"Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are powerful software packages that enable businesses to integrate a variety of disparate functions. In particular, ERP systems can provide the foundation for a wide range of e-commerce-based processes, including web-based ordering and order tracing, inventory management, and built-to-order goods. This book examines the pros and cons of ERP systems, explains how they work, and highlights their role at the heart of e-commerce."--BOOK JACKET. 