It is looking like a good year for enterprise resource planning (ERP), for both vendors and business users. Technology is advancing rapidly, and increasing numbers of companies are taking the time to upgrade in the new year. As enterprise resource planning systems become more flexible and varied we can expect the demand to keep rising. While IT leaders might not be able to see into the future to determine precisely which system to license or which upgrades to make, they can follow current trends to aid decision making. Here is what 2015 is bringing to ERP:

Hybrid cloud: Chris Wolf, VMware's CTO of the Americas told CIO, "[We] saw a spike in multi-cloud strategies in 2014, and that will continue into 2015. CIOs will continue to seek out the flexibility that [hybrid clouds offer]. And senior IT decision makers will invest in hybrid cloud architectures to future-proof their applications and services."

The advantages of the cloud are numerous: It allows for higher levels of service and faster execution at lower costs. Experts predict that most businesses will choose to adopt a hybrid cloud system, mixing off-premise and on-premise modules.

Subscription pricing: Competitive pressures are ever increasing, causing a shift in price point. Trends point to ERP becoming priced on a per-use and/or per-year basis, as opposed to traditional lump sum licensing. This price model is more scalable and predictable. Look for it to be available in end-user-centric applications, as well as data center management and other business management software and services. 

Deeper integration: ERP will become more versatile and offer greater degrees of integration with procurement, HR and customer service software. SAP recently made a number of strategic acquisitions that will help customers expand their ERP systems.

Looking for more information about current ERP trends? Contact Accent Software, where we can help you find top-of-the-line systems that will take your business to the next level.