This post was updated to reflect current trends and information.
Integration of CRM and ERP systems: Definition
CRM and ERP integration is the synchronization of data from ERP and CRM systems. The purpose of CRM and ERP integration is to provide automatic exchange of information between the enterprise systems.
Nowadays, many enterprises use numerous different business systems and applications for enterprise management, in other words, a combination of ERP, CRM, home grown applications, and many other applications for different business needs.
All these business systems have the same goal – to optimize business processes. However, their tasks are different. So how is CRM different from ERP? Do you need to integrate data from these different systems? How to perform such integration at its best? Let’s take a look at these questions in this article.
What is CRM?
CRM Customer relationship management – the name speaks for itself. It is a business software designed to automate interactions with customers (clients), to increase sales, optimize marketing and improve customer service.
What does a CRM software do?
CRM allows you to store and organize data about clients (prospects) as well as all their orders and transactions.
Information about customers can be built according to convenient parameters: names, contacts, purchases, contracts, invoices, and payments.
In most CRM systems you can follow in chronological order the entire history of communication with the client, emails, orders, and call records.
Most importantly, the CRM system automates processes and helps at every stage of the sale: automatically generates documents (according to a template), reminds of calls, issues invoices, and creates analytical reports, sends SMS notifications, and many more.
What are the Top 10 CRM Software Vendors?
According to the leading technology market-research company APPS RUN THE WORLD, Salesforce is the leader in the CRM software market. The other biggest providers of standalone or embedded CRM systems are:
- Salesforce.com
- Adobe
- Oracle
- SAP
- Microsoft
- Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories
- Zendesk
- Pegasystems
- HubSpot
- Nice Systems
What Is ERP?
ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. The ERP software is designed for storing, processing, and maintaining a single database for all divisions of the company: orders, production, warehouses, logistics department, accounting, etc. ERP creates a single information space for all employees of the company.
The main goal of an ERP system is to unite the disparate processes of the company into a single well-functioning mechanism.
What is the main component of an ERP system?
Typically, ERP systems are designed based on a modular principle to cover all the key processes of the company’s activities.
The main modules in the ERP system are:
- Planning
- Budgeting / Financial Management.
- Logistics/ Supply Chain Management
- Human Resources
- Production Management / Manufacturing
- Order Management
- Warehouse / Inventory Management
The ERP allows the management to get a comprehensive picture of the company’s activities, which makes the ERP system an indispensable tool for making current and strategic management decisions.
ERP software examples
According to Statista, the global enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market is forecast to grow to around 97 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. SAP and Oracle are two of the leading ERP vendors in this market.
The most popular ERP systems on the market are:
SAP Business One
It is an ERP solution for small businesses designed to automate key business functions. Can be deployed On-premises or cloud.
SAP S/4HANA
It is an ERP solution for large enterprises. SAP S/4HANA has built-in intelligent technologies, machine learning, and advanced analytics. Could be deployed in public/private cloud, hybrid, and on-premises.
SAP Business ByDesign
It is a Cloud ERP for small and medium-sized enterprises. SAP Business ByDesign is sold and operated by software as a service model.
NetSuite
It is Oracle’s Cloud ERP solution for Small and Mid-sized Enterprises. NetSuite offers modular systems ranging from finance to supply chain management, invoicing, and more.
Sage Intacct
This cloud-based ERP software solution with high ROI was designed by an American provider of cloud-based Financial management Sage Intacct, Inc. Sage Intacct includes core financial modules with possibility to add additional modules.
Acumatica
It is a complete Cloud ERP solution for all your business management needs, created for flexible workplace such as mobile, and remote work.
Tally
It is an enterprise ERP software provided by an Indian multinational company Tally Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Is CRM and ERP integration possible?
As you might have noticed, CRM and ERP systems are not competing systems, but one complements the other. In fact, some big ERP systems, they offer their own CRM modules, to keep the whole process under one umbrella. Both software systems help for efficient and cost-effective enterprise management.
An ERP system helps control production, planning, and logistic processes; a CRM helps track and follow up and increase sales and customer loyalty. However, to get the most out of these two important business systems, it is necessary that the ERP and CRM “communicate” with each other.
“Is it possible to do an integration between two heterogenous systems from two different vendors?” – This is one of the most frequent questions that companies care about. Of course, it is possible! With Magic xpi integration platform, the integration between CRM and ERP can be done easily, quickly, and reliably.
What is Magic XPI integration platform?
Magic xpi is an integration platform, offering a complete solution to automate the flow of data between business systems and applications such as (ERP) enterprise resource planning, (CRM) customer relationship management, (HRM) human resources management, (SCM) supply chain management, EDI, database, and e-commerce.
Why Magic xpi is the best choice for CRM and ERP Integration?
Out of the box, Magic xpi includes over 100 ready-to-use connectors to all popular IT systems, in addition there is a considerable number of certified connectors to connect to branded ERP/CRM systems such as JDE, SAP, Dynamics AX, Oracle, SharePoint, IBM, Google, and more.
These connectors allow to perform integration of applications, databases, APIs, platforms quickly and reliably.
Having an intuitive and easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, it is suitable for both professional integrators and ordinary business users.
Magic xpi fits any IT infrastructure and can integrate all your business systems on-premises, on the cloud, or in a hybrid environment.
Magic xpi provides a stable front-end platform and the ability to integrate data and deliver the most relevant information to your employees, management, or customers.
Key benefits of data integration between CRM and ERP systems
The main benefits of CRM and ERP integration include but are not limited to:
1. No need to re-enter the same data and keep duplicates.
ERP and CRM systems have contact and accounting information used in both systems for different purposes. For example, in an ERP system, addresses are used for invoicing and product delivery, while in CRM, customer and prospect addresses are used to support sales / marketing.
Integration of CRM and ERP systems eliminates the need for double data entry. Thus, any change made in the CRM database will affect the ERP system and vice versa.
2. Easier and faster data exchange.
Integration of CRM and ERP data increases sales, since sales managers have full access to data from ERP having complete information on the product, they can place an order faster and more accurately.
3. Efficient order management
By integrating data between CRM and ERP, quotations created in CRM can be automatically converted into actual orders in the ERP system. This significantly reduces order processing times and increases the efficiency of the company.
Thus, the main advantages that companies receive from the integration of CRM and ERP are increased information availability, reduced order processing time, and improved interaction processes within the organization.
Suggested Readings: The main reasons why you need Microsoft Dynamics Integration with your business Systems
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