The Hidden Cost of “Making Do”

What slows organizations down is not broken systems, but the gradual acceptance of workarounds that leadership rarely sees until growth is already constrained. These inefficiencies are not the ones that cause immediate failure— they are the ones that quietly become “good enough.”

The cost of making do is rarely obvious. It doesn’t always appear on a financial statement, but it shows up in missed opportunities, employee burnout, delayed decisions, and increased operational risk. Behind the scenes, these hidden costs continue to build and compound over time.

What Does “Making Do” Really Mean?

“Making do” often takes the form of:

• Relying on spreadsheets to fill system gaps
• Manually re-entering data across disconnected applications
• Using outdated software because it still technically works
• Creating workarounds instead of addressing root causes
• Depending on a few individuals who understand how processes really function

On the surface, these approaches feel practical. The business is running, reports are being produced, and customers are being served. But making do is rarely neutral.

The Compounding Cost of Workarounds

Over time, small inefficiencies quietly erode productivity and momentum.Tasks that seem minor in isolation can add up to hundreds of lost hours per employee each year — time that could be spent on analysis, strategy, customer experience, or growth.

In fast-moving markets, speed matters. Organizations relying on manual reporting and fragmented systems are often forced to look backward, while competitors move forward with confidence and clarity.

Why Leading Organizations Act Early

Automation and modern ERP solutions do more than improve efficiency. They capture institutional knowledge, reduce dependency on individuals, and create repeatable, scalable processes. More importantly, they provide leaders with timely, accurate insight to support better decision-making.

The most successful organizations don’t wait for systems to fail. They act when inefficiencies begin to surface — before growth is constrained and change becomes more disruptive and costly.

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The Real Question

The question is not:

Can we keep making do?

It is:

What is making do already costing us?

Schedule a strategy call to explore how automation and ERP solutions can reduce inefficiencies, improvevisibility, and support your organization’s next phase of growth.