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This paper aims to identify the role that interoperability plays in the evolution of ERP systems. In order to achieve this, first, the author identified ERP systems within interoperability frameworks. Second, the author intended to identify the initiatives in the ERP field driven by interoperability requirements from two perspectives: technological and business. This article helps us have a good understanding of the interoperability force in the ERP field, and know what ERP researchers should pay attention to nowadays.

Introduction to interoperability

Interoperability is a property of a product or system, whose interfaces are completely understood, to work with other products or systems, present or future, without any restricted access or implementation. Enterprise interoperability (EI) is a well-established area of applied research that addresses problems relating to the lack of interoperability of systems and applications in organizations, and proposes novel solutions for EI problems.

Sometimes people are easily to confuse interoperability with integration. It is said that integration is generally considered to go beyond mere interoperability to involve some degree of functional dependence. Interoperable systems can work independently. However, an integrated system will lose significant functionality if the flow of services is interrupted.

 Over the last few years, a lot of interoperability frameworks have emerged. These frameworks usually distinguish among different interoperability dimensions, such as Levels of information systems interoperability (LISI), IDEAS  interoperability framework, etc.

ERP in the interoperability proposals

It is important to clarify the role of ERP in the interoperable system. The author summarized the relationship between ERP systems and interoperability frameworks in this paper. The paper shows the location of ERP within interoperability frameworks and at interoperability levels, and the main components influencing ERP. From the perspectives of the ERP systems, interoperability is a source of new proposals for new ERP functionalities. As an application, ERP is influenced by conceptual business models, technological proposals and other applications.

The interoperability scope in ERPs

ERP systems have evolved to become broader and more inclusive systems. Over the last years, the development of ERP kept on going. There are various types of ERP systems with a focus on specific industry or sector. Besides this classical perspective of ERP systems, we are proposed to think about the interoperability perspective. According to the definition of interoperability in this article, the interoperability subject is a kind of interaction among systems. As systems, ERP participates in these interactions.