Sunday, February 8, 2009

Oracle ERP - What Is It & What Are Its Benefits

By Dave Bern

Oracle ERP is a software program which allows you to unify various different processes within your internet based business. Certainly of all the software systems now being used by internet based businesses ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is one of the most widely used of all.

Through the use of a ERP software packages as that produced by Oracle one will be able to actually improve the performance of ones business. A good ERP system will help to not only plan how resources within the business are used, but also to manage and control these resources as well.

The various ERP software programs that you see today consist of several different modules which allow you to smoothly and effectively integrate various activities within your business. These programs are designed not only to look after the product planning side of your business, but also helping you with the purchasing of items, keeping track of your inventory and track orders placed and how the product is distributed.

Back in the 1960s many businesses were using inventory management and control systems as a way of tracking their inventory from the manufacturing stage through to the where the completed product was sent out. However, this system was often flawed as it needed to be regularly updated and concise records kept at all times.

It was however in the 1980's that we soon begun to see big changes when it came to managing and controlling the way a business ran effectively. It was at this time that batch manufacturing software was developed known as MRP (Manufacturing Requirements Planning) and which had evolved from the earlier systems being used during the 1960's and 1970's. This is also the software program from which ERP evolved and which is now more commonly used. Just like ERP, MRP was found to have many things that were beneficial to running a business successfully.

1. Firstly, ERP has been found to improve the co-ordination between various departments within a business, making them much more productive as well as making savings on the work that they do.

2. A further benefit to be gained from using a system such as Oracle ERP is that you will find managing your business on a day to day basis much easier. Plus not only will you end up saving time and money, but also the chances of your revenue levels getting better are greatly increased.

3. A further benefit to be gained from having Oracle ERP is that this program provides you with being able to access crucial data very quickly and then transferring it to another section of your business just as quickly. The quicker you are able to retrieve such information then the more quickly and effectively you are able to respond.

4. Finally, when it comes to using Oracle ERP software by having important information easily to hand one can make more informed decisions on how the business should be progressing.

However which Oracle ERP system you select will depend on a number of different factors including whether you have implemented such a software program before. The type of business you run and how big it is. Only after you have taken these factors into consideration can you then decide which the best ERP system for your business is. - 15246

About the Author: