Integrated, uniform, relevant, and up-to-date information is essential for the existence of an organization. It empowers the right person to make decisions at the right time. This is only possible when the entire organization shares the same information and views it from the same perspective.
ERP brings together people who share work/tasks within the same organization or in their interactions with suppliers and customers Enterprises have to ensure a smoother flow of information at all levels and between all parts of their organization; to access up-to-date information. Workflow integrates business processes. Some of the tangible benefits reported by industry are (Garg Vinod Kumar and Venkitakrishnan N.K., 1999B, Page 11-12) :
- Reduction of lead time by 60 percent.
- 99 percent on-time shipments.
- Doubled business.
- The increase of inventory turns to over 30 percent.
- Cycle time cut to 80 percent.
- WIP reduced to 70 percent.