Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems evolved from standalone calculation and functional systems used in the 1950s-1970s to integrated enterprise-wide systems used today. Early calculation systems automated tasks like payroll and accounting on mainframe computers. Functional systems in the 1970s-1980s used mini-computers to improve individual departments but data was not shared between departments. Integrated ERP systems emerged in the 1990s to manage resources and business processes across an entire organization on a common database. ERP provides benefits like shared data, integrated applications, and forced business process reengineering, but implementations are difficult, time-consuming and expensive projects requiring outside consultants.