TITLE:
Assessing the Business Value and Critical Success Factors of Cloud ERP Systems: A Meta-Analysis
AUTHORS:
Mark Hwang
KEYWORDS:
Cloud ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning, Critical Success Factors, Meta-Analysis, Cloud Computing, ERP Implementation, Organizational Performance, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Information Systems
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.14 No.6,
October
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: Cloud enterprise resource planning (CERP) systems are frequently touted for their scalability, flexibility, operational efficiency, and organizational performance, yet empirical evidence on their realized business value remains inconsistent. This study synthesizes quantitative evidence on two questions: whether CERP implementation produces measurable organizational benefits and which critical success factors (CSFs) are most strongly associated with CERP success. This meta-analysis examined 65 CSF effect sizes clustered within 10 independent primary studies and 12 success-outcome effect sizes clustered within 8 independent primary studies. Results show that CSFs are positively associated with CERP success and that CERP success is positively associated with organizational outcomes, although substantial heterogeneity indicates that the magnitude of these relationships can vary across constructs, outcome types, and study contexts. Moderator analyses based on CSF categories, outcome type, country development status, SME focus, and COVID-era timing reveal exploratory patterns, but the differences are not statistically significant. For example, outcome-category results suggest larger mean effects for organizational-effectiveness and user/service benefits than for financial/market outcomes, but these comparisons remain exploratory. Among the CSFs tested, switching benefits, compatibility, vendor support, top management support, and relative advantage are among the stronger descriptive antecedents, whereas switching costs show a small negative association. The implication is that measurable business value from CERP depends on the implementation context, perceived advantages of the system, organizational and vendor support, and how success is measured.