by implementing one centralized system, known as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), which connects core business functions in a seamless platform to improve visibility, reduce errors, and support scalability.
The most critical aspect of implementing an ERP system is choosing a partner who knows all the business process requirements for your industry, who can optimize the functionality of your selected ERP to your organization, and who has developed industry-specific customizations to further enhance operational efficiency.
The case for implementing ERP in-house
Some businesses implement ERP systems in-house, aiming for complete control over functionality, architecture, and costs. However, there are significant challenges that can outweigh the benefits:
- Lack of experience and understanding
Many ERPs are highly specialized, yet most businesses lack a deep understanding of how they work and what they can do. This leads to confusion during selection and underused features and missed opportunities for efficiency after implementation. It’s like finally choosing a multitool but only ever using the screwdriver – inefficient. - High upfront costs and time investment
ERP implementation requires a deep understanding and mapping of internal processes, which often pull internal teams away from revenue-generating work. Despite the intent to save money, in-house ERP implementation frequently runs over budget, past deadlines, and experiences costly mistakes. - Hiring and support difficulties
In-house implementations are sometimes so specialized that it’s hard to find engineers who understand them. Onboarding and retaining talent become a challenge, especially as the system ages or needs to scale.
The case for partnering with ERP consultants
Most growing businesses choose to work with consultants who specialize in verticalized ERP platform implementations. These partners bring field-tested experience, specialized add-ons, and often deliver faster, more stable rollouts.
- Faster deployment and lower long-term costs
Experienced ERP consultants have proven implementation frameworks and tools that shorten the path to go-live. This minimizes downtime, reduces internal disruptions, and accelerates the return on investment. - Access to well-supported platforms with tailored solutions
Established platforms like Oracle NetSuite come with large user communities, documentation, and available talent. Even better, some consultants build on top of these systems with industry-specific enhancements. For example, our product ConventionSuite, built on NetSuite, is tailored for the trade shows and events industry with tools for Venue Management, Exhibit House Management, and General Service Contractor operations. - Ongoing expertise and strategic guidance
Consultants bring more than technical implementation, they offer business process insights, best practices, and post-launch support. Whether for a one-time deployment or ongoing optimization, their guidance helps businesses continuously improve and scale. Plus, for NetSuite at least, every technical enhancement is rolled out to the entire user base, regardless of whether they’re startups or enterprise juggernauts, which hugely benefits smaller businesses.
Make the right move for your business
If your current systems are limiting growth, it’s time to consider ERP. For businesses managing venues, running trade shows, or fabricating exhibits, the right ERP solution can streamline operations and boost efficiency, catapulting productivity and revenue to new levels.
Explore ConventionSuite, the all-in-one ERP solution built on NetSuite. Visit conventionsuite.com or email sales@newgennow.com to schedule a free demo and consultation.
Rick Kostopoulos is an ERP expert with over 28 years in the industry. He is the founder, President, and CEO of NewGen Business Solutions, and the creator of ConventionSuite, the only NetSuite-powered ERP built for the events, venue, and trade shows industries.
This story originally appeared in the Q3 2025 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 52. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/exhibit_city_news_-_jul_aug_sept_2025/52.
