ERP systems are standard business software solutions for resource management (finances, resources, personnel, facilities). The integration of processes and data that this enables results in a system that manages resources uniformly and provides data and key figures for operational and decision-making purposes, for controlling and strategic planning across the company.
The standard software must be configured (parameterized) for the respective company, an often complex process, among other things because existing, usually incompatible and outdated IT island solutions must be replaced or adapted via interfaces.
The well-known ERP systems (including those from SAP and ORACLE) differ in their technical focus (target industries), in their scalability to different company sizes and in the software tools used. Today, industry-specific and cost-effective ERP systems with reduced complexity are offered to medium-sized companies, which map the essential business processes.
Typical application areas of an ERP software system are
- Master data management
- Materials management
- Production
- Finance and accounting
- Human resources management
- Sales and Marketing
- Controlling
- Research and Development.
Companies can select individual modules from this spectrum. Often they start with finance and accounting, materials management and human resources.
Web-based solutions are currently available; these offer the possibility of external access to your own system. Suppliers or customers can be directly involved in the business processes, for example to place orders and schedule deliveries; this creates time and cost advantages.
See also:
Work process; reporting; controlling; SME organisation; process optimisation; re-engineering; transparency; knowledge management; e-business; ICT management
Reference to QET guidelines:
Q07 Human resources management; Q13 Succession; Q14 Resources; T10 Suppliers; T13 ICT