Does the ERP follow suit?

The implementation of innovations is a central topic of digitization. For example, the digitization of the supply chain is an innovation goal pursued by many companies. This strategy is entirely recommendable, as improving the supply chain can have a major leverage effect on the entire value chain.

However, the pandemic and the resulting production downtime show the vulnerability of supply chains. Digital ideas are needed here. Concepts that must also be supported by the ERP system as the central hub of digitization. But there is still room for improvement in this area in particular.

The trend study "Creating added value for SMEs through ERP software" examined the extent to which companies can rely on their ERP system to realize innovation topics. According to the survey, relatively new topics, for example AI, Industry 4.0, predictive maintenance or condition monitoring, are often not yet sufficiently supported.

Interestingly, ERP systems receive positive ratings from their users with regard to those topics that are of particular relevance due to the pandemic. For example, three quarters of respondents (74 percent) say that they receive good or very good support from their ERP in the transformation of their goods logistics. The same applies to the optimization of supply chain management (68 percent).