Enterprise technology serves as the foundation for most organizations. It is the technology that enables businesses to expand, scale, and deliver their products or services, ensuring their long-term success. However, the numerous categories of enterprise technology can be complex and challenging to comprehend. This article aims to elucidate the major categories of enterprise technology.
Enterprise Software
Enterprise technology can be classified into several categories. The first is enterprise software, which encompasses the applications vital for running a business. Often, organizations utilize Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which integrate end-to-end business processes throughout an enterprise. Notable ERP and enterprise technology vendors include SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft. However, enterprise software extends beyond just ERP systems.
There are Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, Human Resources technologies, business intelligence applications, and Supply Chain Management software, among others. Each of these systems focuses on particular functions within an organization. This broad category, known as enterprise software, predominantly consists of commercial off-the-shelf technologies that can be configured and deployed according to an organization’s unique requirements and processes.
While numerous enterprise software systems exist in the market, a few prominent ones have been highlighted.
Technical Infrastructure
Enterprise systems and applications necessitate technical infrastructure for hosting. The technology infrastructure category serves this purpose. Organizations may opt for a physical infrastructure, comprising servers and computers for on-premise hosting. In contrast, many organizations are transitioning to a cloud infrastructure, leveraging capabilities for deploying cloud solutions. Beyond this core infrastructure, mobile solutions have become pivotal, offering access via mobile devices instead of conventional computers. Furthermore, the IT organization, although not a direct technology component, is crucial. An IT department is needed to manage the infrastructure and enable efficient deployment of enterprise technologies. Hence, infrastructure is a primary segment of enterprise technology.
Custom Software
Beyond commercial off-the-shelf software, there’s custom software. While many organizations benefit from widely-used software, some require custom solutions tailored to their specific needs, offering them a competitive advantage. Some organizations rely exclusively on custom solutions due to unique industry demands or business models. Even those utilizing standard enterprise systems might require custom software for specific organizational niches. It’s crucial to consider both off-the-shelf technologies and potential custom-developed software for holistic enterprise technology solutions.
Cyber Security
Cybersecurity stands as a vital category of enterprise technology, especially in the light of rising cyber attacks in the 2020s. Cybersecurity has two pivotal layers: protection against external hackers and internal risks. As technology moves to the cloud, it’s imperative to fortify against potential external threats. Simultaneously, it’s essential to ensure employees follow stringent security protocols to prevent accidental data leaks or mismanagement. A robust cybersecurity strategy is indispensable in any enterprise technology roadmap.
Data and Analytics
Data and analytics form a significant layer of enterprise technology. While enterprise applications facilitate workflow automation, the captured data’s value is realized through analytics. This category emphasizes the accuracy of data in enterprise technologies and its meaningful interpretation. Proper management entails cleaning up “dirty” data accrued over time and leveraging business intelligence, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for actionable insights. Hence, data and analytics are foundational in enterprise technology considerations.
Emerging Technologies
Emerging technologies, applicable to enterprise scenarios, are evolving rapidly. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are now integral to enterprise systems, custom software, and other tech varieties. These can either function as standalone technologies or as components within larger systems. Additionally, blockchain and the Internet of Things represent more emergent technologies. It’s essential to stay updated with these trends and integrate them into an enterprise technology roadmap, ensuring the organization remains at the technological forefront.
I would enjoy brainstorming ideas with you if you are looking to strategize an upcoming transformation or are looking at selecting an ERP system, so please feel free to contact me at eric.kimberling@thirdstage-consulting.com. I am happy to be a sounding board as you continue your digital transformation journey.
Eric is recognized globally as a leading voice in digital transformation and ERP strategy. Over the past two decades, he has helped hundreds of organizations – including Nucor Steel, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Kodak, Coors, Boeing, and Duke Energy – define their technology roadmaps, modernize complex operations, and deliver real business value from large-scale transformation initiatives.
As Founder and CEO of Third Stage Consulting, Eric leads an independent, technology-agnostic advisory firm focused on helping clients navigate the shift from traditional ERP to more flexible, AI-enabled Digital Enterprise Operations (DEO) models. His work spans ERP selection, implementation quality assurance, organizational change, and operating model design across a wide range of industries and geographies.
Eric is also a prolific thought leader, known for his pragmatic takes on AI, cloud, and enterprise software trends, as well as his firm’s benchmark research and frameworks for de-risking transformation. He is dedicated to helping executive teams cut through vendor hype, make confident investment decisions, and successfully reach the “third stage” of their digital evolution.
