“It looked affordable on paper.
But when we started using it, we saw a different kind of cost — one that didn’t show up on the quotation.”
The Initial Appeal: Competitive Pricing & Feature List
When we first looked at MES solutions from China, the pricing was significantly lower than Western or global providers.
The proposal included:
- Full production tracking
- Label printing
- Barcode scanning
- Basic WIP traceability
- And even some equipment integration modules
For a factory that was just starting its MES journey, this seemed like a great deal.
But as we moved from planning to execution, we began to see the full picture — not in dollars, but in hours, clarity, and alignment.
What the Quotation Didn’t Show
1. Translation & Localization Gaps
The system was originally designed for Chinese factories — which made sense for its primary market.
But for our multilingual team, we encountered:
- User interfaces that were not fully translated
- Reports with hardcoded Chinese characters
- Delays in understanding system logic due to limited English documentation
These gaps didn’t just cause inconvenience — they slowed down adoption and reduced user confidence.
2. Support Model Misalignment
The vendor team was responsive, but timezone and language barriers made issue resolution slower than expected.
Many questions required clarification, screenshots, or even live walkthroughs — which added to resolution time.
3. Hidden Effort Costs
While the license was affordable, we invested:
- Internal resources to translate and test
- Time to create user guides
- Workarounds for logic gaps that didn’t align with our flow
These costs were harder to measure — but very real.
Why This Isn’t About Blame
Our current MES did help us reach a functional starting point — especially in traceability and barcode handling.
It was the system we had, and it taught us a lot.
“The goal here is not to criticize —
but to reflect on what to watch for when evaluating “low-cost” MES options.”
Questions to Ask When “Cheap” Sounds Too Good
If you’re considering a budget-friendly MES (from any region), I recommend asking:
- What is the real cost of onboarding, training, and internal documentation?
- Will the system be fully usable in your factory’s language?
- Who will handle translation — and is it scoped in the project?
- Can your team manage ongoing support in the vendor’s native language?
- How much customization is needed to match your process logic?
🔗 Related Posts
- Choosing the Final Two: Lessons from My MES Vendor Shortlisting
- What to Do When Your MES Only Speaks Chinese
Final Thought
“An MES that looks affordable upfront can carry hidden costs later — in time, clarity, and adaptability.
Before you commit to “cheap,” be sure it’s actually fit for your factory.“