Internal Mobile Applications : Information integration with ERP systems

Abstract: The evolvement of technology within the business world has transformed both organizations and people involved. As the business world is rapidly changing it requires organizations to adapt to new trends to be able to compete and to gain competitive advantage. The widely developed and used mobile business-to-customer applications have generated the realization that the technology can be used by organizations for their mobile employees to gain competitive advantage. Therefore, we have investigated the functionality of information integration between mobile applications and ERP systems for mobile employees, and the benefits and challenges it has. The research is an exploratory investigation about how the new trend within mobility is to be seen within the business world. With the use of an inductive and qualitative research approach, we started with no previous theories to get an understanding of the subject. In the use of mobile business-to-employee applications, the most important information integration is the one between ERP systems and mobile applications since it is the organizational information that is needed for the mobile workers. The result of the research is that it is more common with a single, oneway integration in terms of either input or output between ERP systems and mobile applications. The more advanced two-way integration exists and is increasing in the area of internal use of mobile applications for organizations. Additionally, there are a lot of benefits to gain from when working with mobile applications for organizations, for example to increase the productivity of mobile employees. There are also challenges that need to be discussed before deciding to invest in enterprise mobility, for example security aspects.