Toward sustainable ERP systems and their impact on individual performance in manufacturing SMEs: evidence from a North African developing country

Purpose Despite the acknowledged potential of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, existing literature falls short in providing a detailed analysis of the impact these systems may have on user performance. Consequently, this research undertakes a nuanced examination, probing into the dynamics of ERP system utilization. This study posits that elevating employee and organizational performance mandates a dual commitment—ensuring the inherent quality of ERP systems while concurrently fostering user satisfaction and optimizing system usage. Design/methodology/approach Survey questionnaire was used to collect data and to empirically validate the proposed model. There were total 406 respondents as users of ERP systems within the manufacturing sector in Sudan. SmartPLS SEM was used to analyze data. Findings The results confirm the hypothesized relationships underscoring the pivotal role of system usage and user satisfaction as predictive indicators of individual performance and that the quality of information and service are influential determinants not only of ERP system utilization but also of user satisfaction. Originality/value Addressing UN SDGs, this paper charts a course for comprehending and optimizing the interplay between ERP systems and performance within manufacturing firms in Republic of the Sudan and fills knowledge gap from North African region enterprises.