ERP Systems

CRM ERP Systems

Since its inception in the 1970s as a logical progression from the software called MRP and MRPII, originally designed to help manufacturing plants organize materials requirements planning, ERP, which stands for Enterprise Resource Planning, has been a more complete software solution that relies on data collection and analysis for effective and efficient resource management. It allows companies to integrate planning, materials, purchasing, inventory, manufacturing, finance, engineering, and human resources across that company or even across more than one company.

CRM, an abbreviation for Customer Relationship Management, CRM is also built on a technology infrastructure. CRM software also involves collection and analysis of data, although this data is all customer related in order to improve the customer relationship and to target the marketing towards the buying patterns recognized by the software.   

Since both CRM and ERP systems are calculated to work with data collection and analysis both can be integrated together as part of the same software system. When CRM ERP Systems are united as one, business leaders are able to see and interpret many more production patterns and many more customer buying patterns. This help with forecasting the more immediate future needs of the company as well as the more long-term future direction of the company.

Integrating ERP and CRM is the perfect blueprint for any company that manufactures products and deals constantly has customer service transactions. By integrating CRM software with an ERP software system, customer orders can be automatically incorporated into a manufacturing flow and supplier chain management system.

One of the advantages of combined CRM ERP systems is that the CRM marketing modules that are part of enterprise resource planning software are able to join together several company departments, for example: sales and customer service personnel. Then, the marketing module gathers together customer contact information into a database.  From this database, companies are able to print address labels, generate form letters, and send marketing news and marketing campaigns out through e-mail. Better yet, these same marketing modules contain the technology to measure results: companies with CRM ERP software systems are able to track the success of each campaign individually.

Although there are numerous vendors of CRM ERP systems, these differ as relates to business size, automation features, other features such as service and support. More importantly, they all differ in price tag. Still, one fact is undeniable. For companies that want to realize both the benefits of CRM and ERP software systems, purchasing inclusive CRM ERP Systems will prove to be a large cost savings over buying separate software.

Written by :

Amy Cruz