6. The Introduction of Enterprise Resource Programs (ERP)

ERP, an enterprise-wide system that integrates the business functions and processes of an organization, typically includes manufacturing, logistics, distribution, inventory, shipping, invoicing, and accounting. ERP requires companies to have the same definitions and the same computer screens across multiple departments. This eliminates the problem of one department presenting from one source and the other department answering from another source of information.

In most companies, ERP is the information backbone or pipeline needed to manage the daily transactions. Many of the internal functions of corporations are supported and shared by ERP systems. The advantage of ERP is that the software ...

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