ERP Software Gets a Second Life in the Cloud

摘要

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems don't have the most glorious history. In the 1990s, ERP providers claimed the technology would herald the end of time-consuming steps in manufacturing companies. ERP promised to automate and integrate it all, from order tracking to product distribution and production scheduling. But the technology often failed to deliver. Some angry customers even sued their ERP providers. Now, however, innovations are making the technology more useful and cost-effective. The software can be hosted remotely ("in the cloud") and used on mobile phones. It can help manufacturers cut costs and streamline their operations for much less than what ERP systems used to cost.