Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is business process management software that allows an organization to use a system of integrated applications to manage the business and automate many back office functions related to technology, services and human resources.
ERP software typically integrates all facets of an operation — including product planning, development, manufacturing, sales and marketing — in a single database, application and user interface.
ERP is an Enterprise Application
ERP software is considered to be a type of enterprise application, that is software designed to be used by larger businesses and often requires dedicated teams to customize and analyze the data and to handle upgrades and deployment. In contrast, Small business ERP applications are lightweight business management software solutions, often customized for a specific business industry or vertical.
Today most organizations implement ERP systems to replace legacy software or to incorporate ERP applications because no system currently exists. In fact, a 2016 study by Panorama Consulting Solutions, LLC., indicates that organizations implement ERP for the following reasons:
To replace out-of-date ERP software (49%)
To replace homegrown systems (16%)
To replace accounting software (15%)
To replace other non-ERP systems / had no system (20%)
Top ERP Systems
| Company | Description | Features | Pricing | Where to Begin? |
| Netsuite ERP | Market-leading clould EPR solution. Modern and scalable implementation across all critical back office functions. | Accounting, Inventory Management, Reporting & Analytics, Functionality across enterprises of all sizes. | Starting at $999/month | VISIT WEBSITE |
| SAP ERP | Trusted EPR provider with 40 years of market history and more than 50,000 customers worldwide. | Accounting, Inventory & Warehouse Management, Purchasing, Reporting & Analytics Functionality across enterprises of all sizes. | Variable ($20k+) | VISIT WEBSITE |
| Sage ERP | Fully-integrated, comprehensive suite of EPR business tools and capacity across all back office functions. | Financial Cloud, Accounting, Inventory & Warehouse Management, Procurement, Reporting & Analytics, Functionality across enterprises of all functions. | Variable ($15k+) | VISIT WEBSITE |