The advantages of mergers for the customers and business clientele are obvious: by integrating the individual software systems and servers of the vendor companies into a homogeneous, multi-purpose on-line sharing database that unites all the functions of their applications, this enables customers instant, impartial and real-time access to product info, allowing them to choose from the multiple products offered by every vendor or provider of ERP software systems in the merger.

ERP Software Systems

Further Strategies for Market Success, Promoting Systems Integration and Enhanced Compatibility with Different Support Platforms (Part I)

In the case of Oracle, this is precisely the strategy the company decided to adopt during its evolution throughout the recent and rapidly evolving history of the IT industry and the information technology sector. By merging with PeopleSoft, and then partnering with Sun Microsystems (Sun Microsoft systems) these companies have managed to combine their servers into a single common platform to be accessed and used by their respective customer base or business clientele wishing to compare the products offered by each vendor.  

Other examples of such partnerships, which- in ultimate analysis- are beneficial especially to the merger companies’ customer base, include the collaborative technology agreement begun in 2004 between Microsoft and Sun Microsystems. Considering the year of this agreement -therefore during the first years of the existence of the ERP software industry- on a global level this was a giant step forward in the promotion of ERP software systems and related technology. Some of the most important positive elements and advantages that it brought to industry in general (and not just the IT industry) during the evolution of ERP software systems have led to various changes which impacted in a very positive way the internal structure and Modus Operandi of those companies implementing and deploying ERP software functions for their business solutions.

The introduction of these elements has also helped transform the ERP industry to a more economically viable (for small business in particular) and more globally acceptable, user-friendly form. Some of these qualities can be summarized as follows: 1) The introduction, implementation and homogeneous dissemination of ERP software products including the knowledge of ERP software systems and how they work, along with technical expertise, 2) increased visibility and transparency into a company’s internal and external affairs or market operations by all the levels and departments in the organization - and as a result of these factors also increased confidence on the part of both investors and buyers, 3) wider collaboration across every business sector from all the various industries interested in participating in an ERP consortium, partnership or merger.

Written by :

kristine H