FEATURE : ERP SOFTWARE
ERP offers numerous benefits , most of which come from information sharing and standardisation . Because ERP modules can share data more easily than disparate systems , they can make cross-departmental business processes easier to manage . Industry pundits look at the complexity of the global economy , modern consumer demands and whether cloud ERP is the future of ERP technology . By Manda Banda .
Enterprise Resource Planning ( ERP ), is software designed to manage and integrate the functions of core business processes like finance , HR , supply chain , CRM and inventory management in a single system .
Widely used in businesses of all sizes , ERP is considered a must-have for large enterprises and is increasingly being deployed in growing small businesses too .
Manish Ranjan , Programme Manager for Software and Cloud , IDC Middle East , Turkey and Africa ( META ), said amid the on-going pandemic and economic challenges , organisations across Middle East region are still launching their Digital Transformation and modernisation projects to improve customer experience and reduce operational costs .
Ranjan said these projects are accelerating the adoption of disruptive technologies centred around cloud , analytics and AI that improve performance and agility . “ And while these technologies are enabling organisations to survive and thrive during the challenging times , the uptake of Enterprise Application Software ( EAS ) – specifically , ERM , CRM and SCM applications – is on the rise as vendors embed analytics and AI functionalities into core applications ,” he said . “ Due to the on-going investments within the regional and in-country data centre buildouts , even the highly regulated sectors such as banking and finance , healthcare and government are increasingly looking at cloud to streamline their business operations and improve operational excellence while driving innovation and improving customer experience . The consumption of cloud-based ERP services by small , medium-sized and large organisations are on the rise .”
Khaled Alshami , Senior Director , Solution Consulting , Infor , said the Middle East region is increasingly receptive to ERP software as governments are progressing with growth and diversification agendas , including smart government initiatives , which has enormous ripple effects on many private sector manufacturing and supply chain businesses in the region .
Meanwhile , added Alshami , private sector organisations are also looking to utilise digital solutions that enable them to boost efficiency , improve customer service delivery and boost the bottom line . “ There is a growing acceptance that ERP is no longer just a ‘ system of record ’ but is a key enabler to achieving these aims . We see especially high demand for ERP in sectors including industrial manufacturing , food service logistics and warehousing , automotive dealer management and healthcare ,” he said .
Mehmood Khan , Managing Director and Vice- President for the Middle East and South Asia , IFS , said the way organisations consume technology has changed as they are no longer looking for a single provider : different areas of the business will make separate choices and head for best of breed solutions . “ This has created a need of the composable architecture and building applications in a consistent and understandable way ,” he said .
“ The reality is that Digital Transformation is not easy and most businesses are complex and have intricate value chains yet need a simple and clear path to digitalisation . Not all vendors are providing what is needed . Too many companies are still carrying out pilots rather and consuming digital technology as part of their everyday operations . Better alternatives have come to market this year .”
Is cloud ERP the future of ERP technology ?
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