IFS, a provider ofenterprise resource planning (ERP)
applicationsplans to enable users to
integrate information from websites and mobile devices into its ERP
applications following customer feedback.
In a survey IFS conducted with 355 UK IT decision-makers, 95%
said that their current ERP software was inflexible to use as the
needs of the organisation became more dynamic, for example,
incorporating information into business processes that was not held
in a database.
"With global supply chains and extended business networks,
companies are exposing more of their systems outside the walls of
their own organization," said Dan Matthews, IFS CTO at a keynote
briefing today in Berlin.
The next version of IFS Applications 7.5 will have a web based
interface called Aurora for traditional ERP systems to enable
better management of both database and web based information.
Respondents said this would make it easier when transferring data
from one application to another, and who wanted better search
capabilities when looking for information used by different ERP
applications.
Matthews said the influence of consumer technologies on the
design of enterprise software meant that more customers were now
asking for applications that were more intuitive to use.
"Customers have said that the 'difficulty to search for and find
information' and 'poor navigation around and between applications'
are among the top time wasters when using enterprise software. By
embedding enterprise application, key information is found quicker
and easier as a result," Matthews said.
Gartner analyst Tim Payne said the inclusion of web 2.0 and
greater integration in ERP applications was becoming a standard
feature in modern ERP packages. For instance,
SAP's Duet software integrates with Microsoft office
applications to transfer data, and Lawson's ERP system integrates
with
IBM's Websphere middleware.
"The challenge for most IT managers purchasing new ERP software
is to digest how best to use these new features within their
business processes," he said.