When ERP and CRM solutions began to take off in popularity, it was initially believed that having both integrated into your business at the same time would over-complicate your processes and could be harmful. Now that both of these kinds of solutions are more commonplace than ever, experts have started to realize that our initial assumptions were wrong. In fact, for many businesses having both ERP and CRM software solutions integrated is precisely what they need to succeed.
Why You Should Integrate ERP And CRM Solutions
The main thing that is important about implementing both ERP and CRM software solutions is that you make sure the systems are integrated with each other. If they aren’t, then that is when your business will experience over-complicated processes. As long as you implement ERP and CRM solutions together as a unified business process, you won’t have to constantly worry about keeping both databases synchronized. Any changes to one system won’t then have to be transferred over to the other manually, which prevents slower operations and an increased risk of database errors.
Integrating your ERP and CRM solutions will ensure that both systems use one common shared database, where any update in any of the systems will be visible instantaneously. As long as the systems work together in harmony, they benefit each other.
The Benefits Of Integrating ERP And CRM Software Solutions
While both ERP and CRM solutions have great benefits on their own, many businesses need both implemented to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Here are the main benefits of having both software solutions implemented and integrated together.
1. They Eliminate Duplicate Data
Integrating your ERP and CRM solutions ensures that both systems’ customer information isn’t duplicated. Between the two systems, there’s likely to be a good amount of overlap and redundant data. This is why if you need to have both systems implemented, you need to make sure that they’re correctly integrated.
With CRM systems, the goal is typically more geared towards sales and support functions, while for ERP systems, inventory and order management tend to be the main focus. With the most relevant and up-to-date data available to you, you’re able to gain valuable insights that you wouldn’t have had access to before
2. They Reduce Manual Error
When you don’t have your ERP and CRM solutions integrated, you have to transfer and update data between the two systems manually. This can be a time-consuming task that could reduce your productivity. When you throw in the possibility of human error when entering large amounts of data manually, the results can be disastrous.
With both ERP and CRM solutions integrated, data is automatically synchronized between the two platforms. Any updates in one system are then immediately updated in the other system as well. This allows your employees and resources to be more freed up and direct their efforts towards more high-priority tasks.
3. They Provide End-To-End Visibility
Building a solid customer relationship is crucial for any business to succeed, but many companies also need a 360-degree view of all customer interactions, both past, and present. When you integrate your CRM and ERP software solutions, you’ll get that 360-degree view.
With information across all of your different business units synchronized, you gain a more holistic view of your customers. Enhanced visibility into your customers’ buying preferences and order history allows you to provide them with a more personalized experience in real-time and make more informed decisions about how you should go about building relationships with them.
4. They Improve Quote Generation And Visibility
While quotes are created in the CRM, the ERP keeps track of your orders and inventory. Proper integration optimizes the overall process. Your CRM will be able to access all of the products in your inventory, ensuring your sales representatives always have access to the latest prices, discounts, and available assets for all your products when creating quotes for a customer or partner. Representatives also get unparalleled visibility into order statuses, along with the ability to track and update them.
5. They Enable Better Sales Projections
Similar to the benefit above, easy access to inventory data in your CRM also allows you to be more proactive in your approach and better anticipate the demand for products. With certain CRM systems, you can leverage intuitive pipeline management and real-time sales analytics features to focus your efforts on opportunities that are likely to yield more value in the future.
6. They Enhance Employee Collaboration
Proper integration between ERP and CRM solutions allows for seamless communication and greater synergy between your customer-facing representatives and the people in charge of inventory and finance. Having everyone on the same page enables your company to make smarter decisions while also providing superior customer service.
7. They Promote Better User Adoption
Low user adoption rates are typically blamed for why most CRM and ERP implementations end up failing. Familiarizing your employees with either platform can be challenging for some businesses, but getting them acquainted with both systems can feel even more daunting.
Oftentimes, extensive training is necessary to ensure the success of your business, but this can be both time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, learning to use both systems at once can be challenging for your employees. With proper integration in place, team members can focus on using and understanding the solutions of an integrated platform. Also, in many cases, employees will only have to get training for the combined system instead of two separate ones.
Do you want to figure out if your business would benefit from having both ERP and CRM solutions implemented? Schedule a consultation with us today!
Erphub is a custom ERP software development company that offers consulting, solution development, and administration services to ensure your business efficiency is at its optimum level. At Erphub, we provide access to informational tools, a variety of basic ERP and CRM software solutions, and the option to choose a completely custom ERP solution for your business. For more information, contact us by email.
