Discussion on the development trend of ERP system in cloud computing mode

1 Implications of cloud computing

Cloud computing is a technical noun of generalization concept, its implication and extension is quite extensive. Wikipedia gives a definition of cloud computing: cloud Computing is a dynamic and scalable resource computing method that typically provides virtualization via the Internet, where users don't need to know the details of the cloud, or have expertise inside the cloud, or directly control the infrastructure. The so-called "cloud" refers to the use of a cloud in a variety of technical architecture diagrams to represent the Internet, the so-called cloud computing, is based on Internet computing. Cloud computing is not a brand new thing, and 24 years ago Sun introduced the receptacle is the Computer, and as a corporate strategy to date, compared to cloud computing, this sentence is more powerful.

Figure 1 The cloud topology map given by Wikipedia

The concept of cloud computing should be synonymous with the more image of the current technology paradigm that has been modified and developed in the original technology concept base. As a new computational form, it directly corresponds to the traditional desktop computing. The Internet only makes it easier for people to access information, but computing and processing are mostly based on local PCs. On the contrary, it is not easy to think that cloud computing is using the remote computing power to deal with the Internet, but it should be defined as facing massive data and complex computations. Former Google global vice president, China President Lee Kai-fu Kaifu has played a very figurative analogy-the bank. It's like using electricity without having to be equipped with a generator and buying it directly from a power company. Cloud computing is such a change: by Google, IBM, such as professional network companies to build computer storage, computing centers, users through a network of browsers can be very convenient access to the "cloud" as a data storage and application services center.

Although cloud computing is technically not a fully emerging product, there is still innovation, especially for individuals and small and medium sized enterprises, the gradual maturation of cloud computing has made up for many of the disadvantages of SME development. On the one hand, the existing stand-alone applications can be migrated to the cloud computing center, to serve the user data processing or computing, on the other hand, can also use the Cloud Computing Service Center open APIs to develop applications for users or enterprises to provide services.

2 The inevitability of the development of cloud computing ERP

Enterprise resource plan or enterprise resource planning referred to as ERP (Enterprise Resource calculates), proposed by Gartner Group Inc., a renowned US management consulting firm, was originally defined as an application, but quickly accepted by commercial enterprises worldwide , has now developed into one of modern enterprise management theory. Enterprise resource planning is also one of the important tools to implement enterprise process reengineering, which belongs to the company resource management system used in large manufacturing industry. The ERP system integrates information technology and advanced management thought into one, it becomes the operation mode of modern enterprise, reflects the requirement of reasonable allocation of resources and maximization of social wealth, and becomes the cornerstone of the existence and development of enterprises in the information age. The old ERP system forms a stand-alone system composed of different function modules. With the popularization of the network, the system developers in the new generation of ERP system using C/s architecture and B/s architecture, etc., make the new generation of ERP system more convenient and flexible. Although the ERP system in the continuous improvement, but the enterprise's own conflict of interest, the system is not standardized and other aspects of the adverse factors, ERP system This old model for its promotion still exist constraints. Most business managers prefer to invest in kind rather than intangible management systems. In addition, more and more free and open related products are produced, which makes business managers have doubts about the investment of Intangible asset Management system. Because the ERP system is not a simple application software, enterprises often need a period of time to modify, adapt, in order to better integrate into the day-to-day operation of the business. This time is specific to each enterprise is different length, some need 2-3 months, and some enterprises will need six months or even longer. In this period of time, ERP system and the actual interests of the enterprise conflict, business managers are inevitably more inclined to the immediate interests, care about the loss of enterprises in this period of time. Even if the enterprise can smoothly through the running-in period of ERP system, most ERP system still needs the user to carry on the installation and maintenance of ERP system. This for small enterprises, not only increased the cost of IT investment, will also make the ERP system extension blocked. ERP system developers and users of ERP system communication is insufficient. As a more common phenomenon, in the system after the sale, whether the module design to meet user requirements, software selection is suitable for the actual enterprise, such basic information on both sides difficult to get faster, more convenient response. Lack of communication, poor information caused the system to upgrade speed slowed down the development of the ERP system itself. The data security in the use of ERP system is of great potential. In the use of the process, due to technical problems, the user implementation of the ERP system hardware carrier in case of an accident, for a business will be a heavy blow. The security of the data is a problem that the enterprise should attach great importance to in any situation, and in the data backup, most enterprises can not do real-time, large-scale, off-site backup. ERP System Information Analysis, handingFlow to some extent limited. ERP system itself can provide the information reference by the software provider set up, the deep enterprise data analysis ability is limited, can not provide reliable data reference for the enterprise management, at the same time can not be open to the enterprise data, information release to provide a broad platform.

3 The changes that cloud computing brings to the ERP system

The operating mode of ERP system in cloud computing mode is different from the traditional operation mode. Figure 2 is the Jenshitu of cloud computing users and suppliers structure in the existing cloud computing model, as can be seen from the figure, the traditional ERP system provider location is in the middle of the question, is both the data Center cloud computing service provider's users, but also the ultimate ERP system users of the SaaS service provider.

In this mode, for the ERP system service provider, only pay attention to the software installation, maintenance and release of the centralized control and according to the needs of users to provide new services, and ERP end users can at any time, any place access to services, easier to share data and labor, and securely store the data in the underlying system. For the users of Cloud computing ERP, the cloud computing ERP software should be open source, can be used at any time, be expanded at any time, only pay the service fee without paying the copyright license fee. These fully comply with the definition of open source software, using the SaaS model of cloud computing software, users do not need to pay the software license fees, only to pay the server, network and other rental costs. For users, through the cloud computing ERP has further promoted the use of freedom, so that open source ERP in the Internet era has a more practical significance.

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)