ERP APPS CONNECTING DATA TOGETHER TO IMPROVE MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES Enterprise resource planning (ERP) offers a number of applications across different industries. Typically used, though not exclusively, by manufacturers, ERP solutions help companies manage and integrate areas such as planning, purchasing, inventory, sales, marketing, finance, and HR. As Investopedia explains, “Think of ERP as a central nervous system for a business.” If the ERP is the central nervous system, auxiliary systems that manage data from all parts of the organization should integrate into the ERP. Cloud ERP solutions can connect all of this data together to streamline forecasting, supply chain management, and the connections between vendors and customers. Take the manufacturing industry, for example. In Salesforce’s special report “Revolutionizing Customer Service in Manufacturing”, 72% of manufacturing teams agree that a shared, single view of the customer is very important to their overall service process. Using AppExchange apps to connect back office planning with front office sales and service teams can help achieve this vision. 14