Many companies have implemented ERP systems like SAP, Peoplesoft, etc. In multinationals few groups have installed identical systems in all countries which would allow to centralize all implementations on one server. Many big groups (in Europe)are now starting projects to ‘harmonize’ systems. These projects cost loads of money, real (operating and maintenance) benefits are low compared to investment AND will make the multinational completely dependent on one ERP vendor. Is this the right strategy or is the future of low cost – effective IT not in the management of ‘heterogeneous systems’ and thus in the creation of message broking systems. Will the standardisation of business languages (topic XML) not automatically lead to more communicative systems and thus resolve the problem of not adhering to a standard ? Of course, heterogenous systems are more difficult to manage, but is this not what we are paid for ?