ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. ERP is a way to integrate the data and processes of an organization into one single system. Usually ERP systems will have many components including hardware and software, in order to achieve integration, most ERP systems use a unified database to store data for various functions found throughout the organization.

ERP systems software is software which provides ERP to a company. ERP systems software must provide an organization with functionality for two or more systems. This helps the organization to subdivide all the functions under various modules and then integrate which helps in clearly specifying the functions under each head. Therefore ERP systems software covers several functions which help in accounting, payroll, distribution, marketing, CRM, inventory, finance, human resource etc. These functions are integrated into one unified database.

 Enterprise software helps in solving an enterprise problem. They help in organizing business process and IT processes. Free enterprise software is available as freeware or shareware. Free enterprise software suites include tools which are required for the implementation the ERP software. They may not provide you with all the functions which are available in software which are purchased but definitely provides you with all the basic functionalities which are required for a company to run after implementing the software.