It is not clear if the use of EMP or ERP systems do in fact offer significant payoffs. Many of the about 1,700 EMPs currently online still have to prove that they are viable. Moreover, while 70 percent of all US high tech firms have subscribed to at least one exchange, only 20 percent of them have actually performed transactions online. Similarly, implementing a potentially costly ERP system might not pay off. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many firms achieve a negative return on their investment and that ERP implementations have been difficult and come with uncertain benefits . Because of the sobering reality, the old concept of value creation has regained importance and is now being applied to ERP systems and EMPs .