INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT MODULES WITHIN ERP SYSTEMS – OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The integration of sustainability management into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is gaining prominence as companies align operations with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. With increasing regulatory pressure and stakeholder expectations, organisations are expected to embed ESG considerations into core systems – not as separate reporting tools, but as integrated elements of digital infrastructure. This shift positions ERP systems at the heart of tracking and managing sustainability data across functions like supply chain, procurement, and logistics. Despite its growing relevance, the practical implementation of sustainability modules in ERP systems remains under-explored. Key questions relate to organisational readiness, technical and data challenges, and effective change management. This thesis addresses these gaps by investigating how sustainability functionalities can be integrated into ERP systems and the conditions influencing their success. A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with experts in ERP, digital strategy, and sustainability from a major consulting company in Poland. The data analysis follows the Gioia methodology, which supports building of knowledge through structured categorisation of concepts, themes, and theoretical dimensions. The main outcome is a process-oriented framework outlining implementation steps, challenges, and enabling practices. This offers practical guidance for ERP vendors, consultants, and decision-makers preparing to integrate ESG capabilities. The thesis contributes to the field of sustainable digital transformation by linking organisational structures with evolving regulatory and environmental demands.