In the world of Engineer-to-Order (ETO) and project-based manufacturing, flexibility isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. When your customers change specifications mid-project, expand scope, or shift delivery timelines, your ERP needs to adapt just as quickly.
Unfortunately, most ERP vendors aren’t built that way. Their roadmaps are set in stone. Feature changes move at glacial speed. And your feedback? It gets logged, but rarely acted on.
At Jobscope, we take a different approach. We believe ERP software should be shaped by the manufacturers who use it every day. That’s why our roadmap is designed to adapt to customer-driven changes without sacrificing stability.
Why Adaptability Matters More Than Ever
ETO and project-based shops face constant change: fluctuating BOMs, evolving compliance needs, customer-specific workflows, and unique reporting requirements. A static ERP roadmap quickly becomes a liability when customers expect fast turnarounds and tailored solutions.
Modern manufacturers need an ERP partner that listens, adjusts, and delivers updates that reflect real-world usage, not just what a product committee thinks might be useful next year.
Spotting Change Early: Signals from the Shop Floor and Sales Desk
Customer-driven changes don’t appear out of nowhere. They start as signals: new contract language, more custom quotes, repeat change orders, or post-job reviews pointing out process gaps.
An ERP provider that engages directly with customers through Advisory Councils, implementation debriefs, and real-world site visits can turn those signals into roadmap priorities. At Jobscope, our roadmap is directly influenced by our users, not just internal development cycles.
What a Flexible ERP Roadmap Looks Like
A dynamic roadmap doesn’t mean chaos. It means:
- Quarterly planning cycles, so feedback gets acted on fast
- Customer councils that meet regularly to steer roadmap decisions: https://www.jobscope.com/press/jobscope-advisory-council-discusses-new-product-features-and-future-direction/
- Agile dev cycles that prioritize smaller, high-impact improvements
- Use-case-based prioritization, not just broad feature checklists
When customers ask us for better industry support, we didn’t shelve it for next year. We prioritized features specific to that industry’s needs.
A Real-World Example
A Jobscope customer in custom fabrication faced growing demand for serialized job tracking and barcode-driven inventory transactions. We didn’t wait for the next annual release. We built and deployed those features in the next cycle because their business couldn’t wait, and neither should their ERP.
Get Started with an Adaptive ERP Strategy
If you’re stuck with a static ERP system, you know the pain: workarounds, spreadsheets, and frustrated teams. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Here’s how to get started:
- Map where your current ERP falls short when specs or processes change
- Talk to your ERP provider about how they incorporate customer feedback
- Ask for examples of changes they’ve made based on user needs
- Look for signs of flexibility: agile release cycles, dedicated customer councils, real-world use-case focus
ERP is the backbone of your business. Make sure it bends when it needs to—without breaking.
At Jobscope, our roadmap is a living document. And our customers have the pen.
