Spreadsheets and point solutions are a reasonable way to run a business in its early stages. The trouble starts when they become permanent infrastructure.
The common warning signs: multiple disconnected systems, heavy reliance on manual reporting, limited integration between departments, and difficulty getting a straight answer to a simple operational question.
None of these problems are solved by simply buying software. They're solved by first mapping how information actually needs to flow across the business, and then implementing a platform that reflects that — which is where a structured discovery process pays for itself.