Chief Operating Officer at Herbst Software
I used to sit on the other side of the table – as a Herbst customer.
Before joining Herbst Software, I was working on the financial side at Drummonds – using Herbst Insight ERP every day to keep things moving.
That experience has stayed with me.
Because when you’re in the business, ERP isn’t a project or a platform.
It’s part of how you operate – day in, day out.
What ERP Looks Like in the Real World
From the outside, ERP is often discussed in terms of features, modules, or functionality.
But from the inside, it’s much simpler. And much more important.
It’s about questions like:
- Can we look after our customers properly in the shop or yard?
- Are the stock numbers accurate and up to date?
- Are deliveries going out on time?
- Can we see where we’re making (or losing) margin before it’s too late?
ERP sits behind all of that.
When it’s working well, it’s almost invisible – just enabling the business to run.
And in my experience, a lot did work well:
- Having finance, stock, and operations connected in one place
- Strong traceability, particularly important in sectors like agri
- Reducing manual processes and duplication across teams
Those are real, tangible benefits that make a difference every day.
Where the Opportunity Lies
At the same time, any system supporting a busy, operational business will always present opportunities to improve.
Not because something is “wrong” – but because businesses are constantly evolving.
From my own experience, there were moments that made you step back and think:
- Could this process be more intuitive?
- Could information be available faster for the people who need it?
- Could the system better reflect how the business actually buys, sells, and moves stock?
For example:
- Ensuring timely, relevant data is available to the sales team when they need it
- Managing stock in the units that match how the business trades in reality
- Streamlining workflows so everyday tasks take fewer steps
None of these are dramatic issues on their own.
But collectively, they shape how easy – or difficult – it is to run a business efficiently.
And they all point to the same thing:
There is always an opportunity to make ERP work better for the people using it.
A Different Perspective as COO
Now, sitting on the other side as COO at Herbst Software, that perspective hasn’t changed.
If anything, it’s become more important.
Because one thing has become very clear:
The biggest gap in ERP isn’t technology – it’s understanding real operations.
Industries like agri, distribution, quarry, and manufacturing don’t run in neat, standardised ways.
They are:
- Fast-moving
- Exception-driven
- Deeply practical
And often, the reality on the ground doesn’t match how software expects a business to behave.
That’s where the real challenge – and opportunity – lies.
Designing ERP Around How Businesses Actually Work
From my perspective, improving ERP isn’t about adding more features.
It’s about getting closer to the day-to-day reality of the businesses using it.
That means focusing on:
1. Practical usability
If something doesn’t work in a busy yard, depot, or production floor – it doesn’t work.
2. Timely, usable data
Data needs to be available when decisions are being made – not after the fact.
3. Real-world workflows
Systems should adapt to how businesses operate, not force businesses to adapt to the system.
4. Reducing friction
The best systems are the ones people don’t have to think about – they just get the job done.
What ERP Should Deliver
Having seen ERP from both sides – as a customer and now as COO – the fundamentals are actually very clear.
A good ERP system should give a business:
- Confidence in its numbers
- Visibility across operations
- Control over costs and margins
- Speed to make informed decisions
When those things are in place, ERP becomes a genuine enabler of growth.
When they’re not, it can slow things down.
Final Thought
That experience as a customer still shapes how I think today.
Because ERP isn’t just about systems or processes.
It’s about helping real businesses operate more effectively. And ultimately, serve their customers better.
And in industries where margins are tight and operations are complex, that makes all the difference.
