Evolution is where South African businesses go when Pastel stops coping. It is a genuine mid market ERP: full financials, multi warehouse inventory, manufacturing, point of sale, job costing and business intelligence, built for this market and maintained against local statutory requirements.
The single biggest argument for it is the partner base. There are implementation partners in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein and most industrial centres, which means you can find someone competent nearby and you are not dependent on one relationship. In this category that is worth more than a feature comparison.
Fit
It suits distribution, light manufacturing, wholesale and multi branch retail particularly well. Multi warehouse handling is strong, the inventory model supports serial, lot, bill of materials and landed cost, and branch level reporting works without heroics. Multi company consolidation is available and used widely by groups.
Statutory work
VAT201 at 15% with correct supply treatment, IT14SD supporting schedules, and reporting shaped for South African audit expectations. Annual compliance updates arrive on time. This is the area where local products earn their keep against international mid market ERPs, and Evolution does it well.
The honest criticisms
It is a Windows application with a browser add on rather than a cloud native product, and it feels that way. Remote access generally means a hosted desktop. The interface is dense and dated, and the learning curve for a new user is weeks rather than days.
Implementation quality varies enormously by partner. The same software delivers a smooth go live with one firm and a nine month ordeal with another. Reference check the partner harder than you reference check the software.
Cost
Licensed per module and per user, quoted through a partner. Implementation typically exceeds first year licence cost. Budget for data migration, training and a support retainer.
Who should buy it
Distribution, wholesale, light manufacturing and multi branch businesses between roughly thirty and five hundred staff who have outgrown a small business ledger and want a system with local depth and local support.
TB
South AfricaPretoria500 plus employees
