Choosing an ERP in Lebanon comes with a question that businesses elsewhere rarely ask: should the system live on a server in the office, or in the cloud? Power cuts, internet quality and the cost of hardware all push the answer one way or another. This guide compares both options on the points that matter here, and explains what CeevTech offers.
What each option means
An on-premise ERP runs on a server inside your premises. You buy the hardware, someone installs and maintains the software, and your team connects to it over the local network. A cloud ERP runs on servers managed by the provider; your team opens it in a browser or an app from anywhere, and the provider handles hosting, updates and backups.
Power cuts
An on-premise server needs power all day. If the generator or the UPS fails, the ERP stops with it, and an unclean shutdown can corrupt the database. A cloud ERP keeps running in a data centre; when your power is back, your data is where you left it. Staff on a phone with mobile data can even keep working during a cut.
Internet
This is where on-premise has a point: it works on the local network with no internet at all. A cloud ERP needs a connection. In practice, most businesses in Lebanon already depend on internet for cards, delivery apps and WhatsApp orders, and a second connection (a 4G router as backup) removes most of the risk.
Backups
With on-premise, backups are your responsibility: someone has to run them, store a copy off-site and test that they restore. Many businesses discover their backup never worked on the day they need it. With a cloud ERP, backups are part of the service. CeevTech's Restaurant ERP, for example, runs on its own subdomain with SSL and daily backups managed by the CeevTech team.
Cost
On-premise means a server, a UPS, licences, and someone to maintain it, paid up front and again when the hardware ages. Cloud is a subscription with no hardware, which is easier to budget and to start small with. Over several years the totals can come close; the difference is who carries the risk and the work.
Updates and support
On-premise updates are a project: someone has to apply them, usually after hours, and things can break. In the cloud the provider updates the system for everyone. Support is also simpler, because the provider can see the system directly.
Data control
Some businesses want their data physically on their premises. That is a legitimate preference. Ask a cloud provider where the data is hosted, who can access it, how it is backed up and how you can export it. CeevTech gives each client its own isolated instance and database.
When on-premise still makes sense
- No reliable internet at the site and no way to add a backup line.
- A regulatory or contractual requirement to keep data on site.
- A very large installation already running on-premise with no reason to move.
What CeevTech offers
CeevTech's ready-made ERP and Restaurant ERP are cloud systems: each client gets their own subdomain with SSL and daily backups, live within 24 hours, with setup, updates and support by the CeevTech team. For businesses that need a tailored system, CeevTech scopes it with you and quotes it on request.
Frequently asked questions
Does a cloud ERP work during power cuts in Lebanon?
The system itself keeps running in the data centre. Your team can work as long as they have a device with power and internet, for example a laptop on battery or a phone on mobile data.
What if the internet goes down?
A cloud ERP needs a connection. Most businesses keep a 4G router as a backup line. An on-premise ERP works on the local network without internet, but stops when the power does.
Who makes the backups in a cloud ERP?
The provider. CeevTech's systems run on their own subdomain with daily backups managed by the CeevTech team.
Is cloud ERP cheaper than on-premise?
It costs less to start, because there is no server to buy and nobody to hire for maintenance. Over several years the totals depend on the size of the installation; the clearer difference is that the provider carries the hosting, updates and backups.
Compare the two options for your own business: ERP and retail POS in Lebanon, Restaurant POS, or ask us.