Exsited is your integration-first operations platform — built to unify your tools, streamline workflows, and support the way your business runs. Choose the capabilities you need. Connect the systems you trust.
TL;DR ERP platforms promise control—but often deliver complexity. For growing businesses, tightly integrated tools can outperform monolithic systems. Here’s why integration-first architecture is the ERP alternative you should be considering.
Why Traditional ERP Doesn’t Fit for Everyone
Enterprise Resource Planning systems were built for large organisations with rigid processes, full IT teams, and deep pockets.
But if you’re like most mid-sized businesses we talk to, your reality is different:
You’re scaling fast—with no time for 12-month rollouts
Your ops live across tools like HubSpot, AroFlo, MYOB, and job systems
You need flexibility and visibility, not vendor lock-in
And here’s the kicker: Most ERP suites started as single-purpose tools—then bolted on everything else. That makes them powerful in one area and clunky everywhere else.
As Jean Neftin writes in The Financial Executives Journal, traditional ERPs are losing favor due to “rigid vendor lock-in, high integration costs, and inflexible customisation”—issues that Composable Integration Platforms are built to solve. By prioritising flexibility, modularity, and API-driven integration, this new architecture aligns more closely with the needs of modern, fast-scaling businesses.
What does that mean in practice? You’re either:
Paying for features you don’t need, or
Customising to the point where you might as well have built your own system.
Why Traditional ERP Doesn’t Fit for Everyone
Enterprise Resource Planning systems were built for large organisations with rigid processes, full IT teams, and deep pockets.
But if you’re like most mid-sized businesses we talk to, your reality is different:
You’re scaling fast—with no time for 12-month rollouts Your ops live across tools like HubSpot, AroFlo, MYOB, and job systems You need flexibility and visibility, not vendor lock-in
And here’s the kicker: Most ERP suites started as single-purpose tools—then bolted on everything else. That makes them powerful in one area and clunky everywhere else.
¹
What does that mean in practice? You’re either:
Paying for features you don’t need, or
Customising to the point where you might as well have built your own system.
The Integration-First Alternative (That Embraces Best of Breed)
Instead of forcing everything into one bloated ERP, integration-first platforms like Exsited take a best-of-breed approach—connecting the tools your team already uses, while layering on the structure that traditional ERPs promise (but rarely deliver).
Native sync across CRMs, job systems, inventory, and finance tools
Real-time data flow between operations and accounts
Role-based dashboards that reflect how your business actually works
Structured workflows for approvals, compliance, and automation
Real-World Example A compliance services client was juggling HubSpot, Xero, and AroFlo, with Zapier bridges duct-taping them together. Reporting was inconsistent, and approvals happened via email. With Exsited, we integrated all three, embedded approval logic, and centralised compliance workflows—without replacing the tools their team already knew.
What to Look for in an Integration-First Platform
If you’re evaluating ERP alternatives, here’s what to prioritise:
1. Real Control Across Your Stack
Don’t settle for sync plugins that break on update. You need:
Native API integrations
Event-based workflows
Support for edge cases (e.g. multi-stage approvals, version control, nested data)
2. Workflow Logic Built In
Automations shouldn’t stop at “if X, then Y.” Look for:
Why buy a monolith when you can build what you actually need?
Start with integrations
Add inventory or custom portals as needed
Avoid full-stack migrations and implementation fatigue
What You Avoid By Going Integration-First
Problem with ERP
Solved by Exsited Integration
Long rollout timelines
Fast setup with phased deployment
Vendor lock-in
Open APIs and modular add-ons
High upfront cost
Flexible pricing as you scale
Forced process templates
Configurable workflows that match your ops
Insight: Integration Isn’t Just a Technical Fix
It’s a strategic decision.
When your systems talk to each other:
Staff get clearer handoffs
Management gets cleaner data
Customers get faster turnaround
According to MuleSoft’s 2025 Connectivity Benchmark Report, 95% of IT leaders say integration is the #1 barrier to implementing AI. In other words, your integration layer isn’t just powering today's operations—it’s what enables tomorrow’s innovation:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
It’s the difference between a business that runs and a business that flows.
Thinking About Scaling? Start With Integration.
If ERP feels like overkill—but your tools aren’t talking—there’s a smarter middle ground. Integration-first architecture gives you the power of system unification without the rigidity of traditional ERP.
At Exsited, we built the platform we wished existed when we were running multi-tool businesses: Composable. Integrated. Scalable.
[Book a Demo] | [See How It Works]
About the Author
Dominic McKay is a Business Analyst and Strategist for Exsited — a composable ERP built for growing Australian businesses. He leads the strategic direction of the platform, ensuring it evolves in line with customer needs across integrations, inventory, and compliance-driven workflows. With an MBA (Digital) from Monash University (Dean’s Student Excellence Award) and certifications in ECBA, PRINCE2, and Scrum, Dominic blends analytical rigour with real-world business insight. Formerly a retail business owner, he now advises SMEs on systems design and digital transformation.
