Abstract:

In the last decade, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) has continued to expand, blurring the boundaries of the core system. The number of modules and the extended functionality offered in the ERP suites have progressively grown making integration a greater challenge for the enterprise. Simultaneously, the business applications market trends – consolidation, verticalization, outsourcing, and specialization – have a broader effect than just on ERP. We will research the enterprise software vendors’ position and strategy with reference to the identified trends with a close spotlight on Romania. The paper concisely reviews the theoretical integration concepts and some of the practical implementations in order to become an extended enterprise in the new economy. We will examine the ERP suites transformation under the current pressures and the trends to track in the upcoming period.