literature review of erp systems

Toward Digital ERP: A Literature Review

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• Benjamin De Brabander   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4903-4311 9 , 10 , 11 ,
• Amy Van Looy   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7992-1528 10 &
• Stijn Viaene   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1600-4706 9 , 11  

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Many organizations have a long history with the use of ERP. However, organizations are increasingly turning to digital capabilities to transform operational processes and business models. Extant literature has increased our understanding of ERP, but we lack comprehensive insights into the evolving nature of ERP in the context of digital transformation. Through a review of articles from the AIS Basket of Eight IT journals, we identified digital capabilities associated with contemporary ERP across five categories. The identified capabilities foreground the evolving nature of ERP, resulting in the introduction of a definition for digital ERP (D-ERP) and a call for research studying the co-evolution of D-ERP and digital transformation.

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Benjamin De Brabander & Stijn Viaene

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Tweekerkenstraat 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

Benjamin De Brabander & Amy Van Looy

Faculty of Business and Economics, K.U. Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

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Renata Guizzardi

University of Geneva, CUI, Carouge, Switzerland

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Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain

Xavier Franch

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De Brabander, B., Van Looy, A., Viaene, S. (2022). Toward Digital ERP: A Literature Review. In: Guizzardi, R., Ralyté, J., Franch, X. (eds) Research Challenges in Information Science. RCIS 2022. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 446. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05760-1_44

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Journal of Enterprise Information Management

ISSN : 1741-0398

Article publication date: 10 July 2017

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation brings with it a set of challenges. In order to gain a better understanding of these and they can be mitigated during the implementation process, the purpose of this paper is to use Esteves and Bohórquez (2007) classification based on ERP lifecycle framework, and content analysis to review the literature on ERP implementation in a structured format with a focus on larger enterprises, and provide a platform for practitioners to plan implementation with minimum possibility of failure.

Design/methodology/approach

Esteves and Bohórquez (2007) classification based on the ERP lifecycle framework is used to develop and present a comprehensive structured review of the literature on ERP system implementation in large enterprises (LEs), with a particular focus on pre-implementation, implementation, and post-implementation.

Drawing from the literature, organisations can plan implementation based on the findings and strategies presented in the study. This can lead to a better understanding of implementation with minimal probability of failure. The authors find that top management support, good project management teams, and good communications are the top three most important critical successful factors during implementation. The authors also identify critical gaps in current research. Existing research focusses predominantly on the implementation phase, but research on pre- and post-implementation is lacking, and that no industry standard implementation methodology has been developed.

Research implications

This review primarily focusses on the literature in the area of ERP implementation. ERP implementation planning involves access to effective implementation strategies. Despite the literature identifying a myriad of different ERP implementation models, no standard industry ERP implementation model has been developed. The findings for ERP implementation are repetitive, inconsistent, and lack empirical research, rendering these two of the most critical areas for future research, and collaboration between ERP practitioners, system developers, and researchers. Researchers, in turn, need to become more innovative in terms of their research techniques when examining ERP implementation.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidance to researchers and practitioners with an insight into published research work and their findings. It provides a better understanding of ERP implementation, which can be applied towards overcoming operational difficulties during the implementation process.

Originality/value

This study is innovated in its use of Esteves and Bohórquez (2007) classification based on the ERP lifecycle framework, and content analysis to present a comprehensive structured literature review of the ERP implementation literature with a specific focus on pre-implementation, implementation, and post-implementation in LEs between the period 1989 and 2014. The technique and time period used in this study differs from those of other studies on ERP implementation. The paper brings together theoretical and practical developments on ERP implementation under a single source, which should aid practitioners, researchers and ERP developers with future research and decision making.

• ERP systems
• Critical success factors
• ERP implementation
• Large enterprises

Ali, M. and Miller, L. (2017), "ERP system implementation in large enterprises – a systematic literature review", Journal of Enterprise Information Management , Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 666-692. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-07-2014-0071

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Enterprise resource planning systems: a brief literature review

Research output : Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Other › peer-review

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been around since the mid-1970s when they first ran on mainframe computers. It has been suggested (eg, Musaji, 2002) that four significant trends are shaping the evolution of ERP system: the continuing improvements in ERP integration and flexibility, extension to e-business applications, broader reach to new users, and the adoption of internet technologies. As is suggested by Webster and Watson (2002) an effective review of literature creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. With this aim in mind we have reviewed research papers on ERP systems between 1998 and 2006 from different types of academic journals in different areas. The literature is further classified by its topic, the major outcomes and research methods of each study are addressed. This is followed by implications for future research.

• Literature review

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• Link to publication in Scopus

T1 - Enterprise resource planning systems

T2 - International Business Information Management 2008

AU - Xu, Yan

AU - Rahmati, Nasrin

AU - Lee, Vincent

N1 - Conference code: 9th

N2 - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been around since the mid-1970s when they first ran on mainframe computers. It has been suggested (eg, Musaji, 2002) that four significant trends are shaping the evolution of ERP system: the continuing improvements in ERP integration and flexibility, extension to e-business applications, broader reach to new users, and the adoption of internet technologies. As is suggested by Webster and Watson (2002) an effective review of literature creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. With this aim in mind we have reviewed research papers on ERP systems between 1998 and 2006 from different types of academic journals in different areas. The literature is further classified by its topic, the major outcomes and research methods of each study are addressed. This is followed by implications for future research.

AB - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been around since the mid-1970s when they first ran on mainframe computers. It has been suggested (eg, Musaji, 2002) that four significant trends are shaping the evolution of ERP system: the continuing improvements in ERP integration and flexibility, extension to e-business applications, broader reach to new users, and the adoption of internet technologies. As is suggested by Webster and Watson (2002) an effective review of literature creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. With this aim in mind we have reviewed research papers on ERP systems between 1998 and 2006 from different types of academic journals in different areas. The literature is further classified by its topic, the major outcomes and research methods of each study are addressed. This is followed by implications for future research.

KW - Culture

KW - Literature review

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896136775&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference Paper

AN - SCOPUS:84896136775

BT - 9th IBIMA Conference on Information Management in Modern Organizations; Marrakech; Morocco; 4 January 2008 through 6 January 2008

PB - IBIMA Publishing

Y2 - 4 January 2008 through 6 January 2008

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Literature review and an evaluation of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in the organizational effectiveness

This article presents a literature review of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. It introduces the main characteristics of an ERP system and how it can support the company's management in achieving a high level of organizational effectiveness. The significance and advantages that a company can expect by using these systems as well as the disadvantages and barriers that can be encountered during its implementation and use will be discussed. Even with a range of benefits an enterprise can have by using an ERP system, its high administration may carefully analyze its real application necessity and consider all of the limitations and possible risks before taking the decision of implementing it.

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Modernizing erp systems: innovative strategies with infor.

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Infor specializes in modern, cloud-based ERP systems tailored to specific industries.

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I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Infor’s CEO, Kevin Samuelson, who is an avid fan of both calculus and ERP. Samuelson and his team have shaped Infor’s company architecture to address the technology requirements of today’s customers. In this article, I will discuss Infor’s commitment to innovation, industry-specific solutions and customer retention as well as the role of data management in its strategic framework.

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Infor’s Modern Capabilities

Infor OS is the foundation of its cloud platform, supporting Infor’s suite of enterprise applications. It enhances enterprise operations with its advanced cloud technology and integration capabilities. Infor OS integrates AI and ML to automate routine processes such as predictive maintenance, which forecasts equipment failures, and supply chain optimization, which anticipates disruptions. Additionally, it utilizes AI to analyze large datasets, revealing trends and enabling financial forecasting based on historical data. The platform features pre-built APIs for connecting Infor and third-party systems, and an app designer that allows users to create customized applications easily through a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. Infor OS enhances data management, accessibility and quality with its data fabric feature, which integrates data from various sources into a unified environment. Additionally, the platform addresses governance and compliance to meet legal and regulatory requirements by monitoring operations, managing risks and enforcing operational guidelines.

A marketplace inside the Infor OS platform lets users integrate third-party solutions, expanding the technology options available to an organization. In conversation with Samuelson, we discussed the evolution from traditional to modern ERPs, emphasizing that modern systems can integrate a wider range of advanced technologies. This capability allows organizations to stay updated with technological advancements so they can remain competitive.

This modern ERP platform incorporates an enterprise automation solution to advance the digital transformation journey by focusing on the three areas of technology, processes and people. Technology includes AI/ML for decision automation, iPaaS integration for backend automation and robotic process automation along with intelligent document processing for frontend automation. Processes allow access to pre-built workflows from a content library, while the People aspect involves partnering with Infor’s innovation support services to provide automation professionals to meet the customer’s automation needs.

The Modern ERP Ecosystem

Most ERP organizations have built their ecosystems through partnerships to expand their reach. An ERP ecosystem incorporates various tools, applications and services to support the functionality of an ERP system. Partners and alliances can provide integration tools, consulting and implementation services, training and support, compliance and security solutions and analytics and reporting tools. These all play important roles in ensuring the ERP system operates efficiently, complies with regulations and provides valuable business insights.

Infor has teamed up with channel partners such as Circa Technology, Konica Minolta and Decision Resources to sell, implement and support its systems. It has alliance partners that co-sell with Infor, consult with customers and provide services to support the portfolio; these include Accenture, Wipro, Deloitte and more. Infor has also partnered with AWS as its main cloud hosting service . This partnership provides Infor with access to AWS’s global network of regions and availability zones, helping address the specific needs of Infor’s customers.

Modern ERP systems are critical for integrating global operations into a unified platform, centralizing data management within enterprises. They ensure consistency and enhance security with advanced features such as data encryption, plus ensure compliance with privacy regulations and other laws. These systems embed AI and ML to extract insights from historical data and enable the business to respond to changes in the market. They also analyze market trends, forecast customer buying habits, manage manufacturing of products and mitigate supply chain disruptions arising from external factors such as weather.

A key advantage of modern ERPs is their ability to leverage advanced technologies within an open architecture, facilitating integrations with other systems to enhance overall functionality. Infor’s ERP solutions, hosted on AWS, are designed to meet the specific needs of various industries. The platform supports core business processes, promotes collaboration across the enterprise and supports a growing ecosystem, all so customers can benefit and increase their productivity. Modern ERP systems serve as the foundation for global organizations, equipped to cater to customer demands, adapt to market conditions and sustain a competitive advantage.

Moor Insights & Strategy provides or has provided paid services to technology companies, like all tech industry research and analyst firms. These services include research, analysis, advising, consulting, benchmarking, acquisition matchmaking and video and speaking sponsorships. Of the companies mentioned in this article, Moor Insights & Strategy currently has (or has had) a paid business relationship with Accenture, AWS and Konica Minolta.

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