Templates-instruments for standardizing ERP systems

Today's large companies face significant challenges in the integration of differently configured ERPsystems which have evolved within the last decade. These systems impede the flow of informationalong the value chain which is vital for supply chain management and holistic controlling processes.They also create implementation inefficiencies since learning and scale effects are not takenadvantage of. Therefore, establishing standards for the harmonization of independent and distributedsystems would have a profound positive competitive impact. This article describes the TemplateHandbook, a standardization approach which was developed and implemented in a project with amultinational company, the Robert Bosch Group. ERP templates establish interoperability byidentically configuring individual ERP systems within a company. They are enablers for the automaticexchange of information between ERP systems and the multiplication of know-how obtained frommultiple ERP implementations. A vital component for the development and the roll-out of the templateswas the method which was elaborated in the project.