Survey: CFOs don't exploit ERP

Chief financial officers do not make full use of their enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, according to a new survey by IBM. The survey of 450 CFOs worldwide found that just 19 percent feel they exploit the full capabilities of their ERP systems, which are business management applications for financial duties, human resources, operations and other tasks. More than 70 percent of CFOs said information is a major asset that needs to be better managed, while only 20 percent of business managers have access to integrated enterprise data to aid in decision making, IBM said. CFOs highlighted automation and outsourcing in the survey as potential means to cut costs.

IBM is among the companies offering to take over customer tasks such as information technology operations and business functions. Other outsourcing providers include Accenture, Electronic Data Systems and Hewlett-Packard.