Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are undergoing a reinvention. After years of stasis the migration from mega systems to new platforms has begun, and it brings innovations and new technology to the forefront.

For a time, technological innovation was put to one side. On-premise solutions were booming and ERP vendors had their hands full developing platform tools and fixing critical technical issues. Today, the market has changed. Consumer demand for modern tech and off-premise solutions has increased and vendors have taken note, choosing to adopt capabilities such as cloud computing in their new offerings.

Here are three areas that are currently experiencing growth:

Social collaboration: Enterprise social networking is coming to ERP. Offered as an add-on or as a native capability, this function allows team members internally and externally, to stay connected. Collaboration is essential in a number of industries, such as architecture, construction and education. For manufacturing, product design, procurement and demand planning become much simpler with the availability of social networking.

Internet of Things (IoT): The Internet of Things is not a new concept, but it's use is becoming a reality as other technologies evolve. Mobility, GPS, radio frequency identification (RFID), sensor technology, e-inks and other new materials allow for a greater application of IoT throughout a company. A few examples of uses include monitoring and controlling energy consumption in buildings, remotely monitoring work sites such as construction areas for safety, and optimizing transportation and service management by tracking assets on the move by using smart asset management technology.

Geospatial context awareness: The days of simple GPS technology are in the past. Instead of only knowing the location of workers or items businesses can now use geospatial context awareness to find out real-time data about the environment, such as weather, traffic and geopolitical conditions. For manufacturing companies this context is important for efficient operations involving people and processes, and can also reveal new areas that need improvement.

Technology is always evolving and ERP solutions will follow, updating and upgrading as new and innovative capabilities come to light. At Accent Software we are committed to providing the most advanced business management software available. For more information about ERP, such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV, do not hesitate to contact us.