According to the latest CIO Market Pulse survey, “Cloud-Based Business Commerce Solutions,” an increasing number of companies running enterprise resource planning (ERP) are leveraging Cloud-based business commerce solutions to reach beyond the four walls and drive greater collaboration, transparency and efficiency.

Few systems are more efficient at managing internal data than ERP. But business happens between companies. And when it comes to managing external information and relationships, ERP falls short. To fill this gap, many organisations are turning to open platforms that can be more easily accessed and shared. According to the survey, an increasing number of companies are therefore turning to the Cloud.

“Cloud Computing solutions are being investigated by organisations to streamline process and accessibility for a variety of initiatives, including ERP,” said Bob Melk, Group Publisher, IDG Enterprise. “The research from the recent CIO Market Pulse survey highlights the benefits of transitioning components of ERP systems to the cloud, including the ability for partners to access pertinent information, which can provide enhanced external communication and cost savings.”

According to the CIO Market Pulse survey, “Cloud-Based Business Commerce Solutions,” the majority of organisations - 52% of survey respondents - are open to or aggressively pursuing cloud-based applications that can enhance their current ERP investments to enable improved collaboration and information sharing with external business partners. Half the survey respondents were based in the United States, while the other half were located in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Delivered in the Cloud, these solutions leverage a network-centric model to connect multiple business partners and automate shared businesses processes, especially purchasing and financial transactions across multiple systems. And enterprises of all sizes are using them across functions to reduce operating costs and boost productivity and profits.

“Businesses have spent the past 20 years deploying ERP and other enterprise applications to streamline processes and improve information flows within their companies,” said Tim Minahan, chief marketing officer, Ariba. “The next wave of productivity will come from extending these investments to improve process efficiencies and collaboration between companies. Cloud applications will be a key enabler of such benefits, combining a community of digitally-connected buyers and sellers in many-to-many format with multi-enterprise process automation. The Cloud enables ERP users to fuel more efficient trading relationships and collaboration – and ultimately, better commerce - across a shared community, regardless of which back-end system each party uses.”