Standard vs non-standard 1C configurations: what is the difference?

Sooner or later every manager faces a choice: to take a ready-made 1C configuration or to order modifications for his business. And this is not just a technical issue - it is a strategic decision that will determine how the company will develop in the coming years.

Pain point: when the system is not right for the business

Imagine the situation: the company has been operating for several years, it has established certain business processes, established links with suppliers and clients, and built a system of discounts and bonuses. And here comes the time of automation.

The standard 1C configuration was created for ‘average’ business. But your business is unique. You have a special approach to pricing, a non-standard scheme of work with suppliers, a complex system of motivation of employees. And then the choice between two painful paths begins.

Path one: tailoring the business to the programme

You change the usual processes, retrain your employees, explain the new rules to your customers. It sounds logical - why reinvent the wheel when there is a ready-made solution?

But in practice it means:

• Loss of competitive advantage that unique processes provided
• Resistance of staff who have worked differently for years
• Risk of losing customers due to service changes
• Hidden costs of retraining and adaptation

Path two: fine-tune the programme to suit the business

The pain is different here - it's always more expensive and longer than it initially seems. Plus there comes the dependence on developers.

Standard configuration: when it makes sense

Standard Configuration is an out-of-the-box solution that covers 80% of the needs of a typical business. It was created by analysing hundreds of companies and includes the most common business processes.

Who the standard is suitable for:

New business in its infancy When you don't have established processes yet, a standard configuration is a great foundation. You get time-tested algorithms and can focus on growing your business, not on customising the software.

New business in the start-up phase.

Companies with typical business processes If your business fits into standard operating patterns - standard retail, simple services, classic manufacturing - the standard configuration will cover all your needs.

Businesses with a limited budget for automation will find the standard configuration many times cheaper than the finalised one. This allows you to use your savings for other areas of development.

Businesses with limited automation budgets will benefit from the standard configuration at a fraction of the cost.

Limitations of the standard:

• Strict limits in customisation of reporting
• Inability to implement unique pricing schemes
• Standard set of user roles
• Limited integration with specific systems

Non-standard configurations: when it's a necessity

Configuration customisation is not a whim, but a necessity for businesses with complex or unique processes.

When customisation is a necessity:

Complicated pricing schemes If you have a tiered discount system, dynamic pricing, personalised terms for each customer - a standard configuration just won't do.

Specific industries Medicine, education, logistics, manufacturing with complex processes - each industry has its own peculiarities that a generic solution does not take into account.

Integration with external systems Data exchange with website, CRM, supplier systems, banking services often requires individual customisation.

Complex organisational structure Holdings, chains of shops, companies with branches - these require special approaches to consolidation and management.

Hidden benefits of refinements:

• Automate unique processes that give you a competitive advantage
• Save employees' time by automating routines
• Reduce errors in specific calculations
• Enable unique analytics

Why companies are more likely to choose rework

Our 17 years of experience shows that of existing businesses that implement 1C, about 70% of them order enhancements. And this is not by chance.

In 17 years of working with 1C configurations, we have observed one pattern: companies that initially planned to adjust their business to the standard configuration, sooner or later come back with requests for improvements. Some after six months, some after a year or two, but almost all of them do.

A typical story looks like this: a manager decides ‘let's not reinvent the wheel, let's take a standard and tweak the processes’. They buy the programme, implement it, and at first everyone is happy. But then the ‘little things’ start to happen:

• "Can we add another field to the delivery note?"
• "We need a report on our specific bonus scheme"
• "Customers are asking for an upload in the format we used to have"

Each such ‘little thing’ is a signal that the standard scheme does not fully cover the real needs of the business.

Psychological factor

Managers realise: the way we work now has led us to success. Why break a working system for the sake of a programme?

Economic calculation

Yes, refinishing costs more. But try doing the math:

• How much does it cost to retrain all employees?"
• What will be the loss of productivity during the adaptation period?"
• How many customers can we lose due to service changes?
• What is the cost of losing unique competitive advantages?

Often these hidden costs exceed the cost of configuration rework.

Strategic View

Companies realise that automation is not just about replacing paper records with electronic ones. It is an opportunity to optimise processes, gain new analysis capabilities, and prepare the basis for future growth.

Compromise Solutions

The world is not black and white, and there are intermediate options between standard and full refinement:

Phased implementation

You start with a standard configuration and gradually refine the most critical areas. This allows you to distribute costs over time and test hypotheses about the need for certain improvements.

Industry solutions

Many developers create specialised configurations for specific industries. This is a compromise between the versatility of a standard and the customisation of full customisation.

Modular Architecture

Modern approaches allow individual modules to be added to the standard configuration to solve specific problems.

What to look for when choosing

Analyse the criticality of processes

Not all unique processes are business critical. Perhaps some of them can be simplified or standardised without losing efficiency.

Evaluate growth prospects

If you're planning to scale, consider: which solution will be easier to adapt to changes in the future?

Consider the expertise of the team

A refined configuration requires more expertise from users and IT. Are your employees ready for this?"

Consider the expertise of the team

Are you ready for this?

Schedule Support

Standard configurations are maintained by the developer, customised configurations require constant attention from specialists.

Conclusion

The choice between standard and customised configuration is a choice between speed of implementation and accuracy to the business objectives. For new businesses, the standard will give them a head start on growth. For existing businesses, the standard will help them retain the advantages they've built up.

The key is to honestly answer the question: what is more important for your business right now - a quick start to automation or keeping your processes unique? Use that answer to guide your choice.

And remember, any decision can be adjusted as your business evolves. Automation is not a one-time purchase, but an ongoing process of improvement.