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Smooth ERP Migration by Using Next Generation Distributed ERP Systems*

Smooth ERP Migration by Using Next Generation Distributed ERP Systems*
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Author(s): Lars Frank (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark)
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 2
Source title: Managing Worldwide Operations and Communications with Information Technology
Source Editor(s): Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A. (Information Resources Management Association, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-929-8.ch233
ISBN13: 9781599049298
EISBN13: 9781466665378

Abstract

In a distributed ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, the different local ERP systems are integrated in such a way that each local system can use the resources/stocks managed by the other local ERP systems. Businesses with branch offices may benefit greatly from such systems. In such a distributed ERP system, an E-commerce system is an ordinary sales location with or without its own stock, and, therefore, the E-commerce system is totally integrated in the distributed ERP system [3]. All the locations in a distributed ERP system have local autonomy, i.e. the locations can operate in disconnected mode. Therefore, a distributed ERP system is an excellent platform for building a mobile ERP system, where the mobile ERP system normally is without its own stock. As a mobile ERP system is a special case of a distributed system, we believe that the architecture of distributed ERP systems will be common in the future. In this paper, we will describe an additional property of distributed ERP systems as a distributed ERP system can be used to convert/migrate to a new ERP system in a smooth way. The smooth migration property is a consequence of the distributed ERP systems ability to allow different ERP systems to operate on the same stock table. That is, the distributed ERP system can use the stock file from the old ERP system while customers over time are converted to the new distributed ERP system. As this type of converting does not need to take place overnight, it may reduce the risk and peak load for manpower in the converting period.

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