How to use Java in ERP software?

[SoonAnn Lim]

Can somebody enlight on this question. What can we do with ERP software by using Java? When talking about developing or maintaining ERP system, is there any direct relationship with Java or other programming language? Does it mean we may use some
middleware softwares to develop application for ERP in a programming language? Thanks a lot.

[Cindy Glass]

What is ERP??

[SoonAnn Lim]

ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning) is a generic term in e commerce. Software application from PeopleSoft, (SAP), Ariba etc. are used to facilitate the management of customer relationship, business processes and other supplementary business operations in ERP. I am curious what is the direct relationship between Java and these application. Is this relationship similar to the relationship between Java and Standard databases where you can write java program to manipulate data in database? Can we do the same thing in ERP system?

[Mark Herschberg]

You're in luck. Check out the JCA (Java Connector Architecture). This is a generic Java interface to ERP systems, kind of like JDBC, but for ERP. The Sun series book on this should be coming out soon.
--Mark