A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ERP IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES IN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY: INTEGRATION CHALLENGES, SUCCESS FACTORS, AND DIGITAL MATURITY MODELS

Abstract

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have emerged as critical enablers of operational excellence and strategic competitiveness in the garment industry, which is marked by intricate supply chain structures, high product customization, and rapid demand fluctuations. This systematic review explores ERP implementation strategies, challenges, and outcomes by synthesizing the findings of 87 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2003 and 2024. Employing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology, the study ensures a structured, transparent, and comprehensive review process that encompasses both empirical and conceptual perspectives. The analysis is organized around key thematic dimensions including integration challenges, critical success factors (CSFs), digital maturity, infrastructure and vendor limitations, customization versus standardization trade-offs, and the underutilization of post-implementation assessments. The review reveals that legacy IT systems, fragmented data structures, and process misalignment are persistent barriers that significantly undermine ERP integration in garment firms, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in resource-constrained settings. Organizational resistance—fueled by inadequate change management, lack of stakeholder engagement, and skill gaps—continues to be a central inhibitor to system adoption and effective utilization. In contrast, firms with higher digital maturity, robust infrastructure, and proactive leadership demonstrate greater ERP readiness, smoother implementation processes, and improved operational coherence. Despite the known benefits of ERP systems, the review identifies critical research gaps including a dearth of longitudinal and post-deployment evaluations, minimal attention to sustainability-oriented ERP functionalities, and limited adoption of hybrid theoretical models that can capture the complexity of ERP dynamics in diverse organizational contexts. Moreover, regional disparities in implementation practices and a lack of sector-specific digital maturity assessment tools suggest the need for more contextualized research and tailored ERP frameworks. By consolidating fragmented insights and comparing cross-regional and firm-size differences, this review provides a detailed knowledge base that supports informed decision-making for ERP practitioners, garment industry leaders, software vendors, and scholars aiming to bridge theory with practice in enterprise digital transformation.