---
title: How to Extend Your ERP
description: Extending your ERP enables businesses to add new functionality, connect legacy software, and use data better. With DreamFactory, it’s easy.
image: https://blog.dreamfactory.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/jkuR9QteDGY-1-1024x576.jpg
---

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[Overview Why DreamFactory exists](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/overview) [Data Gov, Comp, Security Policy enforcement at the API layer](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/ai-data-governance) [Standard API Layer One contract for every backend](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/standard-api-layer) [API Gateway Functionality Routing, auth, rate limits, observability](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/api-gateway-functionality) [Deployment & Integration Self-hosted, cloud, hybrid](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/on-premise-deployment-and-integration) [Developer Productivity Auto-generated, never hand-coded](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/ai-development-accelerated) [AI App Architectures Patterns for RAG, agents, MCP](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/enterprise-ai-architectures)

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[AIOpenAI](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/openai) [GGoogle Gemini](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/google-gemini) [CAnthropic Claude](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/anthropic-claude-landing) [LMeta Llama](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/meta-llama) [MMistral AI](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/mistral) [CoCohere](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/cohere)

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[Generate & Manage REST APIs From any database, in seconds](https://www.dreamfactory.com/api-management/generate-rest-apis) [Features Security, scripting, self-hosted & more](https://www.dreamfactory.com/api-management/features) [API Generation The complete guide to auto-generated APIs](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/a-complete-guide-to-api-generation) [API Management Concepts, tools, and best practises](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/what-is-api-management-a-brief-overview-of-api-management-concepts-and-tools?_gl=1*jl0njh*_gcl_au*MjQzMjgwMTc3LjE3ODIzMjI3MzY)

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Industries

#### [Healthcare HIPAA-grade APIs across EHR, claims, and labs.](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/healthcare)

#### [Financial Services Portfolios, partners, and portals on one layer.](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/financial-services)

#### [Government Modernize mainframes without re-platforming.](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/government)

#### [Manufacturing SAP, MES, and shop-floor data, governed.](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/manufacturing)

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[Sf Salesforce](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors/salesforce) [API REST / SOAP](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors/soap-to-rest)

[See all 30+ connectors](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors)

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# How to Extend Your ERP

 by Luke Marshall

![calendar icon](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/dreamfactory/images/calendar-icon.svg) July 1, 2020

Table of contents

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

- [A Complete Guide to API Generation](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/a-complete-guide-to-api-generation)
- [10 Best API Management Tools](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/what-is-api-management-a-brief-overview-of-api-management-concepts-and-tools)
- [Creating a Microsoft SQL Server API in Less Than 5 minutes with DreamFactory](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/creating-a-microsoft-sql-server-api-in-less-than-5-minutes-with-dreamfactory)
- [Hasura vs. DreamFactory: A Comprehensive Comparison](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/hasura-vs-dreamfactory)
- [Build A Snowflake REST API in Less Than 5 Minutes](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/generate-a-snowflake-rest-api-in-less-than-5-minutes)

![Extend Your ERP](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/jkuR9QteDGY-1-1024x576.jpg?width=1200&height=675&name=jkuR9QteDGY-1-1024x576.jpg)

ERP systems enable businesses to bring together and manage core processes and technologies under one system. But the truth is, an out-of-the-box ERP system rarely fits a business perfectly, and even if it does, it is only temporary. 

A business’s challenges, needs, and strategies change and grow over time, and its tools must too. When an ERP’s functionality does not fully meet your business’s needs, it’s time to think about extending it. Often, this is needed as part of the implementation process, but it’s also an ongoing process as conditions change.

Need to extend your ERP? [It's time to try DreamFactory](https://genie.dreamfactory.com/register).

## Table of Contents

- [Why Extend Your ERP?](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/how-to-extend-your-erp#Why-Extend-Your-ERP)
- [How to Extend Your ERP with DreamFactory](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/how-to-extend-your-erp#How-to-Extend-Your-ERP-with-DreamFactory)

## Why Extend Your ERP?

When an ERP is missing key functionality, businesses have three choices. 

They can choose to ignore the problem, settling for reduced productivity; they can replace their ERP system for another, at a significant cost of both time and resources; or, they can extend their ERP, connecting it to new systems as they need to ensure it grows as the business's processes do. 

It is this final option - extending the ERP - that makes sense in most scenarios.

Did you know you can generate a full-featured, documented, and secure REST API in minutes using DreamFactory? Sign up for our **free 14 day hosted trial** to learn how! Our guided tour will show you how to create an API using an example MySQL database provided to you as part of the trial!

[Create a REST API Now](https://genie.dreamfactory.com/register?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=How%20to%20Extend%20Your%20ERP;utm_campaign=blog)

There are many reasons why a business might want to extend their ERP:

- **Changes in business strategy or focus** - As business strategy changes, so do key processes. For example, a business may decide they need to bring certain ERP data, such as financials, into its CRM system to better enable its sales and customer support teams. You don’t need to invest in a new ERP or CRM system to enable this connectivity.
- **Connect with SaaS** - SaaS enables businesses to upgrade and change software quicker and cheaper than ever before. Fast-moving businesses can implement the latest technologies quickly, but to take advantage of the data, they will need a quick way to integrate them with their ERP.
- **Connect legacy software -** [Legacy systems rarely play nice with ERPs](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/what-is-a-legacy-system/) without work, but it's worth it if a system still provides value and does not need replacing. Replacing legacy software will cost more, lead to needless re-training, and interfere with day-to-day processes.
- **Connect with partners** - It’s not just your own data that can be useful. When critical parts of the supply chain are outsourced, businesses may need to integrate data from their partners into their own system so that they can get visibility over the entire process. For example, this enables the ERP system to send a request to a supplier whenever a requisition is logged.
- **Delay costly new systems** - The [average lifespan of an ERP is 7-10 years](https://www.billtrust.com/resources/blog/5-famous-erp-myths-shattered/#:~:text=The%20average%20lifespan%20of%20an,forwards%20and%20your%20customers%20happy.), but with technological innovation moving at a quicker pace than ever before, businesses are facing pressure to upgrade more often to stay relevant. Upgrading is expensive, takes months, and is a distraction from other tasks. By extending, businesses get extra functionality without the cost of upgrading.

DreamFactory is the easiest way to extend your ERP: [Start your free 14-day hosted trial today](https://genie.dreamfactory.com/register).

## How to Extend Your ERP with DreamFactory

DreamFactory is a best-in-class API-as-a-Service platform. With DreamFactory, businesses can generate instant APIs that are secure, reusable, and fully documented - without touching a single line of code.

With support for thousands of third-party APIs and [more than a dozen databases](https://www.dreamfactory.com/hub/categories/all/), DreamFactory makes extending your ERP easy. Features include:

### Easily Create and Automate New Workflows

Build, secure, and manage every integration workflow from one platform. Use DreamFactory’s call scheduler to transfer data between systems automatically and the event handler to validate and transform data automatically. DreamFactory is the quicker, easier, and more secure method to connect up your data.

### Connect and Modernize Legacy Applications

Just because it’s legacy doesn’t mean it's useless. DreamFactory enables you to unlock your silos and breathe new life into old databases and software. With DreamFactory, you can connect legacy systems to your ERP using fully-featured REST APIs that enable you to retrieve and use siloed data in realtime - no matter what file formats or protocols they use.

Did you know you can generate a full-featured, documented, and secure REST API in minutes using DreamFactory? Sign up for our **free 14 day hosted trial** to learn how! Our guided tour will show you how to create an API using an example MySQL database provided to you as part of the trial!

[Create a REST API Now](https://genie.dreamfactory.com/register?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=How%20to%20Extend%20Your%20ERP;utm_campaign=blog)

### Unify Data to Create a Single Source of Truth

Connect and make sense of data coming from a wide range of different applications in one central system. Customer data, for example, exists in point-of-sale systems, CRMs, finance systems, and more; with DreamFactory, that data can be combined in one place. Multiple databases? No problem. DreamFactory’s Data Mesh enables a single API call to respond with data from multiple connected databases.

Would you like to learn more about how DreamFactory can benefit your business and help you extend your ERP? [Click here to start your FREE 14-day hosted trial or to contact our team for more information](https://genie.dreamfactory.com/register).

TAGS: [Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/tag/enterprise-resource-planning-erp-system)

![Luke Marshall](https://blog.dreamfactory.com/hs-fs/hubfs/8c4e2b22954d63832d6d5e726074e09f.png?width=100&height=100&name=8c4e2b22954d63832d6d5e726074e09f.png)

Luke Marshall

Luke has extensive experience in digital transformation projects in both the public and private sector. Heading up DreamFactory as the General Manager, Luke has been able to help clients across the globe unlock the potential of an API lead strategy as they seek to exploit the full potential of their ever expanding data sources.

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