ERP Software

ERP Software, Boston

As one of the oldest cities in America and one of cities most experienced with ERP software, Boston, MA has a deeply rooted background in ERP systems and a strong software and technology oriented culture. Beyond just ERP software, Boston has borne witness to every major evolution in the ongoing relationship between business and computer technology. This is the home of many colleges and technical education programs with world-renowned computer engineering programs, and chances are, if you’re a Boston business in search of employees with ERP implementation experience, you won’t have far to look. 

During the early 1990s and the first appearance of the predecessors of modern ERP software, Boston manufacturing firms were among the boldest adopters. These early implementations and the lessons learned from their successes and failures paved the way for later and more advanced integrated systems that quickly gained popularity among a wide variety of businesses unrelated to manufacturing. As the next few years led to advances in ERP software, Boston firms were still at the forefront of interest in CRM systems and other business tools like accounting, human resources and payroll applications. During the approach of the millennium, most tech-savvy Boston firms replaced their legacy software systems with integrated ERP platforms and were providing their departments with shared server access and shared databases long before January of 2000.

But now that most of the large enterprise level organizations in the Boston area have platforms installed, including universities, government organizations and private companies, the ERP focus in this historic city has shifted to smaller businesses. Once considered too small to be of interest to large vendors and ERP providers, small Boston firms and startups are starting to find ERP solutions moving within their reach. Vendors are now courting small firms in an effort to compete for available market share at that level, and in addition to other providers, their competition includes small ERP developers who are increasingly able to provide industry specific solutions at a fraction of their cost.

SAP and Microsoft Dynamics GP must compete with small vendors who appeal to small companies in construction, apparel, food production, pharmaceuticals and other Boston businesses.  In addition, they have to stay ahead (or partner with) hosting solutions that can allow these small firms to sidestep the cost of owning and maintaining their own complete ERP server infrastructures. These pressures may tighten the race for SAP and Microsoft, but they certainly open up new ERP access and level the playing field for small businesses. The outcome will most likely be promising for these firms, who will hopefully be able to watch revenues increase and costs go down across the board as their low cost ERP solutions begin to provide returns.

Written by :

tracey boxer