Every business seeks to improve its productivity, efficiency and profitability. One way to achieve this is to connect 2 of their main IT systems: ERP and CRM.
When one of the 2 solutions makes it possible to
centralize all the functions and processes of the company while the other takes
care of the management of the customer relationship, collects and organizes all
the customer data, then it may be appropriate to combine.
By connecting ERP software and CRM software,
businesses can gain complete visibility into all of their operations, including
interactions with your contacts. This can help improve operational efficiency,
optimize sales and marketing processes, and make more informed decisions based
on accurate data.
In this article, we'll explore in detail the benefits
of connecting ERP and CRM, and how this integration can optimize your business
results.
As a reminder, what is an ERP and a CRM?
An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a computer
system that allows a company to manage and integrate all of its business
processes, such as the management of purchases, sales, production, logistics
and resources. human. This software optimizes the use of company resources and
improves its overall performance by providing real-time information on all
activities.
Regarding CRM (Customer Relationship Management), it
is a software that allows companies to manage interactions with their customers.
It collects, organizes, and analyzes customer data to improve customer
satisfaction, build customer loyalty, and maximize sales.
Why connect the 2 tools?
Improve the uniqueness of your data
When the ERP and CRM systems are not connected, there
is necessarily manual work which can lead to a dispersion of data in different
systems and therefore duplicates, inconsistencies and input errors.
Connecting the ERP and the CRM using a connector
allows real-time synchronization of customer data between the two systems. This
ensures that all data is unique, consistent, and up-to-date across both
software. For example, if a company updates customer information in its CRM
software, those changes will automatically update in the ERP.
Improving uniqueness of data allows companies to have
complete visibility into all interactions with customers and prospects, which
can help to:
- Improve the quality of service
- Identify trends
- Optimize sales and marketing processes.
Additionally, improving data uniqueness can help
reduce the costs and errors associated with managing data scattered across
different systems. It can also help businesses meet data protection compliance
standards by ensuring that customer and prospect information is stored
consistently and securely.
Make your data reliable
This is a key advantage. As stated in the previous
part, when the ERP and the CRM are not connected, there may be inconsistencies
and input errors. For example, incorrect customer and prospect data may be
entered manually or may be lost during manual synchronization between the two
systems.
Connecting an ERP and a CRM using a connector allows
data to be synchronized in real time and errors are automatically detected and
corrected.
For example, if a customer address is entered
incorrectly in the CRM, the connector can detect the error and correct it
automatically in the ERP.
This allows companies to benefit from an accurate and
up-to-date overview of all interactions with customers and prospects. This, in
addition to the benefits already mentioned above, can make it possible to:
- Reduce costs and errors associated with handling incorrect data
- Increase customer satisfaction
- Improve decision-making by providing accurate and reliable data.
Automate the exchange of information between the CRM
and the ERP
By linking the 2 software, customer data as well as
sales information is easily accessible to all team members.
For example, the sales team can access customer data
and sales information such as order information, invoices, and payments. The
creation of a connection between the ERP and the CRM allows the sales team to
also access information on stocks, delivery times and forecastsof production.
This can help respond to consumer requests faster and more accurately.
The employee experience is optimized. The various
departments benefit from access to a cloud solution available on each workspace
and a simplified and complete provision of information useful to their
activity.
Additionally, the integration of the 2 solutions can
help track customer and prospect interaction history, including past purchases,
preferences, and feedback. This allows the sales team to better understand their
needs and preferences and customize their customer approach and experience
accordingly.
Finally, onboarding sales teams can help track sales
performance and optimize sales and marketing processes. Sales data can be
analyzed to identify trends and opportunities, which can help make more
informed decisions and optimize marketing and sales investments while improving
customer and user experience.
Increase the efficiency of your tools
The connector makes it possible to centralize data and
make it accessible from a single place. Users no longer need to switch from one
system to another to access the information they need.
This can help improve business operational efficiency
by reducing the time it takes to access data and make decisions. For example, a
sales manager can access data on orders, on-hand inventory, and sales forecasts
from a single system, rather than having to consult several different ones. It
can help:
- Accelerate decision making
- Reduce errors
- Improve data quality.
In addition, an ERP/CRM connector can make it possible
to integrate third-party tools such as data analysis or project management
tools.
Integrate the sales team more with the rest of the
business
By linking the 2 solutions, customer data and sales
information is easily accessible to all team members, which can help improve
collaboration and communication.
For example, the sales team can access customer data
and sales information in the CRM such as order, invoice, and payment
information. By connecting the CRM to the ERP, the sales team can also access
information on stocks, delivery times and production forecasts. This can help
respond to consumer requests faster and more accurately.
Additionally, the integration of the 2 software can
help track contact interaction history, including past purchases, likes, and
comments. This allows the sales team to better understand customer needs and
preferences, and customize their approach accordingly.
Finally, onboarding sales teams can help track sales
performance and optimize sales and marketing processes. Sales data can be
analyzed to identify trends and opportunities, which can help make more
informed decisions and optimize marketing and sales investments.
Simplify the management of your projects
An ERP/CRM connector can help simplify project
management by allowing better coordination between the teams in charge of the
projects, whether they are within the company or with external partners.
When the 2 systems are connected, information relating
to projects, such as orders, invoices, delivery times and stock availability
are automatically shared between the 2 solutions. This allows teams to track
project progress in real time and make decisions faster based on up-to-date
data.
Additionally, a connector can enable more efficient
resource management. Data on employee skills, availability and workloads is
available in real time, allowing for more accurate resource planning and
optimal task distribution.
Finally, it can also help improve collaboration
between the different teams involved in the projects. Data is available in real
time to all team members, enabling smoother communication and faster decision
making.
The solution proposed by Flow Line to connect Sage X3
with a CRM such as Salesforce
Flow Line as an integrator of Sage X3 and Salesforce
software has developed a connector between Sage X3 and Salesforce CRM. This
connector is also compatible with most other CRMs on the market.
The objective of che connector is to offer a
standardized plug&play solution that can be deployed in 1 week. This
connector offers interface customization functions that are easy to master by
employees of the company's IT department. It also offers a tool for supervising
data exchanges between Sage X3 and the CRM.
Global data exchange architecture
Each platform carries an application to be configured
according to the direction of the flow.
If Sage X3 is the master of the data on the flow, the
configuration is mainly carried out in Sage X3.
If Salesforce or the CRM is the master of the data on
the flow, the configuration is mainly carried out in the latter.
Standard streams available
The connector has standardized all the necessary
two-way flows between the Sage X3 solution and the CRM to guarantee proven and
reliable interfaces that are easily customizable.
The connector therefore makes it possible to:
- Save time in the implementation of interfaces
- Increase the reliability of information transfers through standardization
- Provide information flow customization tools that are easy and quick to learn.
In conclusion, connecting its ERP solution and with
its CRM solution can offer many advantages for companies. By enabling better
data management and more efficient collaboration between different departments,
it can help improve customer experience, productivity and profitability.
Furthermore, it also helps to better anticipate market trends and consumer
needs, which is essential to stay competitive in an ever-changing business
environment. In short, integrating its ERP and CRM can be a wise investment for
companies wishing to optimize their operation and their overall performance.
The implementation of a connector is fast (it takes
about 1 week) and facilitates the daily life of your teams thanks to a cloud
space facilitating their user experience. The relationship between the
different departments is simplified and the use of solutions optimized.
There are various connectors on the market. The
creation of the Flow Line one was carried out by internal experts who know the
needs of companies thanks to years of experience in the field of management
solutions. Flow Line is referenced as an expert integrator of specific trades
such as Life Sciences, Distribution, Trading, Fashion or rental.
Do not hesitate to discuss with our expert teams on cloud solutions for the implementation of your ERP/CRM connector project. A responsive and personalized response will be sent to you.