Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Blockchain Technology Adoption in ERP Implementation Methodology

The aim of the paper is to present the new factors of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning system) implementation related to the usage of cloud-based and blockchain information technology and to discover potential possibilities of using cloud computing, big data, and blockchain technologies in the methodology of ERP implementation. The article covers the characteristics of the current implementation methodologies and also discusses how these technologies can be adopted in the implementation process. During the study, a literature review was carried out and survey-based interviews with project managers were performed. Previous studies examined in the literature review have some limitations. Most of them are focused on ERP performance in the cloud or measure success factors of ERP implementation. A research gap exists regarding the impact of technologies in the implementation process and the results of this process. The research shed some light on cloud computing and blockchain in ERP implementation. The conclusions are as follows: (1) Some methods of sustainable methods of ERP implementation with the use of cloud technologies, blockchain, and big data have been examined in research studies, but there is still a lack of publications with in-depth analyses of the impact of blockchain on ERP implementation success. (2) The practitioners recommended the new technologies based on cloud computing and big data in the process of ERP implementation, and more knowledge about blockchain would have a positive impact on the success of sustainable ERP implementation as well as on the willingness to adopt the new technologies.

Overcoming the Challenges of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

The study presents the results of a comprehensive review conducted between 2005-2020 to identify Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) challenges, discover the divisions in which these challenges can be clustered, and provide general strategies to resolve these challenges. The study also found 25 categories that can be classified into ERP challenges. 65 ERP challenges were identified based on the reviewed literature, of which 18 were not provided with adequate solutions as to how to resolve them, and the related solutions as mentioned in the reviewed literature are presented in-depth. The result will help both academics and practitioners involved with how to resolve ERP system challenges.

An IoT business model for public sector retail oil outlets

Purpose

The fuel retailing landscape in India is undergoing a structural shift with the reforms undertaken by the government that would help the private and foreign firms to enter this market. India is poised to become the world's largest growth market for energy by the mid-2020s. IoT has become an integral digital technology for the fuel retailers in the retail oil outlet (ROO) ecosystem. The purpose of this paper is to develop an Internet of Things (IoT) business model for the Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs') ROOs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using literature review along with a survey among 660 respondents led to 402 valid observations, and the variables that contributed to IoT adoption at the OMCs' ROOs were identified. Using the BMC tool (Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2009), the relative importance of the variables within each building block was established. The means of all the variables were measured against the average of all the variables, and significant differences were searched for in each block. The notable differences of the means along with significant high and low means were highlighted.

Findings

This paper depicts empirical research that led to a framework of an IoT business model for Indian public sector ROOs. It also represents the usefulness of the Technology-Organization-Environment framework at the OMCs ROOs and extends the literature by incorporating “data security” to the existent framework of technology, organization and environment within the IoT ecosystem.

Research limitations/implications

The outcome of the research should be analysed in the Indian context as all the respondents were from India. The study was conducted for the ROOs of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and excluded their downstream operations. The dispensers in the OMCs vary along with their marketing strategies in the retail segments. The IoT business model can be customized for a particular OMC, which is scope of further research.

Practical implications

The study has practical implications for those global fuel retailers embarking on the IoT adoption drive at their ROOs about the need to install “data security” measures in the connected IoT environment. The study provides insights on how the OMCs can stay ahead of competition in the Indian market vis-à-vis the private sector fuel retailers by embracing the IoT business model.

Social implications

The new emerging technological business models provide competitive edge to those organizations adopting them (Barney, 1991; Clemons and Row, 1991; Feeny and Ives, 1990). The study will enable the OMCs to implement the IoT business model at their ROOs for enhancing their revenue streams and profitability and lowering of operating costs. The study provides insights on how the OMCs can stay ahead of competition in the Indian market vis-à-vis the private sector fuel retailers by embracing the IoT business model.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper is that it is among the first to map the variables that contribute to IoT adoption at the OMCs' ROOs, within the building blocks of the BMC tool (Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2009), according to their importance. To retain their dominance and have a first-mover competitive advantage, this study enables the OMCs to adopt the IoT business model and transform their ROOs into Internet-connected intelligent fuel outlets.