ERP's adaptation

Technology, starting from the basic first computer that came out, arriving to the latest one, passing by all kinds of software and programs that evolved alongside, have definitely changed the face of business and how companies are dealing today with their clients, suppliers, and definitely internally. Regardless of the type of business and industry, technology plays a major role. It’s the wave that all businesses should be surfing on. But what’s the limit? Should companies adapt to ERP’s or the other way around?

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an integrated computer-based system used to manage internal and external resource including tangible assets, financial resources, materials, and human resources. It is a software architecture whose 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. Built on a centralized database and normally utilizing a common computing platform, ERP systems consolidate all business operations into a uniform and enterprise wide system environment. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_resource_planning)

From its definition, we can notice that ERP is a very helpful system to organize, develop and manage a given business. It’s a tool made to assist the company in several departments, allowing them to run their tasks smoother. It comprises, finance, accounting, inventory management, distribution, manufacturing etc… In simple terms: it makes a given business run easier and smoother.
However, like any other thing on earth; be it a technological “thing” or not; it is not perfect. It has necessarily some drawbacks. ERP's are often seen as too rigid and too difficult to adapt, hence, an ERP can make a business run slower, especially if the decision to buy and install such a system was not thoroughly evaluated. It also eliminates all kinds of secrecy and allows almost all employees to access to classified information. Such practices, could lead to major felonies and harm the company.

The list of advantages and disadvantages is too long and could take years of debates, and most of times fact based. However, most businesses used to be run tablets, since the Roman Empire and way before as well. Uncountable numbers of systems and codes have been created since then to be used as tools to ease it. Technology and communication are the most recent ones. However, they are tools to help and ease decision taking and make it more efficient. And so are the ERP’s. They are highly performing systems, but, they definitely should adapt to companies and not the other way around.