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 forecasts of 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 c he 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.