The enterprise resource planning industry is rapidly evolving, with more competition and concepts than ever before. To help ERP professionals and the organisations that can benefit from ERP implementation stay ahead of the game, we’re taking a look at the emerging trends that you should look out for in 2019.

Companies must broaden their view of enterprise technology

The way ERP technology is implemented is changing, and organisations are more likely to find success by broadening their view of these implementations. Instead of simply viewing ERP as a way of automating back-office functions or streamlining inefficient business processes, technologically innovative organisations will be more likely to find success – essentially all-over digital transformations, as opposed to traditional, ‘old-school’ implementations, are the way to go in 2019.

Businesses must embrace multiple systems for different functions

The proliferation of technology options and integration tools in today’s market means that organisations should no longer assume that one single vendor or software solution can provide all the breakthrough capabilities needed for the future. The value of a multiple-tier approach shouldn’t be ignored, as this could be the key to business success.

Cloud ERP could become the go-to

As more software vendors and ERP systems invest money into cloud products, we expect to see increasing numbers of organisations adopting this approach. That’s not to say that on-premise ERP will become obsolete, but it’s likely that 2019 will see a rise in the number of companies opting for Cloud ERP technologies.

Big Data, AI and Data Visualisation will alter ERP systems

The ERP giants that have traditionally dominated the industry could face competition from new disruptors in 2019. Big Data, AI and Data Visualisation top the list of new technologies that have the potential to alter the way that ERP systems are used. Enterprises who are looking to upgrade or migrate their systems in 2019 should pay attention to how their prospects handle these new trends – as these technologies continue to evolve and threaten to take over the industry, embracing them is key.

IoT is here to stay

As more devices and products become connected to the internet, more data can automatically be funnelled into the ERP system. These trends will offer organisations better oversight across areas such as supply chain, shipping partners and appliance performance – in addition to providing more data for overall decision making. Harnessing this data could be hugely beneficial across multiple industries – from health care sensors that inform electronic medical records managements to robotic sensors on factory floors, and even to data monitoring devices in delivery trucks that channel information back to fleet management software, IoT devices are becoming indispensable to competitive operation.

Ultimately, today’s ERP market is in significant flux and the evolvement of technology will play a big role in shaping the ERP industry of the future. The increase in the sheer number of technology options and the impact this can have for businesses is greater than it has ever been, and effectively navigating the digitalisation of ERP software selection, implementation and management will be key for business success.