Enterprise systems and the supply chain

Abstract

Early enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems or, more simply, enterprise systems (ES), were not primarily focused on the supply chain. Their initial focus was to execute and integrate such internally‐oriented applications that support finance, accounting, manufacturing, order entry, and human resources. Having got their internal operations somewhat integrated, many organizations have moved on to address the supply chain with their ES. The Internet has also brought about a revolution in supply chain thinking. Progress toward complete inter‐enterprise integration is measured in years and even decades. In this article, we discuss both the visions firms have for using enterprise systems for supply chain management, and the actual reality of current implementation. We conclude with projections of how enterprise systems will be used for supply chains in the future.