Enterprise Information Systems
Definition Firm-wide information systems that integrate key business processes within the firm or business processes shared by multiple firms. Enterprise systems features a set of integrated software modules and a central database that enables data to be shared by many different business processes and functional areas throughout the enterprise Enterprise systems (ES) are large-scale, integrated application-software packages that use the computational, data storage, and data transmission power of modern information technology to support business processes, information flows, reporting, and data analytics within and between complex organizations. Enterprise Information Systems provide a technology platform that enables organizations to integrate and coordinate their business processes. They provide a single system that is central to the organization and ensure that information can be shared across all functional levels and management hierarchies. Enterprise systems are invaluable in eliminating the problem of information fragmentation caused by multiple information systems in an organization, by creating a standard data structure.
A typical Enterprise Information System would be housed in one or more data centers, run enterprise software, and could include applications that typically cross organizational borders such as content management systems.
Enterprise software is built around thousands of predefined business processes that reflects best practices. Companies implementing this software must first select the functions of the system they wish to use and then map their business processes to the pre-defined business processes in the software.
Business processes supported by Enterprise systems includes; Financial and Accounting processes; including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, cash management, and forecasting, product-costing accounting, cost-center accounting, asset accounting, tax accounting, credit management and financial reporting. Human Resource Processes; including personnel administration, time accounting, payroll, personnel planning and development, benefits accounting, applicant tracking, time management, compensation, workforce planning, performance and travel expense reporting. Manufacturing and production processes, including procurement, inventory management, purchasing, shipping, production planning, production scheduling, material requirements planning, quality control, distribution, transportation execution, and plant and equipment maintenance. Sales and Marketing processes including order processing, quotations, contracts, product configuration, pricing, billing, credit checking, incentive and commission management and sales planning.
