ERP software makes automation easy, saving time and money. It is being adopted by all kinds of organizations at an accelerated rate.

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning and enables the storage, management and interpretation of data. Ideal for maintaining voluminous data, ERP software makes it easy for companies to manage data related to product planning, shipping and payment, human resources, finances, and more.

Even when 100% of companies still do not trust ERP, most of them are aware of its existence, largely because of its great advantages.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to implement ERP: local ERP and cloud-based ERP. Local ERP is primarily about keeping ERP software and associated data in the customer’s own organization. Cloud-based ERP, on the other hand, requires customers to get their software and data hosted on another server, which can be accessed online.

Local ERP

According to research firm Gartner, the on-premises ERP industry in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17%, taking it to $ 538 million in 2017 from $ 178 million in 2013.

Currently, a large number of healthcare establishments, educational institutions, hotels and resorts, multinational companies and banking organizations are using ERP. Directly related to the ROI of organizations, ERP facilitates better management of resources and data. And when India is strong in terms of technically trained professionals, the ERP market is sure to witness impressive growth.

Cloud-based ERP / SaaS implementation

SaaS-based ERP is preferred by small and medium-sized businesses. Gartner studies claim that reduced costs and faster implementation are the main reasons behind this development. This is because ERP solutions based on ‘Software as a Service’ help client organizations to implement ERP applications in cloud environments. ERP software and related data are centrally hosted and accessed via the web.

While even large corporations are switching to cloud-based ERP models, apprehensions due to data security, network issues, and limited customization have maintained their acceptance rate until now. However, continuous improvements will surely give SaaS-based ERP implementation the much-needed boost in the near future.

ERP software service providers

Like any other technology, the ERP world is full of service providers. The products offered by them differ in a variety of ways, including performance, features, capacity, etc. Considering the various options that companies have, the selection is made not only based on characteristics, but also taking into account business requirements and budget constraints.

Small companies

For small business houses, Microsoft’s ERP solution, that is, Microsoft Dynamics, plays a fundamental role. Provides solutions for reporting and business intelligence, operations and human resources, and financial and supply chain management. Of the various standalone solutions, Microsoft’s Axapta (Dynamics AX) and Navision (Dynamics NAV) products offer incredible distribution and manufacturing capabilities. These products are widely used in European regions. Microsoft also offers the Great Plains (GP) ERP solution that features strong financial capabilities. GP is widely accepted in the United States.

Medium companies

Epicor and Infor are the two organizational names that come up in terms of ERP implementation for midsize businesses. Serving more than 20,000 customers in nearly 150 countries, Epicor has robust ERP solutions for distribution, manufacturing, lumber and construction, retail, and various other functions. The company’s ERP implementations have led to 100% growth in ROI of various configurations, such as hospitality, finance, apparel, medicine, etc. Epicor has also been recognized once for achieving the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) and total cost per user of software for midsize corporations.

Infor, the third-largest ERP manufacturer, has more than 70,000 customers in 200 countries. It has ERP software for product configuration management, customer relationship management, enterprise asset management, product lifecycle management, and various other business tasks. Over the years, Infor has greatly improved its service offering not only through innovations, but also through critical business acquisitions.

Business level / Large companies

SAP SE (Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing), known for its SAP ERP solutions, is the largest enterprise software company. SAP software is used primarily in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Canada, the United States, Asia Pacific, and Japan. Its software solutions include ERP systems for human resource management, manufacturing, finance, payroll, and customer relationship management. SAP ERP systems, highly preferred by large companies around the world, are effectively consolidated for the latest mobile, cloud and in-memory technologies.

Oracle Corporation, the world’s second largest software company, is undoubtedly another highly preferred ERP systems provider. In leading-edge competition with SAP SE, Oracle ERP solutions are known for their robustness, data integrity, and security features. With the acquisitions of PeopleSoft (with JD Edwards) and Siebel Systems, Oracle’s customer base includes some of the most reputable companies in the world. It offers ERP solutions for supply chain management, human capital management, etc.

Due to the huge profits, continuous innovations and various other advantages that ERP implementations offer, your market is ready for a bright future! So it makes perfect sense for people to undertake this domain as a career goal. That’s because, the need for trained ERP technicians will certainly increase as the market advances.

What product to choose?

Well, that completely depends on your professional vision and level of commitment.