The development of ERP has strived for an almost utopian ideal: the consolidation of all business processes under a single software system.

Of course, with life as with technology, no plan survives first contact with the enemy. With each new innovation, people have managed to find new ways to engage with the world and expand the scope of their business ambitions.

Because of this uncertainty, the project of creating a single software application for a single industry-let alone the entirety of human enterprise-has become a feat that may never be accomplished in our lifetimes.

ERP systems have evolved to cover a wide range of industries, business types, and users. While the core functionality of all these iterations remains generally the same, there's a huge amount of variation between systems when it comes to accessibility and industry-specific modules that can make or break your experience with a given software solution.