Essential ERP—Its Underpinning Technology
P.J. Jakovljevic - September 5, 2005

Introduction

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is a set of applications that automate finance and human resources departments and help manufacturers handle jobs such as order processing and production scheduling. ERP began as a term used to describe a sophisticated and integrated software system used for manufacturing. In its simplest sense, ERP systems create interactive environments designed to help companies manage and analyze the business processes associated with manufacturing goods, such as inventory control, order taking, accounting, and much more. Although this basic definition still holds true for ERP systems, today its definition is expanding. Savvy ERP users, increasing customer expectations, changes in manufacturing requirements, and technology's relentless pursuit for innovation are just some of the forces reshaping the definition of ERP. In today's dynamic and turbulent business environment, there is a strong need for organizations to become globally competitive. The survival guide to competitiveness is to be closer to the customer and deliver value-added product and services in the shortest possible time. This, in turn, demands integration of the business processes of an enterprise, which is the stronghold of ERP...