Best of breed IT strategy: from IT landscape to real insights
The way companies build their IT landscape has fundamentally changed in recent years. Where organizations used to opt for one comprehensive system, the one-size-fits-all ERP, today there is a growing awareness that this approach is rarely sustainable.
Think in data streams, not software packages
The future is best of breed: an ecosystem of specialized solutions that each excel in their field, with data as a connecting factor. For many SMEs, this is a relief. Finally, no longer a cumbersome, inflexible IT environment, but an agile set of tools that do exactly what they need to do, and that talk to each other without complex IT projects.
From monolith to ecosystem
The one-stop shop idea was once attractive: one supplier, one invoice, one point of contact. But in practice, that convenience often turned out to be an illusion. A monolithic system can rarely do everything equally well:
- An ERP is strong in transactions but weak in analytics.
- A CRM understands customer relationships, but not your margin.
- An HR system manages payroll, but not project profitability.
- A BI tool shows numbers but doesn’t execute processes.
The result? Companiesrunning one big system but still relying on dozens of Excel files to truly understand their business. The reality is that specialization beats generalization. A modern IT landscape consists of multiple building blocks,each with its own strength, connected through smart integrations. That’s the essence of best of breed.
What does “best of breed” really mean?
A best-of-breed approach means choosing the best solution for eachdomain instead of one suite that does everything halfway.
- Your ERP manages orders and inventory.
- Your CRM manages customers and leads.
- Your HR platform takes care of planning and payroll administration.
- Your BI tool brings everything together into insights.
The key lies in connection: data flowing between systems so everyone works from the same truth. Instead of one giant system, you build an ecosystem of specialized tools that form a smooth, unified whole.
Why more and more SMEs are embracing this approach
Large enterprises with dedicated IT teams have been integrating systems for years. For SMEs, it was different: limited time, limited budgets, and oftenan ERP vendor promising “everything.” Today, more mid-sized companies are choosing a best-of-breed strategy, and for good reason.
The benefits are clear:
- Flexibility: no vendor lock-in, every tool is replaceable.
- Speed: shorter implementation, faster ROI.
- Efficiency: paying for what you really need.
- Innovation: specialized tools are evolving faster.
In short, today’s SME doesn’t need a mega-platform but a smart,connected ecosystem of solutions.
What about systems like Odoo, Business Central or AFAS?
A fair question: if ERP systems exist that can do almost everything, whyconsider a best-of-breed approach?
Let ERP excel at what it does well and fill in where it fails
Systems such as Odoo, Business Central, SAP of AFAS indeed offer an impressive range of modules, from accounting and CRM to production, HR, e-commerce, and project management. For many SMEs, that’s an excellent foundation.
When your processes are well aligned with such a platform, you can achieve great efficiency. But as your organization grows or becomes more specialized, limitations start to appear. Some features are “good enough” but lack depth:
- Reporting is often limited to operational data.
- Budgeting and forecasting still happen in Excel.
- Integrations with logistics or planning tools aren’t always transparent.
- Multi-entity or international reporting requires custom work.
That’s not a flaw in the ERP, it simply wasn’t designed to do everything in full depth. Nor should it. The strength lies in combination: use your ERP asa solid operational backbone and extend it with specialized tools that add real value, for reporting, transport analytics, or project profitability.
Best of breed doesn’t mean rejecting your ERP. It means letting it excel at what it does best, and complementing it where it falls short.
The Role of Business Intelligence
The challenge with such an ecosystem is clear: how do you ensure that all those tools tell one story together? That is exactly where Business Intelligence makes a difference.
BI forms the connecting layer between operational systems. It retrieves data from ERP, CRM, WMS, HR, transport or production apps and converts it into insights. BI is therefore not an end point, but the central backbone of your data-driven organization.
Insightdata's view on best of breed
At InsightData, we don’t believe in one massive BI project that covers everything. We believe in modular BI apps that work together around a shared data model.
Each app has a clear scope:
- Finance App: financial reporting, consolidation, budgeting and cash flow.
- Sales Intelligence App: customers, margins, product mix and sales trends.
- Transport App: profitability perroute, efficiency, capacity usage.
- Project App: actual costing, profitability, resource allocation.
- Operations App: operational performance, efficiency.
Each module is best of breed within BI: specialized, quick todeploy, and plug-and-play connected with your data from systems like Exact,SAP, Odoo, Business Central, 4PS, or AFAS. The result is not one heavy dashboard, but a coherent, evolving insight ecosystem that grows with your business.
The power of connection
The true value of a best-of-breed strategy lies not in the individual tools but in their data connectivity. Modern IT is no longer about software choice, but about data architecture.
A strong BI layer acts as a translator:
- Data from various sources is being harmonized.
- KPIs are uniformly defined.
- Users access one reliable version of the truth.
This removes the frustration of “where does this number come from?” or“ which report is correct?”. Everyone works from the same trusted data.
From complexity to simplicity
A common misconception is that more tools mean more complexity. In a best-of-breed setup, the opposite is true. Because each tool does what it’s designed for, there’s no need for manual work arounds or extra spreadsheets. Everything becomes lighter, clearer, and easier to manage.
You can also implement it step by step:
- Start where youcreate the most value, such as Finance or Sales.
- Then add operational insights.
- Gradually move towards full BI self-service.
All without disruption or replacing everything at once.
How do you get started?
A best-of-breed strategy requires vision, but not a mega project. Start simple:
- Map your current landscape. Which systems do you use? Where do errors or duplications occur?
- Determine where the biggest loss in value is. Is that in reporting, planning, logistics or margin management?
- Opt for openness and integration. Select tools with APIs or connectors and avoid closed systems.
The common thread: think in terms of data flows, not software packages.
Common misconceptions
Many SMEs voice the same concerns: “That sounds complex.” “Won’t I need more licenses?” “We don’t have an IT department.”
In reality, a well-designed best-of-breed setup is actually easier to manage. Each component is smaller, clearer and easier to replace. Today, thanks to cloud technology and connectors, SMEs can work without a heavy IT department with a professional data ecosystem.
The difference is not in technology, but in vision: you are not building a system that can do everything, but a network that connects everything.
The future of IT is connected
The fastest-growing companies aren’t those with the largest IT budgets. They’re the ones with control over their data. In a world where every process is digital, the quality of your integration determines the quality of your decisions.
Whether it’s transport planning, sales performance, or project costing, those who work with reliable, connected data make faster, smarter decisions.
That’s why we at InsightData believe in the power of a best-of-breed ecosystem: flexible enough to scale, powerful enough to deliver insight, and simple enough to trust.
In summary
Best of breed does not mean more systems. It means better cooperation between systems.
It's not an IT trend, it's a way of thinking. A way to make technology serve growth, instead of being a limitation.
Today, those who build on a connected, data-driven ecosystem are not only working smarter but also more future-oriented.
Curious how that could look for your organization?
Learn how our modular BI apps work with your ERP, CRM, or planning system at www.insightdata.be/en/apps
