The economic crash and slow recovery has forced companies to reinvent Business Intelligence and other tools, such as ERP software. Several cost-saving features of ERP software, like electronic documentation, came back between 2008 and 2010.

Now that the market is really on track to make a comeback, there is a heightened interest in driving sales, marketing automation systems like Customer Relationship Management and solutions for growing the top line, according to this Computing report.

There were major shifts in the global market after the financial crisis of 2008. Now, there is a clear demand for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, based on a published computing white paper, “ERP – Building on the Basics”. This survey showed that two-thirds of 150 business leaders in the United Kingdom were running some kind of ERP software.

At the enterprise level, the report states the current penetration rates are around 60 percent. This has given vendors the opportunity to explore take-up rates in the lower and upper mid-market spaces as well as making their software more customer-oriented to engage a niche market.

Of those businesses who took the initiative of applying an ERP software solution, most executed it to somewhere in between its fullest potential. This limits many of the core financial components and can alter deployment of the entire business operation feature.

Lindsey Boullin, Sage senior commercial development manager, suggested that budgetary restrictions may stop business investing. She went on to say that IT directors and managers overcome this financial hurtle by working with commercial colleagues to understand the need of the business.

IT departments are taking the initiative and working diligently to improve ERP software. Gartner (News - Alert) managing vice president, Joanne Correia, said that major software vendors expanded product portfolios, acquired companies where it was appropriate for their plans and reached deeper into emerging markets in 2010.

According to this study, IDC (News - Alert) Worldwide Semi-annual Enterprise Resource Management Applications Tracker, sectors could see an increase of sizable markets of $36 billion in 2011.

Benefits found in well-executed ERP software can be endless. Research by Computing illustrates that companies already using a quality solution offers better financial reporting while delivering increased cash flow and liquidity. This plan of attack shows a clear sign that the markets are revitalizing.

A proven track record is the safest way to demonstrate why businesses should invest. Boullin believes the value of a business can be translated into a business case for the ERP software system. If the business can show the investment will have a positive impact that outweighs the cost and possible risk, then most businesses will invest.