Conceptualisation of Decentralized Blockchain-Based, Open-Source ERP Marketplaces: Disruptive Decentralized Technologies for Co-Creation

Abstract

In order to reduce the misunderstandings between the providers/implementers of the ERP software solutions and the clients, but also to achieve marketplace fairness and coopetition, we suggest that an overarching, large, but decentralized system can offer important improvements. The main goal we would like to achieve is a decentralized ERP solution, and the current blockchain technology and open-source approaches offer a substantial foundation for conceptualizing a solution. We are portraying a decentralized ERP solution which is both open source and decentralized, by using blockchain technology, and designing its marketplace, business model, functionalities, and mechanisms. The Open-Source aspect of the ERP software solution means it can be updated and maintained by independent software teams, independent implementation teams, and the clients who are many (many-to-many, not one-to-one). Within the blockchain technology, we find fit in EOS/Reef operative systems, their decentralization, their dispersion as well as possibility to use smart contracts, providing opportunities to overcome the above-mentioned burning issues. In such a decentralized system, the users will be able to use various implementation teams for the same software solution, also use various teams for software production and various for software updates. The basis for remuneration can be tokens for deliberately introduced coins. Another very important component is a dashboard on which the users will publish their needs as well as state how many tokens will be transferred to the implementer team, the cumulative number of tokens offered from many users with the same needs will be the incentive for the teams to uptake an assignment and fulfill it with best possible quality. That will maintain a high level of motivation, quality, and user service as well as a mechanism for improvement of the ERP on a continuous basis, as a very important feature of any system. When a team considers the number of tokens sufficient for their work, they will be able to complete the task and obtain the tokens, on the first-come-first-served principles. This allows decentralization and liberation of the process of acquiring, production and implementation of any software solution. The teams that would work on maintenance and improvement of the software based on user needs or its implementation would have to freeze a certain number of tokens and will be in position to uptake tasks that are in number maximum 20 times higher than their frozen tokens. The smart contract will allow distribution of the tokens to the team who has completed the task, if and only if it is done properly and with the expected quality. The teams who receive negative references for bad performance will not be able to uptake future tasks or assignments or will be excluded as teams from the decentralized systems. Such a framework, based on blockchain technology would allow more fair coopetition (collaboration and competition) and position of both providers/implementers and users.