One big advantage for corporate network managers in using ERP technology over
groupware technology is that it means that end users will only need one set of tools to
access all networked information, whether it be from outside the organization via the
internet or from internal systems via the local intranet. Consider, for example, the case
of a group of doctors who need to attend to patients in hospitals, at home and at
remote points of service such as clinics. The intranet, with internet capabilities and
possibly connected to cellular telephone technology, can access patient records from
any site and have the relevant and correct patient information at hand to treat those
patients (Cronin, 1997).