Better Together: Integrate ERP and CRM

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software handles the back-end processes such as supply chain management and accounting while the customer relationship management (CRM) system is responsible for front-end activities like sales and marketing. Though each platform takes care of different operations, like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs, ERP and CRM belong together. 

As we explain in our e-book, a software integration serves as a single source of truth for your entire organization. By connecting ERP and CRM, users gain a complete view of the value chain and enterprise data, powering streamlined processes and better decision making. Below, we go into more detail on a few of the reasons why CRM and ERP software are better when they’re integrated into one solution.  

Customer-Centric Strategies 

Customers today won’t stand for delays or errors. They’ll turn elsewhere the moment businesses fall short of their expectations. Therefore, manufacturers must prioritize customers throughout their operations, and an ERP and CRM integration is the optimal solution to facilitate customer-centric strategies.  

The analytics inside modern enterprise software grows increasingly stronger, generating accurate predictions and deep insights without effort from the user’s end. When engineers and managers on the production floor have access to CRM data, they can view their products and processes from the customer’s perspective, enabling them to plan out their next move in line with consumer needs. As explained on Cloud Tech, users can also take advantage of CRM analytics to define pricing strategies based on persona and segment. Additionally, sales reps can personalize customer journeys and provide faster service by automatically accessing production and inventory data to answer any and all customer queries.  

Faster Performance 

Every minute wasted in manufacturing adds up, depleting resources and racking up expenses. Real-time visibility from end to end of your operations enables users to fine tune processes and accelerate lead times. For example, CRM data can be leveraged for precise demand planning, allowing shop floors to line up production operations and material orders with customer needs. Additionally, an integration automates processes. Orders, invoices, accounts and more can be instantly transferred back and forth between your ERP and CRM instances, reducing manual data entry and triggering the next phase of your supply chain.  

Your front offices will also enjoy faster performance. The ERP infrastructure isn’t especially friendly to sales departments, making it difficult for them to go into the platform to access critical information. Furthermore, sales reps could easily enter false information or push the wrong button, sacrificing the integrity of your ERP data. Rather than dig into ERP modules or wait for back-end users to respond to their emails, sales reps can instantly access inventory, pricing or order statuses from their CRM system when it is integrated with ERP. This connectivity empowers front offices to gain a full view of the enterprise to refine buyer’s journeys and respond immediately to customer questions.  

IT Costs  

A CRM and ERP integration can alleviate a lot of stress and reduce costs in your IT department. Twice the software means twice the work if they aren’t connected. The duplicate data entries and errors that result from maintaining multiple systems require you to pay for constant clean-up and troubleshooting.  

But an integration means your IT team only needs to worry about upgrades, maintenance and improvements for one system. Better yet, hosting your integrated software in the cloud further minimizes the workload, as cloud providers automatically take care of maintenance and security. Additionally, a scalable integration solution can keep up with your business as it grows, simplifying the addition of new modules, workflows, users or sites—another win for your IT personnel and your wallet.  

Wrap Up 

Managing disparate systems won’t get you maximum ROI. An ERP and CRM integration enhances the value of your software by improving productivity and visibility. Integrations can also be executed quickly and easily, making it a no-brainer for your enterprise. 

That’s especially true if you choose Datix’s flagship integration solution, Unity. Unity is a pre-built application that facilitates bidirectional data transfers between Epicor ERP and an array of front-end systems, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, Salesforce, Magento and HubSpot. Our solution empowers every user to operate out of one system, minimizing errors and enhancing visibility. Experienced consultants will rapidly install your integration and fully manage the solution with no coding on your end. 

Start building your connected enterprise today! Download our integration e-book, and get in touch with our expert consultants.