Groundbreaking Research on ERP vs Best-of-Breed Supply Chain Software Finds Flawed Corporate Decisions Processes, Users Looking for Improvements from Both Types of Vendors

Detailed research with nearly 200 companies shows on the critical topic of ERP versus "best-of-breed" supply chain software applications (both planning and execution areas) shows users rate best-of-breed solutions substantially higher in most dimensions, while internal politics and lack of real facts hamper internal decision processes. This is the most comprehensive research to date on the important topic. The reports include detailed survey data, analysis and synthesis of this data, and recommends an improved framework for decision-making.

Dayton, OH (PRWEB) February 24, 2005

With many companies struggling with the issue of selecting ERP or best-of-breed technology vendors, on-line publisher SupplyChainDigest™ announced today the release of two major research reports that provide the most comprehensive look to date at this critical issue. The reports, based on in-depth surveys with 160 leading companies and dozens of one-on-one interviews with corporate decision-makers and other thought leaders, focus separately on Supply Chain Planning and Supply Chain Execution software areas.

Perhaps no other issue is as important right now to both end user companies and supply chain technology providers as the ERP versus best-of-breed wars. SupplyChainDigest’s research reports identify in detail how companies rate ERP versus best-of-breed solutions across both planning and execution, identify the challenges and myths companies face when making this decision, and provide an integrated framework for effectively managing the process.

Some of the key findings of the research include:

-- By a fairly substantial margin, respondents did rate best-of-breed applications substantially higher than ERP in most functional and value-related categories.

-- Many companies are using fundamentally flawed decisions processes, rife with internal politics and often absent clear facts.

-- There are exceptions. Some companies, especially those with supply chain/operational ownership of the system decision and a focus on business objectives, have been able to move beyond the politics and make highly informed decisions.

-- The “integration” issue for best-of-breed is overrated in many cases.

-- Users want both best-of-breed and ERP providers to improve. They want best-of-breed vendors to bring more knowledge about differences with ERP and how those differences really translate into value, while they want ERP providers to bring a lot more supply chain expertise to the table.

Detail on these findings, the complete survey results, and SupplyChainDigest’s decision framework for making the ERP versus best-of-breed decision are all found in the two reports. Both are available at no charge to current or new subscribers to SupplyChainDigest.

They can be accessed at http://www.scdigest.com.

Note to editors: SupplyChainDigest president Dan Gilmore, lead author of the reports, has detailed and unique insight into this critical question of ERP versus best-of-breed. He is available for interviews to summarize the study findings and his observations.

About SupplyChainDigest

SupplyChainDigest™ is the industry’s premier interactive knowledge source, providing timely, relevant, in-context information. Reaching tens of thousands of supply chain and logistics decision-makers each week, our flagship publications - SupplyChainDigest and SupplyChainDigest – Logistics Edition, and web site (http://www.scdigest.com) deliver news, opinions and information to help end users improve supply chain processes and find technology solutions.

For more information, contact SupplyChainDigest at:

937-885-3253

http://www.scdigest.com
email: info@scdigest.com

Contact Information

Dan Gilmore

937-671-6886

dgilmore@scdigest.com

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