Enterprise Resource Planning Technology Solutions Proposal

Introduction

The use of effective technology solutions for developing the information base and strengthening individual operational aspects is an urgent task for many businesses. Due to the lack of a modern technological base, the Blo-It situation demonstrates difficulties in such significant areas as customer interaction, supply chain management, financial control, and some other fields. Introducing appropriate innovative solutions can help boost the company’s revenues, which are falling due to the inability to compete with more technologically advanced market participants. This work will identify the value of implementing a relevant enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and communication tools in Blo-It to evaluate the features of these innovations and their positive impacts on individual business aspects.

ERP System

Implementing an efficient and high-tech ERP system in Blo-It is an adequate solution to optimize a number of activities in the company. The supply chain work deserves particular attention because, as Khan et al. (2020) state, an ERP system is a valuable tool in improving distribution route planning and helping eliminate errors in decision-making. Given the current Blo-It’s challenges, the organization needs an algorithm that can help it recapture the competitive advantage it has lost due to other firms’ more developed digital bases in the target market niche. Khan et al. (2020) argue that an ERP system is an adequate tool to apply because, as their study shows, such programs directly correlate with organizational performance and competitive opportunities. As a result, the company can greatly benefit from a system that employs highly accurate resource planning and analytical mechanisms, like those in cloud-based frameworks.

Cloud-Based Systems

While choosing from a wide range of relevant programs, Blo-It’s management can consider advanced ERP systems that utilize modern data processing and storage strategies. Ahn and Ahn (2020) draw attention to cloud-based ERP systems and define them as advanced algorithms, the list of which is constantly updated with new options. The authors highlight the particular value of such systems under social constraints (Ahn & Ahn, 2020). While Blo-It has been successful since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to an outdated digital base, its competitive advantage has begun to fade and sustained high momentum has been threatened. Cloud-based ERP systems allow for performing the necessary tasks remotely without losing touch with the key areas of customer-centric policy, and this fact speaks in favor of such programs (Ahn & Ahn, 2020). The price of these systems varies depending on the functionality and, as a rule, is considerable. However, since Blo-It is an organization with sufficient budget capabilities, it is not worth saving on digital tools, and relevant instruments should be adopted despite the current difficulties.

System Example

Currently, Blo-It uses the obsolete digital algorithms of the Oracle database. Not to radically change the technical infrastructure, the company’s management can pay attention to the advanced version of this program. Hayes (n.d.) describes Oracle ERP Cloud as a resource that is suitable for all types of companies and includes options for advanced control over budget, supply chains, performance metrics, and other crucial parameters. In addition, according to Acar et al. (2017), high-performance ERP systems allow for interacting with target customers quickly, which is particularly true for businesses that sell goods online. Thus, Blo-It should pay attention to advanced cloud-based ERP programs with wide functionality and high productivity characteristics.

Communication Tools

Network-Based Communication

Since the current technological base within the company does not allow Blo-It to maintain a stable interaction both between colleagues and customers, implementing appropriate communication tools is a reasonable optimization solution. For starters, relevant applications can be used to improve data sharing within the organization. Scott et al. (2021) consider internal communication as a special network-based ecosystem in which governance and participants’ behavior directly depend on the quality of interaction. Introducing advanced digital apps like Zoom, which has gained global popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a convenient and affordable way to keep all departments in constant communication. Regardless of the specifics of the problem, any issue can be discussed immediately, which reduces the time for decision-making. This, in turn, eliminates unnecessary costs, which is valuable in a competitive market and is an adequate solution on the way to strengthening the technological infrastructure.

Media Platforms as Sites for Interaction with Clients

In light of the active use of social media by people globally, Blo-It’s management should consider the appropriate platforms as sites to maintain continuous communication with customers. Apps like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook are convenient platforms that connect customers and, at the same time, segment them (Oncioiu et al., 2021). Specialized communities on these sites can help the company to promote its products effectively and offer services to target customers, thereby saving high advertising costs. As Oncioiu et al. (2021) note, modern clients are prone to online shopping, which has become natural in the age of COVID-19. Moreover, communication on media platforms may also be carried out with potential partners. The communication mechanism is convenient since it does not require any additional technological solutions to be implemented. Therefore, this way of strengthening Blo-It’s business should be one of the priorities for regaining the organization’s lost competitive positions while taking into account the principles of organizational culture.

Communication Tools and Organizational Culture

Maintaining the trust and loyalty of customers is one of the most important goals that Blo-It and other companies pursue in their business activities. Moreover, as Pang et al. (2018) argue, following ethical standards when building an employer-subordinate relationship is a prerequisite for building a high organizational culture. Implementing the aforementioned strategies to strengthen communication in the company, whether it be network-based solutions or the use of third-party platforms, should not contradict the corporate principles of market activities. Appropriate optimization solutions can only be developed if no stakeholder feels uncomfortable with the innovation. Openness and transparency are crucial aspects of dialogue, which should not be ignored to avoid loss of trust (Pang et al., 2018). Employees’ and customers’ frustration in transformations may be fraught with the leakage of qualified personnel and a decrease in demand, respectively, which is unacceptable for Blo-It in the current conditions. Thus, compliance with the principles of organizational culture is a significant aspect that determines the nature of innovations and their communication with stakeholders.

Conclusion

Blo-It’s business can be strengthened through the implementation of an efficient ERP system, functioning on the basis of modern cloud technologies and communication tools, improving interaction both within the company and with target consumers. The proposed optimization solutions can address the key gaps in the organization’s current work. The presented examples of applications and mobile platforms meet all the requirements of the business environment in which Blo-It operates. An important condition is observing the principles of organizational culture when introducing appropriate innovations to avoid violating the ethical principles of interaction with employees and clients.

References

Acar, M. F., Zaim, S., Isik, M., & Calisir, F. (2017). Relationships among ERP, supply chain orientation and operational performance: An analysis of structural equation modeling.Benchmarking: An International Journal, 24(5), 1291-1308. Web.

Ahn, B., & Ahn, H. (2020). Factors affecting intention to adopt cloud-based ERP from a comprehensive approach.Sustainability, 12(16), 6426. Web.

Hayes, K. (n.d.). The best cloud ERP software solutions. SelectHub. Web.

Khan, U., Asim, M., & Manzoor, S. (2020). Improving supply chain management of a distribution firm using ERP System.European Journal of Business and Management Research, 5(2), 1-10. Web.

Oncioiu, I., Căpușneanu, S., Topor, D. I., Tamaș, A. S., Solomon, A. G., & Dănescu, T. (2021). The fundamental power of social media interactions for building a brand and customer relations. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 16(5), 1702-1717. Web.

Pang, A., Shin, W., Lew, Z., & Walther, J. B. (2018). Building relationships through dialogic communication: Organizations, stakeholders, and computer-mediated communication.Journal of Marketing Communications, 24(1), 68-82. Web.

Scott, S., Hughes, M., & Ribeiro-Soriano, D. (2021). Towards a network-based view of effective entrepreneurial ecosystems. Review of Managerial Science, 16, 157-187. Web.