ERP Software

Integrated ERP CRM

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. ERP is a software system that allows a business to integrate engineering, planning, materials, manufacturing, finance and human resources for the whole business. It doesn’t matter what size of business it is. It can be a single facility or several facilities at multiple locations. CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. CRM is a software system that helps a business track and manages customer service and relations.

An integrated ERP CRM system can provide exact details on each customer transaction in one accessible place. It can provide information that will let a business track leads and calculate how many of those leads have turned into sales. An integrated ERP CRM software system can help increase sales productivity by getting the right product to the right customer at the right time, which can lead to higher sales margins.

Today’s competitive marketplace demands that customers are put first for a business to remain successful. A business can improve customer service and customer relationships with the integration of its ERP CRM applications. A centralized database allows access to up-to-date business information which can help a business develop an accurate and effective strategy for maximizing customer satisfaction.

Integrated ERP CRM solutions can provide all departments with instant access to data in manufacturing, distribution and accounting. This will provide staff with instant notification of any customers with credit issues. An integrated software system will provide instant access to sales data, returns and customer issues. Integrating ERP and CRM will minimize manual data entry. Information will only have to be entered one time versus several times with separate systems, saving employee time. It will also help to streamline business processes and ensure data accuracy.

In the past companies typically purchased ERP and CRM software systems separately. When using separate systems it can take days to send out an invoice due to approval processes that it must go through before the invoice can be sent out. With an integrated ERP CRM system this process can be reduced to one day.  Integrated ERP CRM solutions are ideal for manufacturing companies that deal with many customer service issues. Customer orders can be automatically integrated with manufacturing and the supplier which will lead to quicker delivery times and reduce problems with supply ordering.

Many businesses have several applications and processes throughout individual departments.  Integration of a business’s ERP and CRM software systems can mean many changes in staff work practices. If a business is considering integration it needs to think about how it will improve the business as a whole rather than just a single process. For integration to be successful each department needs to see how it benefits them personally.

By Maranda Sliter

Written by :

Don Cooper