E-Business and ERP: Transforming the Enterprise [Hardcover]

"It's full of diagrams and is written in a direct and concise style." (Internet Works)

"To the right business, the message could be useful." (Ambassador, October 2000)

The Internet is the most important business tool of the new century. In the business-to-business (B2B) world, the Internet is enabling the formation of extended enterprises operating within value networks. Vendors and suppliers within these "wired" entities are able to communicate instantaneously with each other and with customers far more easily, cheaply, and quickly than ever before. In their rush to evolve as e-businesses, many traditional companies hasten to update existing business processes while losing sight of an important fact: E-business simply will not work in the absence of sound business infrastructures based on well-functioning enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

While new front-end technologies are appearing at a dizzying pace, ERP software remains the most efficient and effective solution for managers who need to plan and control money, manufacturing operations, inventory, and people-the elements and processes that comprise the so-called back-end of the organization. The critical question for such managers is:

How do I combine my existing ERP systems with the most up-to-date Web-based technologies to create one all-encompassing e-business strategy designed to:
* Add greater value to customers
* Create tightly coupled relationships with trading partners
* Open the door to new strategic opportunities

In E-Business and ERP: Transforming the Enterprise, the authors answer this question by providing a road map to achieving the ideal combination of speed, business capability, technical know-how, and execution as companies attempt to get the most out of current investments while grappling with the multiple challenges of the e-business environment. Addressing the needs of the full range of companies-from Internet start-ups grabbing headlines even as they struggle to execute effective business processes, to companies with long track records of success in keeping pace with technological innovations-E-Business and ERP: Transforming the Enterprise presents:
* E-business procedures to help companies link their existing ERP systems with the information capabilities of their customers
* A new approach to valuing ERP and e-business investments
* A guide to achieving the right balance among technology, processes, and people while undertaking a major e-business effort
* A framework for understanding e-business opportunities within the context of a traditional enterprise and its infrastructure
* In-depth analysis of how the Internet impacts supply chain management, customer relationship management (CRM), and shared services
* A look into the future of ERP and Web-based technologies

The authors also offer a new model-an ERP/E-Business Matrix that executives and managers can use to assess their company's current position as an e-business-including evaluating relevant risks and opportunities; determining a desired destination; and developing a plan for getting there successfully. Perhaps for the first time, this invaluable tool lays out all the options, making an informed decision about a company's future e-business direction not only possible, but easier than ever before.

Most of today's global enterprises have invested heavily in current infrastructures, and, in many cases, this investment has paid off handsomely. However, tomorrow's most successful companies will leverage that investment by implementing Web-based technologies in tandem with sound ERP-based solutions. Let E-Business and ERP: Transforming the Enterprise show you the processes, techniques, and strategies you need to maximize your organization's ERP investment while transforming it into an e-nabled powerhouse.