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.

Facebook

When Facebook was first launch in 2004, it was the trendy and “cool” place or platform. Almost everyone had an account and started socializing with people they know. As the trend evolved, “Facebookers” started adding people they may know or even only had with them a onetime chat. From a networking point of view, Facebook boosted the connections between societies, reconnected old friends to each others, and even pushed people to get in touch with each other by only knowing their names. It was a complete and total success.

The more Facebook evolved, the more its users were facing privacy issues. Their profiles, including their pictures and their whereabouts were public and exposed not only to their closed circle of friends, but also to web surfers, intruders and anyone who types their named, may it be on purpose or by simple mistake. The platform became like a tabloid exposing people’s life. Given its newness, it was widely accepted. However, the users matured and started complaining. Facebook was being used by employers to have some “extra” information about job applicants and it reached an extent where experts in job search such as Daniel Porot, qualified the website as “a professional suicide tool”.

Facebook’s retaliation was a bit late, yet useful, by allowing users to control their information and its flow, by allowing specific people to check about specific data.

At the moment, applications and games launched are adding value to Facebookers, and increasing their level of “addiction” as well as their time spent on the web itself from one side, but also from another side, they are securing a mega number of viewers for advertisers, hence enabling them to control and generate more profits.
The social network could take advantage of its chat facility to make live video and voice. And would even increase more the volume of its users, and have a greater flow. It also would invite countries and governments like China who are blocking Facebook to open up towards it, or platforms such as Orkut in India to diminish in regards of Facebook.

Facebook is also entering the business sector, not only to increase the number of users in volume, but to also add a new purpose to enter, surf and use the service. Mixing social and professional use in one website could be highly beneficial yet highly risky, if not well managed. Simply by exposing pictures of a certain CEO drunk in a bachelor party would be a scoop by itself. However, allowing even more flexibility to manage one’s pictures and appearances would ease that use. It’s more privacy than freedom of speech.

Facebook will be able to increase the number of users by 50% by 2012, if not more. However, it has to maintain it and create potential of better use. The active users with at least one visit a day and constant updates will see themselves hostages of a routine activity without real or concrete return, when it comes to absolute term of socializing. Socializing can have a more useful payback: Networking. Facebook has it. It should activate it more and make out of it a new version of LinkedIn, that’s cooler, professional and gives results. Especially that it’s more widespread. It should try to link professionals not only according to friends they have in common, but also to jobs preferences, and professional backgrounds. This way, Facebook would have drawn its path to be the “all in one site”: Socialize, update, find your soul mate and find the job of your dreams through relevant and “cool” connections.