Legacy ERP has been the industry standard for decades. Here's why fabrication shops are switching to FabFlow in 2026.
FabFlow is the better choice for most fabrication shops in 2026. Legacy ERP is powerful but dated — it requires weeks of implementation, expensive training, and its interface hasn't meaningfully changed in years. FabFlow gives you AI-powered quoting, a modern interface your shop floor will actually use, and you're up and running in minutes, not weeks. At $99/month vs $300+/month, FabFlow is also 3x more affordable.
Start Free Trial →| Feature | FabFlow | Legacy ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $99/month | $300+/month |
| Free Trial | 30 days | Demo only |
| Setup Time | 5 minutes | 2–6 weeks |
| AI-Powered Quoting | Built-in | Not available |
| Cloud-Based | Fully web-based | (Legacy ERP² via cloud) |
| Shop Floor Kiosk | PIN-based, any device | Add-on required |
| Mobile Access | Full mobile support | Limited |
| Inventory + MTRs | Built-in | Add-on module |
| Implementation | Self-serve | Requires consultant |
| User Interface | Modern, intuitive | Legacy Windows-style |
| API Access | Enterprise plan | Add-on |
Legacy ERP requires manual data entry for every quote — part dimensions, materials, operations, routing. FabFlow's AI understands plain English: describe a part and it routes it through your shop, estimates time, and prices it at your rates. Shops report saving 10+ hours per week on quoting alone.
Legacy ERP implementations typically take 2–6 weeks with an external consultant costing thousands. FabFlow is self-serve — sign up, walk through onboarding, and you're running quotes the same day. No consultants. No training sessions. No downtime.
Legacy ERP's interface is functional but dated — it looks like Windows 98. Shop floor adoption is the #1 complaint from Legacy ERP customers. FabFlow's kiosk mode works on any tablet or phone with a simple PIN — your welders and press brake operators clock in, see their jobs, and punch operations without training.
Legacy ERP starts around $300/month per user and quickly climbs with add-on modules for inventory, MTRs, and shop floor. FabFlow's Professional plan is $249/month for unlimited users with everything included. For a 25-person shop, that's the difference between $7,500/month and $249/month.
Legacy ERP still makes sense for very large shops (200+ employees) with complex accounting requirements, or shops that require on-premise deployment for compliance reasons. If you've already invested years into Legacy ERP customization and have a dedicated IT person managing it, the switching cost may not be worth it.
If you're a fabrication shop with 5–150 employees looking to modernize, reduce quoting time, and get your shop floor connected without a 6-figure implementation — FabFlow is built for you. The 30-day free trial means you can test it alongside Legacy ERP with zero risk.
30-day free trial. No credit card. No consultants. Switch in minutes.
Start Free Trial →