ERP systems effectively support a number of standard business processes. In particular, ERP systems manage end-to-end, cross-departmental processes. A cross-departmental process is one that (1) originates in one department and ends in a different department or (2) originates and ends in the same department but involves other departments. Three prominent examples of cross-departmental processes are:

• The procurement process, which originates in the warehouse department (need to buy) and ends in the accounting department (send payment).

• The fulfillment process, which originates in the sales department (customer request to buy) and ends in the accounting department (receive payment).

• The production process, which originates and ends in the warehouse department (need to produce and reception of finished goods) but involves the production department as well.