Identifying key trends and emerging thematic clusters in the research field of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze the scientific productions in the field of enterprise resource planning software (ERP) based on the Web of Science database, along with drawing a scientific map of this field. The research also seeks to analyze thematic clusters related to enterprise resource planning software.
Methodology: This quantitative study used the Web of Science citation database to analyze data extracted from the database. The statistical population consisted of 2531 records from the beginning of 1994 to the end of 2024 and utilized the entire population sampling method. The search was performed using relevant keywords and advanced search tools to identify all relevant articles. Data analysis was performed with VOSviewer software and included examining spatial and temporal distribution, international collaboration networks, and identifying dominant topics that help to better understand scientific developments in this field.
Findings: The findings show that among countries, China leads with 57 records, followed by the United States and India. European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France also contribute significantly to science production. Among universities, Ohio University ranks first with 78 records, Florida State University ranks second with 38 records, and National Center University ranks third with 36 records. These top three universities have produced a total of 152 papers, and American universities account for the majority of science production in this field. Of the top 10 institutions, 6 are located in the United States. Also, institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank show the presence of non-Western countries, indicating global participation in this field. Among the authors, V. Gao from China is considered the leader with 14 records, and authors such as Andrea, Legria, Werich and Worcester are closely competing in scientific writing with 10 articles each. The highest scientific production was recorded in 2013 with 158 information records.
Among the journals, the International Journal of Organizational Information Systems ranks first with 98 articles. Also, the Journal of Industrial Management and Data Systems with 65 articles and the Journal of Business Process Management with 53 articles are ranked second and third, respectively.
Analysis of the languages used in the articles shows that English, as the international language of science and research, is significantly dominant in the field of enterprise resource planning software and with 2465 records of the total articles, it indicates that most scientific research and publications in this field are conducted in English. This may be due to greater access to scientific resources, international connections and the need to publish in reputable journals. In contrast, other languages such as Portuguese, German and Spanish have a much smaller share of the total articles with 25, 12 and 11 articles respectively, indicating less research activity in these languages.
The findings showed that keywords related to ERP software were classified into 10 clusters, with the ERP software cluster having the highest degree of centrality, and the density map also shows that this keyword has the highest density. Other topics in the clusters include critical success factors, technology adoption model, ERP implementation challenges, organizational performance, process improvement, software customization, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and big data.
The findings also show that there is a broad connection between business concepts, including management, efficiency, innovation, and performance, and highlights the importance of business as the core of research in this area. Also, the strong connection between business and information technology, automation, and concepts related to small and medium-sized enterprises indicates a focus on improving performance and adapting to customer needs.
On the other hand, the findings acknowledge that there are important connections between concepts related to the implementation and success of ERP software, and a major part of the research is dedicated to the solutions and factors affecting the success of the implementation of these software. Also, ERP is used as a tool to improve coordination in the supply chain of organizations, and choosing the right system and paying attention to key factors in the success of ERP projects is of great importance.
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the ERP software field has grown significantly in recent decades and is moving towards the integration of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud systems. Analysis of scientific productions shows that topics such as supply chain management, data analysis, and integration with other management systems are among the most important trends in this field. However, a more detailed examination of the effects of new technologies on the performance of ERP systems, implementation challenges in developing countries, and integration with other management systems has not yet been fully investigated. Therefore, this study, by identifying these gaps, paves the way for future research and emphasizes that improving technology and management in the ERP field requires innovative and specialized approaches