| Enterprise Software is software that solves an | | | | employees of the same organization. It can also be |
| enterprise problem (rather than a departmental | | | | any software application hosted on a server which |
| problem) and usually enterprise software is written | | | | simultaneously provides services to a large number of |
| using Enterprise Software Architecture. Due to the | | | | users, typically over a computer network. This definition |
| cost of building what is often proprietary software only | | | | contrasts the more common single-user software |
| large organizations attempt to build software that | | | | applications which run on the user's own local |
| models the entire business enterprise and is the core | | | | computer, and serve only one user at a time. |
| system of governing the enterprise and the core of | | | | Enterprise software developers |
| business communications within the enterprise. | | | | Major players in the field include SAP, Microsoft, Altair |
| As many business enterprises have similar | | | | Engineering and Oracle Corporation but there are |
| departments and systems, enterprise software is | | | | thousands of competing vendors. |
| often available as a suite of programs that have | | | | While not a single company, the open source |
| attached development tools to modify the common | | | | movement is now seriously moving into the enterprise |
| programs for the specific enterprise. Mostly these | | | | software market, particularly within the operating |
| development tools are complex programming tools | | | | system and database sectors. While most open |
| that require specialist capabilities. Thus, one often sees | | | | source software is available freely for use and |
| in job advertisements that a programmer is required to | | | | development, some companies have been built to |
| have specific knowledge of a particular set of tools, | | | | provide enterprise with open source software free of |
| such as ". . . must be an SAP developer" etc. | | | | charge but provide a maintenance service, to add to |
| Types of enterprise software | | | | the software, modify it for the enterprise and to |
| Until recently all enterprise software was implemented | | | | ensure that the software continues to be updated |
| by a solutioning company within the customer's | | | | should bugs and other fixes be required. |
| business offices, or within a data center specifically | | | | Enterprise-level application |
| built for that enterprise. However, recently a new | | | | Enterprise level software is software which provides |
| model of distribution of enterprise software has begun | | | | business logic support functionality for an organization, |
| competing with in-house software. This new model is | | | | typically in commercial organizations, which aims to |
| based on a concept named as on-demand software, | | | | improve the organization's productivity and efficiency. |
| or Software as a Service. Essentially the on-demand | | | | Services provided by enterprise software are typically |
| model is made possible through the widespread | | | | business-oriented tools such as online shopping and |
| distribution of broadband access to the Internet; | | | | online payment processing, interactive product |
| Software as a Service providers install a series of | | | | catalogue, automated billing systems, etc. |
| servers of their own and give a customer company | | | | Criticisms |
| access to the software via the Internet. | | | | The word enterprise can have various connotations. |
| Enterprise software is often categorized by the | | | | Sometimes the term is used merely as a synonym for |
| business function that it automates - such as | | | | organization, whether it be very large (e.g., a |
| accounting software or sales force automation | | | | corporation with thousands of employees), very small |
| software. It also varies by industry verticals due to | | | | (a sole proprietorship), or an intermediate size. Often |
| common business processes within a specific industry. | | | | the term is used only to refer to very large |
| There are enterprise systems devised for health care, | | | | organizations. |
| for example, or for manufacturing enterprises. | | | | Some enterprise software vendors using the latter |
| Application software | | | | definition develop highly complex products that are |
| Enterprise application software is application software | | | | often overkill for smaller organizations, and the |
| that performs business functions such as accounting, | | | | application of these can be a very frustrating task. |
| production scheduling, customer information tracking, | | | | Thus, sometimes "enterprise" might be used |
| bank account maintenance, and the like. It is almost | | | | sarcastically to mean overly complex software. |
| always hosted on servers, and is used by multiple | | | | |