Enterprice resource planning ERP briefly describes the entrepreneurial role in a company on how to use existing resources (capital, operating funds or staff) as efficiently as possible. 

In short, ERP software enables the enterprise an overview of its operations, customers, suppliers, to preserve sales and earnings and on the other hand it serves as a central information point of intersection and results in time saving. 

The software is used in the ideal case not only for billing and management of personal data but provides fast, clear and detailed information about the current state of development of sales, earnings and more. The entrepreneurs themselves can so keep track of of their company and are not necessarily dependant on the information from the monthly or quarterly accounting reports. 

ERP systems should describe mostly all business processes. A continuous integration and a shift away from isolated solutions leads to a system in which enterprise resources can be managed. 

Typical functional areas of ERP software are:

• Materials Management (procurement, storage, scheduling, assessment),
• Production,
• Finance and accounting,
• Controlling,
• Human ressources,
• Research and development,
• Sales and Marketing,
• Master data management.

The size of the company often determines the requirements for the above mentioned steps.