What does the term Best-of-Breed mean?
The term Best-of-Breed originally comes from animal breeding, where it was used to designate the best dog of a particular breed at shows. However, the term has also become established in the world of information technology – especially in the context of software solutions and system architectures.
It refers to an approach in which the best specialized IT solution is selected for each individual area of application (for example, transport management or warehouse operations). This contrasts with comprehensive all-in-one solutions from a single provider that cover all business processes within one software system without the need for interfaces. A common example of such systems is ERP platforms like SAP, which also include transport management as part of the package.
Those who follow the Best-of-Breed approach…
- …always have access to highly specialized and powerful solutions
- …maintain greater flexibility in system design
- …usually find more innovative tools for individual applications than in complete systems
- …can more easily replace individual systems when requirements change
However, the Best-of-Breed approach also comes with some downsides. Implementing multiple standalone solutions leads to more complex integration – requiring interfaces between systems to be created and maintained. Additionally, the effort for maintenance, support, and training is higher. If systems do not work well together, data silos or media discontinuities can also occur.
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