Conclusions

The emergence of E-Business as a driving force to redefining business processes and value chains poses a challenge for traditional approach to implementing systems to support the business requirements. Upon examining the commonalities and differences between traditional ERP implementations and E-Business implementations, it becomes clear the benefits and business goals between the two are largely identical or complementary.

ERP and E-Business applications are enabling technologies, which need to be part of a company-wide strategy.

E-Business implementations will be the more successful, the better they are supported by and integrated with ERP systems and other E-Business relevant applications.

Rather than viewing them separately, companies should from the beginning make sure that both efforts are well aligned with each other. The alignment should address the levers of business process, people,technology and organization.

This should manifest itself in a project structure for E-Business implementation that includes active participation and ownership of all stakeholders, namely, suppliers, customers, service provider and integrators.