ERP & CRM  Integration Tips

ERP & CRM integration can be a significant investment in both infrastructure and training so is it suitable for your Australian or New Zealand  company?  

In many cases CRM and ERP systems have been implemented separately and have functioned well that way for years. So why would any company take on the added cost and risk of integrating their ERP and CRM software?

Since Australian & New Zealand businesses use ERP systems for functions such as managing receivables, inventory, and finance, and CRM systems are used to manage contact relationships, cross-sells, and up-sells, imagine the information-sharing and visibility a company could leverage by integrating these two systems. There are a number of reasons why businesses should integrate their CRM and ERP solutions: 

• Cost reduction: Companies with high volumes of transactions see almost immediate benefits in the order-to-cash process. The cost savings come from reducing errors in order entry, implementing approval workflows for discounts, and reducing the manual labour required to enter orders in both CRM and ERP. 
• Marketing Benefits: greater insight into the customer base, their financial relationship with the company, their buying patterns and marketing demographics. ERP and CRM integration of these two stores of customer data can help organizations ensure that their sales and marketing budgets are targeting their most valuable customers and prospects.

However at the end of the day the only reason to integrate any of your systems is to provide a financial return on your investment.

In order for a successful ERP and CRM integration, it is important to work with a business-solutions expert who will provide the company with the insight needed to select an integration architecture and development plan based upon functional needs and technical suitability.

There are four key areas that every company should consider when under taking a ERP and CRM integration project, and these are areas an effective consultant will be able to address with you to ensure proper integration: Contact integration, ERP Product Integration, Quote and Order Management, Product/Order/Invoice Repository:

So does ERP and CRM integration make sense for your Australian or NEw Zealand business? This type of integration can be a significant investment in both infrastructure and training, but if done correctly the rewards both profitability and productivity can far outweigh the costs.