transforms transactional data like sales into useful information that supports business decisions in other parts of the company, such as manufacturing, inventory, procurement, invoicing, distribution, and accounting. In addition to managing all sorts of back$-$office functions, ERP connects with supply chain and customer management applications, helping businesses share information both inside and outside the company. Thus, ERP serves as the backbone for an organization$$s information needs, as well as its e$-$business initiatives.