An ERP is a business management software that centralizes and optimizes all internal processes. But in the French vocabulary, we also find the term ERP (Integrated Management Software). So, what are the differences between ERP and ERP ? And above all, which one should you choose for your company?
ERP and ERP: two names for the same management software
The acronym ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. In French, it is translated as PGI, for Integrated Management Software.
However, this translation is not perfect. Indeed:
- The word enterprise disappears from the French term.
- Some words do not correspond to exactly the same concepts.
This is why it is more accurate to speak of equivalence between ERP and ERP than of exact translation.
ERP vs. ERP: A Historical Difference
The origin of the two terms explains this distinction:
- ERP : an older term, derived from accounting and financial management.
- ERP : evolution of MRP (Material Resource Planning) and DRP (Distribution Resource Planning), with an emphasis on resource planning (human, material, logistics, etc.).
👉 In the 80s, ERP was mainly aimed at unifying data within a single database.
👉 ERPs, on the other hand, placed more emphasis on enterprise resource planning (e.g., CRM, inventory management, accounting, HR, invoicing, etc.).
Why do we talk about ERP today?
With the rise of the Internet in the 90s, the distinction has faded. But since the 2000s, the term ERP has largely dominated:
- On Google, ERP generates more than 120 million results, compared to only 18 million for ERP.
- Searches for the word ERP are three times more frequent than those for the word ERP.
- In practice, ERP has become the international standard, while ERP is tending to disappear.
In summary: ERP = old term, ERP = modern, universal and dominant term.
How to choose the right ERP (or ERP)?
Choosing the right ERP is crucial for a company’s performance. Here are the essential criteria:
1. Choose a business ERP adapted to your sector
A business ERP (for example for health, civil security, construction, commerce or e-commerce) avoids costly adaptations.
It should cover your business processes : accounting management, invoicing, HR management, inventory management, project monitoring, CRM, etc.
2. Anticipate your future needs
An ERP must be scalable. Check:
- the frequency of updates,
- the cost of maintenance,
- the experience of the publisher,
- the quality of the support,
- the ability to innovate.
3. Define the acquisition mode
There are two options:
- ERP On-Premise (License / Acquisition): installed in-house , with maintenance contract and updates.
- SaaS ERP (Cloud / Subscription): hosted online, more flexible and scalable.
4. Focus on ergonomics and user experience
An ERP must be intuitive and easy to use. An ergonomic interface (HMI) improves employee adoption and maximizes productivity.
ERP example: eBrigade
Among the solutions available, eBrigade stands out:
- Open source ERP,
- Already adopted by more than 50,000 users,
- intuitive, complete and modular,
- suitable for SMEs, SMIs, associations, local authorities and large companies.
eBrigade centralizes all your needs: HR management, project management, inventory management, resource planning, field service management and much more.
Conclusion: ERP or ERP?
Today, the answer is clear: ERP and ERP refer to the same type of software package, but the term ERP has supplanted ERP.
Choosing an ERP adapted to your business allows you to:
- centralize all company data,
- Optimize resources,
- increase productivity,
- Improve decision-making.
