Trends in ERP System Development: Theory and Practice

The aim of this bachelor’s thesis is to evaluate how current technological trends are being implemented in ERP systems designed for small and medium-sized enterprises on the Czech market. The theoretical part focuses on explaining the basic concepts related to enterprise information systems, ERP architecture, and especially on describing eight key technological trends — including cloud computing, the SaaS model, modularity, automation, artificial intelligence, mobile access, IoT integration, enhanced security and data protection, and two-tier ERP structures. To complement the literature review and gain a practical perspective, two parts of practical research were conducted. The first part was a questionnaire survey among ERP solution providers, examining their perception of current technological trends and the features they offer. The second part consists of a comparison of three selected ERP systems — Odoo, Dolibarr, and ABRA Flexi — based on testing their publicly available demo versions. The systems were evaluated using a standardized set of questions divided into eight thematic areas corresponding to the previously identified trends. The results revealed significant differences in the technological maturity of the individual solutions and showed that many advanced features are only available in higher, paid versions. The thesis also highlights the limitations caused by testing solely in demo versions, which reduces the accuracy and reliability of some conclusions. In conclusion, the main findings are summarized and directions for further research on ERP systems for small and medium-sized enterprises are proposed.