Extending ERP Systems in SMEs into Personalized E-Commerce Applications

Abstract

Personalization of E-Commerce applications is an issue that is gaining increasing importance with the advancing maturity of such systems. There is already E-Commerce software on the market offering integrated E-Shop and personalization functions. However, the available software is too time-consuming and expensive for SMEs. With this in mind we saw a need to investigate the potential for personalization from the particular angle of SMEs. This paper presents the results of a research project about personalization of E-Commerce applications run by SMEs. The project started with an empirical study about the current state of personalization in E-Commerce applications run by SMEs. The findings encouraged us to start the development of a project method for the development of standard personalization components in ERP systems. The method builds on a personalization framework which forms the basis for the requirement analysis and the consecutive extension of ERP-II systems.