CHAPTER 12 INTEGRATING THE ORGANISATION FROM END TO END - ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING.

CHAPTER 12 INTEGRATING THE ORGANISATION FROM END TO END - ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING.

1. ENTERPRISE RESOURCES PLANNING (ERP).
ü At the heart of all ERP systems is a database, when a user enters or updates information in one module, it is immediately and automatically updated throughout the entire system.

2. BRINGING THE ORGANISATION TOGETHER.

3. THE EVOLUTION OF ERP.

ü SCM, CRM, and ERP are the backbone of E-business.

ü Integration of these applications is the key to success for many companies.

ü Integration allows the unlocking of information to make it available to any user, anywhere, anytime.

SCM and CRM market overviews.

4. INTEGRATING TOOLS.

ü Many companies purchase modules from an ERP vendor, an SCM vendor, and a CRM vendor and must integrate the different modules together.

• Middleware – Several different types of software which sit in the middle of and provide connectivity between two or more software applications.
• Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) Middleware – Packages together commonly used functionality which reduced the time necessary to develop solutions that integrate applications from multiple vendors.

5. ENTERPRISE RESOURCES PLANNING (ERP).

ü ERP systems must integrate various organisation processes and be;

• Flexible.
• Modular and Open.
• Comprehensive.
• Beyond the company.

ü Flexible – Must be able to quickly respond to the changing needs of the organisation.

ü Modular and Open – Must have an open system architecture, meaning that any module can be interface, with or detached whenever required without affecting the other modules. 

ü Comprehensive – Must be able to support a variety of organizational functions for a wide range of businesses.

ü Beyond the company – Must support external partnerships and collaboration efforts.

6. ENTERPRISE RESOURCES PLANNING'S EXPLOSIVE GROWTH.

ü SAP boasts 20,000 installations and 10 million users worldwide.

ü ERP solutions are growing because;

• ERP is a logical solution to the mess of incompatible applications that had sprung  up in most businesses.
• ERP addresses the need for global information sharing and reporting.
• ERP is used to avoid the pain and expense of fixing legacy systems.