ERP SaaS value chain: A proposed SaaS model for manufacturing SCM networked activities

This paper aims at proposing an ERP-SaaS model systems solution for manufacturing SCM networked value systems to enable the end-customer organisation to decrease the cost of implementation, maintenance and the overall administration of the application. This applied research employed an industrial pilot case study with an OEM industrial partner. The proposed ERP-SaaS model in this paper attempts to propose industrial systems solution value-adding benefits including: low preliminary-and-anticipated ongoing costs, faster implementations and value-adding, affordable ownership cost, greater reliability, improved support, reduced IT complexity and improved business motivation. Salesforce.com is one example of such successful ERP-SaaS systems solution vendors. However, ERP systems delivered as software-as-a-service; is not yet a systems solution that has had a commercial breakthrough, specifically for supply-chain management (SCM) network. Thus, this paper will be very relevant to industries keen on achieving competitive advantage of their SCM network as well as R&D both in the industry and academia.