Understanding the flexibility of cloud ERP software

Abstract

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in the cloud are nowa days offered with different service models and deployment options. Depending on these models and options, the degree of flexibility varies as to what the customer gets with regard to customization requirements. Based on an empirical study of cloud ERP systems on the market, the paper focuses on the customization approaches applied by the vendors and the resulting degree of flexibility for adapting specific system elements. Our research shows that different customiza tion options, beyond parameter-based configuration, are usually incorporated into the vendors’ customization strategies. The flexibility depends to a large extent on the maturity of the system, i.e., is it a cloud-native or a cloud-enabled solution.