Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is an integrated computer-based application used to manage internal and external resources by official and employees worked within the organization, including tangible assets, resources, materials, and human resources. Its purpose is to facilitate the flow of information between all business functions inside the boundaries of the organization and manage the connections to outside stakeholders. The users may access to their own field and department as well. ERP systems consolidate all business operations into a uniform and enterprise-wide system environment.

An ERP system can either reside on a centralized server or be distributed across modular hardware and software units that provide "services" and communicate on a local area network. The distributed design allows a business to assemble modules from different vendors without the need for the placement of multiple copies of complex and expensive computer systems in areas which will not use their full capacity.

Components

• Transactional Backbone
  • Financial
    
  • Distribution
  • Human Resources
  • Product lifecycle management

• Advanced Applications
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • Supply chain management software
    • Purchasing
    • Manufacturing
    • Distribution
  • Warehouse Management System.

• Management Portal/Dashboard
  • Decision Support System

These modules can exist in a system or can be utilized in an ad-hoc fashion.

Commercial applications

Manufacturing

Engineering, bills of material, work orders, scheduling, capacity, workflow management, quality control, cost management, manufacturing process, manufacturing projects, manufacturing flow

Supply chain management

Order to cash inventory, order entry, purchasing, product configurator, supply chain

planning, supplier scheduling, inspection of goods, claim processing, commission calculation

Financials

General ledger, cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets

Project management

Costing, billing, time and expense, performance units, activity management

Human resources

Human resources, payroll, training, time and attendance, rostering, benefits

Customer relationship management

Sales and marketing, commissions, service, customer contact, call-center support

Data services

Various "self-service" interfaces for customers, suppliers and/or employees

Access control

Management of user privileges for various processes