ERP and application integration : Exploratory survey

During the 1990s, companies focused on the adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to solve integration problems. However, ERP systems automate core business activities without solving underlying business structures and processes. As a result a number of disparate applications often coexist with ERP systems. To better understand ERP and application integration (AI) problems, this paper proposes to identify, analyse and present the problems of ERP systems, as well as examining new approaches for AI. In doing so, a multi‐choice questionnaire has been designed, and was distributed to ERP specialists over the Internet. Responses show that ERP systems amplified the need for integration, as existing systems have to be incorporated with ERP applications. AI securely incorporates functionality from disparate applications, and has shown to lead to the development of new strategic business solutions for enterprises. The results of the research confirm AI as a new means of system integration that adds value by placing business logic in the applications network, thus creating a more dynamic information systems infrastructure.