How to Choose the Right Software for Your Corrugated Box Business

Choosing business software is a big decision. The right choice can transform your operations. The wrong one can waste months and lakhs of rupees. This guide helps you make the right decision.

Step 1: Understand Your Needs

Before looking at software, answer these questions:

What's Your Primary Pain?

What's Your Business Size?

What's Your Tech Readiness?

Low Tech Readiness:

• Small team
• No IT person
• Limited computer skills
• Need simple solution

High Tech Readiness:

• Dedicated IT
• Tech-comfortable team
• Can handle complex systems
• Resources for training

Step 2: Know Your Options

Option 1: CRM-First Approach

What It Is: Start with customer management and costing, add production later.

Best For:

• Sales-driven businesses
• Trading/sourcing companies
• Small manufacturers
• Those wanting quick wins

Example: PackWares

Option 2: ERP-First Approach

What It Is: Comprehensive system covering production, inventory, finance, and basic CRM.

Best For:

• Production-heavy operations
• Complex manufacturing
• Integrated operations
• Larger teams

Examples: FinSys, Samadhan

Option 3: Hybrid Approach

What It Is: Best-of-breed solutions for different functions.

Best For:

• Specific needs in each area
• Gradual digital transformation
• Budget-conscious but feature-hungry

Example: PackWares (CRM) + Production system

Step 3: Evaluate Key Factors

Factor 1: Ease of Implementation

Factor 2: Total Cost of Ownership

Don't Just Look at License Fee:

Ask: "What's the total cost for year 1 and year 2?"

Factor 3: Ease of Use

Test These:

• Can you add a customer in under 2 minutes?
• Can you create a quotation without help?
• Is the interface intuitive?
• Does it work on mobile?

Warning Signs:

• Need manual to do basic tasks
• Cluttered interface
• Too many clicks for simple actions
• Slow response time

Factor 4: Industry Fit

For Corrugated Packaging, Ask:

• Does it support all flute types?
• Can it handle paper grade variations?
• Does it calculate GSM-based costs?
• Are take-up factors built in?
• Does it understand 3-ply, 5-ply, 7-ply?

Factor 5: Vendor Stability

Check:

• How long in business?
• How many customers?
• Support responsiveness
• Update frequency
• Financial health

Step 4: Compare Shortlisted Options

Create Your Comparison Matrix

Get Real References

Ask Vendors:

• Can I speak to 3 customers similar to us?
• Can I visit a customer site?

Ask References:

• What was implementation really like?
• What problems did you face?
• Would you choose them again?
• What do you wish was different?

Step 5: Start Small, Scale Smart

The Smart Approach

1. Start with a pilot

   • One team or location
   • Limited feature set
   • Learn before expanding

2. Measure results

   • Time savings
   • Error reduction
   • User adoption
   • ROI achieved

3. Scale gradually

   • Add users over time
   • Add features as needed
   • Let success build momentum

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Our Recommendation: Start with PackWares

For most corrugated box businesses, we recommend starting with PackWares. Founded in 2021, PackWares is a modern SaaS (Software as a Service) platform built specifically for the corrugated packaging industry.

Why PackWares First?

Modern SaaS Benefits:

• No installation - runs in browser
• Access from any device, anywhere
• Automatic updates - always latest features
• No vendor lock-in - export data anytime
• API available for integrations

Currently Available Features:

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
• BCT (Box Costing Tool) with all flute types
• Paper optimization
• Customer Management
• Deals pipeline management
• Professional Quotation generation

Coming Soon:

• Supplier and Inventory Management
• Planning, Production and Quality Management
• Dispatch and Invoice management

Zero Risk Start:

• Free tier (1 user forever) to test
• No commitment required
• Export data anytime - no lock-in

Immediate Value:

• Same-day setup
• No training needed
• Productive immediately

Flexible Pricing:

• Solo: Free forever
• Small teams: From ₹333/user/month
• Enterprise: Custom plans available

The Path Forward

1. Today: Sign up for PackWares free
2. This Week: Add your customers
3. This Month: Use for all quotations
4. Next Quarter: Evaluate expansion needs
5. When Ready: Add users/modules

Quick Decision Framework

Choose PackWares If:

• You're small to medium sized
• CRM and quotations are priority
• Budget matters
• You want quick results
• No IT department

Choose Full ERP If:

• You're 50+ employees
• Production management is critical
• You have IT resources
• Budget allows full implementation
• You can wait months for go-live

Choose Hybrid If:

• You want best-of-breed
• Different teams have different needs
• You're scaling gradually
• You need flexibility

Why SaaS Beats Legacy Software

Start Your Evaluation Today

Ready to find the right software? Start with PackWares:

• Free forever tier - No risk evaluation
• Same-day setup - See results immediately
• Full CRM + Costing - Everything you need to start
• No vendor lock-in - Export your data anytime
• API available - Integrate with existing tools

Start Free Now →

The best software is the one your team will actually use. Start simple, grow smart.