Preparing for ERP Implementation : Case: Enersize Oy

This thesis studied enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and ERP implementation projects. The thesis is comprised of a theoretical part and a case study. The case study concentrates on the initial stages of an ERP implementation project in a Finnish start-up company Enersize Oy. The purpose of this thesis is to provide information on ERP systems and ERP implementation projects. The case study provides a practical aspect on an ERP implementation project in a small company. This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. The primary source of information for the theoretical part was a thorough search through the extensive literature on the subject. The main methods used for obtaining information in the case study research were observing the work at the case company and conducting qualitative interviews on Enersize Personnel. ERP systems are getting more and more important for modern companies as the competition is fierce on many sectors and concentration on core competencies is leading to wide partner networks. In this kind of business environment, managing business information is very important for companies’ competitiveness. By using ERP systems companies can manage and utilize information efficiently. For the aforementioned reasons ERP implementations are getting more common also among small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and many ERP vendors are now providing ERP systems that are developed for SMEs needs. In the case study, the ERP requirements of the case company were defined and an ERP system that fills those requirements was proposed for implementation. Also other tasks related to initial stages of an ERP implementation project were carried out and recorded