Few people think of enterprise resource planning in terms of rapid change.
ERP systems have been around since the mid-1970s when they first ran on mainframe computers. Enterprises that invested huge sums in these big and complex systems now have elaborate legacy setups that they are absolutely dependent upon to run their companies. Because there's so much at stake, ERP providers and customers introduce changes to technology and deployments gradually to avoid costly mistakes.
Nonetheless, ERP systems do change--albeit slowly. For example, people started talking about adapting ERP software to client/server technology at the beginning of the 1980s, but it wasn't until the late 1990s that more client/server versions shipped than mainframe versions.
Today, ERP is still evolving--adapting to developments in technology and the demands of the market. Four important trends are shaping ERP's continuing evolution: improvements in integration and flexibility, extensions to e-business applications, a broader reach to new users, and the adoption of Internet technologies. Taking a closer look at each will help you understand where ERP is headed.
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