Implications of ERP as Service Gustaf Juell-Skielse1 and Håkan Enquist2 1 Stockholm University
[email protected] 2 School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg
[email protected] Abstract. In this paper we present implications for using and delivering Enterprise Resource Planning as services (ERP-as-a-service). The objective is to construct a framework of opportunities and challenges for users and suppliers of ERP-as-a-service. The framework is based on a combination of literature study and field study and includes approximately 80 implications. New implications, not found in literature, were identified in the field study. Examples of new implications include: more focus on IT-value; simplified phasing of implementation and improved supplier brand. For future research it is suggested that the framework is tested in a larger setting and that implications are prioritized for certain industries and types of business models. Keywords: ERP-as-a-service, Implication, Software-as-a-service, Enterprise resource planning, Service orientation, Cloud computing. Introduction Recently, service orientation has emerged as an important change driver in private and public sector organizations. Service orientation offers means to radically improve customer service, business processes and sourcing of information systems. Suppliers begin to offer information systems according to service based business models, such as Software as a Service and Cloud Computing, rather than standard application packages. Service based business models challenge conventional payment models, on-premise installations and monolithic designs of standard application packages and have vast implications for both users and suppliers of information systems. Through service based business models, suppliers can expand their potential customer base and offer more choices that enable customers to focus on core competencies and reduce initial investments in standard applications [1].