Choosing the Best ERP Solution for eCommerce: What to Look For

There are two questions eCommerce firms operating in a digital economy need to be able to answer: What is an ERP solution and what are the best ERP solutions for eCommerce? The first question is easy, but the second one is more complicated.

Let’s start with what an ERP solution is…

Simply put, an ERP solution, specifically cloud-based, is an application that acts as a storage center of data that comes from integrated applications. The ERP solution allows businesses to access the synchronized information through the Internet, automate their processes, and transform into a fully connected business.

How ERP Fits Into Your eCommerce Business

Statista noted that in 2020, eCommerce revenues exceeded $431 billion and estimates that by 2023, eCommerce sales will rise above $740 billion. Consumer expectations are rising along with the revenues. In order to meet these growing expectations, your eCommerce firm needs to provide a comprehensive eCommerce website (what the users interact with) that efficiently integrates with a cloud ERP solution (what you use to manage omni-channel orders, inventory, picking-packing-shipping, returns, customer support, accounting, and more).

According to BigCommerce’s Leigh-Anne Truitt, ERP solutions for eCommerce, such as Acumatica Cloud ERP, can help your future-proof your eCommerce business by supporting complex pricing, reducing human error in processing, helping you react quickly to change, simplifying your system, and keeping your store secure. All of these are clearly benefits that can help grow your business; however, there are also things to look out for, meaning you need to make sure you choose the ERP that’s right for you and your business.

The Best ERP Solutions for eCommerce

Since there’s no shortage of ERP solutions for eCommerce businesses to choose from, it’s a good idea to thoroughly compare your ERP options before deciding which is right for you. Now, let’s look at the four major competitors in the ERP space.

Read the current report from G2 on ERP User Satisfaction Ratings…

Oracle NetSuite

NetSuite was established in 1998, went public in 2007, and was acquired by Oracle in 2016. Oracle NetSuite has been the ERP choice for thousands of businesses in almost every industry across the globe, from marketing and advertising, agriculture, and government to construction, engineering, and eCommerce, to name a few. The ERP solution, which is cloud-based, is available through subscription licensing. It supports remote access with a mobile application, and you can customize its software to the specific needs of your business. Additionally, the built-in BI gives you access to the analytics you need to make valuable decisions for your business. The company has a SuiteCommerce family of cloud-based eCommerce solutions for B2C and B2B customers. According to Oracle NetSuite, they give companies “clear visibility and control of their business.”

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Though used by large companies (e.g., HP, Coca Cola, and Lowe’s), Microsoft Dynamics 365 works well for small companies, too. Product suites can be “bundled” together based on what a business needs. In addition, the cloud-based architecture allows it to be scalable and flexible. It can also be remotely accessed and customized to fit your business needs. The software applications are created to work with each other and with third-party applications. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce helps online retailers unify back-office, in-store, eCommerce, and call center departments. According to Microsoft Dynamics 365, “Adapt and innovate with the only portfolio of business applications that empowers your organization to deliver operational excellence and delight every customer.”

Sage 

Sage was founded in 1981 and it offers a lot of ERP software solutions, such as Sage 300, to small-to-medium-sized businesses. Sage 300, as well as Sage 50, Sage 100, and Sage 500, was created for on-premises deployment but has been redesigned and developed for the cloud. This allows users to access the solution through the Internet on a variety of web-enabled devices. Businesses need to pay for licensing based on user count. Upgrades can happen on the users’ schedule and offer a full database export. Sage also offers Sage eCommerce, which is easily integrated with Sage Enterprise Management. According to Sage, it is an “all-in-one business management software” for a variety of industries to “manage their finances, operations and inventory.”

Acumatica Cloud ERP

Acumatica Cloud ERP was created in 2008 and is an ERP solution that was built for the cloud. All of the users can remotely access their data for a single source of truth through a mobile application that is available on any web-enabled device and the data automatically resizes to fit each screen. The product is highly adaptable and provides multiple deployment options (e.g., cloud, private cloud, and hybrid). In addition, users can update and upgrade at any time. As a full-function ERP, Acumatica supports a lot of vertical industries, including distribution, manufacturing, construction. The retail-commerce edition delivers a reliable customer experience across multiple sales channels, works with your back-office system and includes a native Acumatica for BigCommerce Connector. According to Acumatica Cloud ERP, “Built on a future-proof platform with open architecture for rapid integrations, scalability, and ease of use, Acumatica delivers unparalleled value to small and midmarket organizations.”

How Crestwood & Acumatica Can Help

Choosing the best ERP solution for eCommerce is critical to the success of your business. Although all four of the competitors mentioned in this article have their strengths and weaknesses, Acumatica Cloud ERP is an award-winning solution that will scale with you as your business grows. It only charges for the resources you use, not the number of users and it offers a seamless integration between your eCommerce storefront, such as BigCommerce, and Acumatica’s financial, inventory, and fulfillment capabilities.

We can and want to help.  Our eCommerce experts are dedicated to successfully helping our clients through the many variables of deploying business applications.  Read more about our newest Rockstar, Freddy.  He comes to Crestwood with a deep eCommerce background. Please reach out and email us at sales@crestwood.com.  

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