As companies grow, functions like sales, marketing, and accounting can branch off into separate departments, resulting in a siloed workforce and excess operating expenses. One solution to this problem is an Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP integration that streamlines operations, fosters collaboration, and boosts revenue.

In this post, we’ll cover how ERP integrations work and how to choose the right ERP platform for your business. We’ll also cover ERP success stories and ways that you can turbocharge your ERP integration with third-party tools that add data intelligence and inventory management functionality.

Table of Contents

Understanding ERP Integration

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integration streamlines and automates business processes by consolidating the management of multiple departments into one software system. This reduces silos within an organization, enabling different departments to work cohesively. 

Evolution of ERP Systems

In the past, companies relied on manual data entry and disjointed systems that often led to operational inefficiencies. ERP software has transformed how organizations manage their resources by integrating finance, inventory management, customer tracking, and more in a single platform.

Benefits of Reducing Operational Inefficiencies

• Better collaboration: By breaking down departmental barriers, teams can collaborate effectively across functions.
• Data accuracy: Eliminating duplicate entries and outdated information ensures accurate reporting and analysis.
• Faster response times: Real-time access to data allows employees to make informed decisions quickly without having to wait for updates from other departments.
• Reduced costs: An enterprise resource planning strategy reduces the overhead associated with managing standalone applications while also improving overall productivity levels.

By implementing the right ERP integration strategy, your business can streamline its processes and boost efficiency. 

Enhancing Capabilities Through ERP Integrations

Companies can centralize data management and reduce costs by connecting their systems with an ERP or by integrating their existing ERP with third-party vendors.

Let’s look two examples, one that applies to all businesses and one from the world of eCommerce.

Reducing Costs Through Accounting Automation

You can automate your entire accounting process by integrating your current software with an ERP.

The top benefits of this approach are:

• Error Reduction: Automated solutions minimize human intervention during the invoicing process which reduces chances of duplicate entries or incorrect data entry.
• Improved Efficiency: Automation speeds up the accounts payable process, allowing your team to focus on revenue centers.

In fact, the main reasons that small businesses use ERP software is to manage their accounts payable (77%) and accounts receivable (73%) processes. 

Centralizing Data Management Using Third-Party Vendors

By integrating an ERP system with a third-party vendor, you can ensure that all your company’s critical data is available in one location, letting all teams access real-time insights to make informed business decisions.

For example, eCommerce retailers using Shopify can integrate with an ERP solution like Inverge to manage inventory levels across multiple sales channels while maintaining full control over customer information and order fulfillment processes.

How to Evaluate ERP Vendors

Before implementing an ERP solution, it’s important that you evaluate prospective vendors in terms of:

1. Integration cost.
2. The risks of integrating their product with your system.

The Cost of Implementation

The cost of your ERP software integration can vary based on factors like:

• Software Licensing: The type of license you choose for your ERP system will impact the overall cost. Some vendors offer perpetual licenses while others provide subscription-based pricing models.
• Data Migration: Transferring data from existing systems to a new ERP platform may require additional time and resources.
• User Training: Ensuring that employees are well-versed with the new system is essential for smooth operations. This might involve investing in training programs or hiring external trainers.
• Maintenance & Support: Ongoing maintenance fees and support services should also be considered when calculating implementation costs.
• Add-on Modules & Customizations: Depending on your particular business needs, you may need to invest in add-on modules or custom development work to enhance your chosen ERP solution’s functionality.

Risk Management

Risk management plays a vital role during vendor evaluation since it helps you identify potential challenges early on and develop mitigation plans.

Best practices for managing risk include:

1. Creating a cross-functional team: Assemble stakeholders from different departments to ensure that all perspectives are considered during the evaluation process.
2. Establishing clear goals and objectives: Define your organization’s specific needs and requirements for your ERP system.
3. Analyze vendors’ track records: Research each potential vendor’s history with similar projects, focusing on their success rate and customer satisfaction level. This can be done by reading case studies or seeking references from other businesses in your industry.
4. Create contingency plans: Develop backup strategies for dealing with unexpected challenges during implementation such as data migration issues or software bugs.

Taking these steps can significantly increase your chances of successfully implementing an ERP system.

ERP Integrations in the Wild

Implementing the right ERP solution can significantly boost your company’s growth and efficiency.

Let’s look at two real-world examples that demonstrate the positive results that can be achieved through successful ERP integrations.

Fulton & Roark: Real-Time Tracking With NetSuite ERP

Fulton & Roark, a men’s grooming products company, faced challenges due to manual double data entry and disconnected systems. By implementing NetSuite ERP, they were able to streamline their operations by automating processes, reducing errors, and improving overall efficiency.

The integration of their eCcommerce platform with an inventory management system enabled them to track stock levels in real-time, resulting in higher levels of customer satisfaction.

N&N Moving Supplies: Workforce & Resource Optimization

N&N Moving Supplies, a provider of moving equipment and supplies, used a third-party application to add time-clock functionality to their existing ERP system. This allowed them to accurately track employee hours while also providing valuable insights for resource allocation across multiple locations.

Integrating CRM and Business Intelligence Tools

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools like Salesforce and business intelligence software can further enhance the value of your ERP system. These tools can help your company discover insights that result in improved business practices and new business opportuntities. 

The Role of CRM in Enhancing ERP Systems

Integrating a powerful CRM tool with your existing ERP systems not only streamlines the management of customer information but also enables better collaboration between departments. 

For example, your sales team can track leads while your marketing group analyzes campaign performance – all within the same integrated environment.

• Data-driven decision-making: A CRM integration lets various departments access customer information, leading to smarter decisions.
• Better collaboration: With a centralized database, different teams can collaborate on common goals.
• Increased efficiency: By automating tasks like updating contact records and generating reports, a CRM integration can save you time and money.

Leveraging Business Intelligence for Informed Decision-Making

To stay ahead in today’s dynamic market, your company needs access to actionable data that can help it maximize operations and plan expansion projects. Integrating advanced business intelligence (BI) solutions like Microsoft Power BI or Tableau can offer valuable insights derived from machine learning algorithms.

This empowers your decision-makers to:

• View intricate data sets in comprehensible visuals like diagrams, graphs, and panels.
• Analyze trends and patterns to make accurate forecasts about future market conditions or customer behavior.
• Identify potential bottlenecks within your organization that may hinder growth or lead to inefficiencies.

Exploring iPaaS and Enterprise Service Bus Solutions

Two popular options for connecting ERP systems with SaaS applications are Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) and Enterprise Service Bus (ESB). These solutions enable the complete automation of your business processes, reducing manual workloads and improving efficiency.

Understanding Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)

iPaaS enables your business to quickly connect its ERP systems with other SaaS applications. This approach simplifies data sharing across multiple platforms while ensuring real-time updates.

Some leading providers in the iPaaS space include Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Integration Services.

• iPaaS provides easy-to-use tools for building custom integrations without extensive coding knowledge.
• Scalability of iPaaS makes it appropriate for businesses of any size.
• Data security is maintained through robust encryption protocols.

Enterprise Service Bus for Process Automation

An alternative to iPaaS is the use of an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB). ESBs provide comprehensive middleware architecture that enables communication among different software components within your organization’s IT environment.

The primary goal of ESB implementation is to facilitate process automation by standardizing the way applications communicate with each other.

Some popular ESB solutions include MuleSoft and Red Hat Fuse.

• ESBs offer a centralized approach to managing data flow across various systems.
• The flexibility of ESBs allows for easy integration of new applications as your business grows.
• By standardizing communication protocols, ESBs reduce errors and improve overall system reliability.

Shopify Integration with Inverge

For businesses utilizing Shopify as their eCommerce platform, Inverge‘s native API integration offers a seamless and cost-effective solution to enhance their ERP systems. This powerful integration allows for real-time inventory updates, enabling brands to sell across multiple sales channels while maintaining full control over their account.

Real-time Inventory Management With the Inverge API

The key advantage of integrating your Shopify store with Inverge’s API is the ability to manage your inventory in real time. As orders are placed on various sales channels, stock levels are automatically updated within your ERP system.

This eliminates the risks of stock discrepancies that lead to customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue.

• Accurate Stock Levels: Keep track of product availability across all sales channels without manual intervention.
• Faster Order Fulfillment: With up-to-date inventory data at hand, you can process orders quickly and efficiently.
• Better Customer Experience: Avoid disappointing customers due to out-of-stock items in your online store.

Integrating with Inverge – More Than Inventory Management

In addition to improved inventory management, integrating your Shopify account with a system like Inverge provides several other benefits that help streamline operations and drive business growth.

These benefits include:

1. Data Consolidation: Your entire order history from multiple platforms will be stored in one centralized location for easy access and analysis.
2. Sales Channel Expansion: With a fully integrated ERP system, you can easily expand your business to new sales channels without worrying about manual data entry or inventory management issues.
3. Automated Workflows: Inverge’s API integration automates various tasks such as order processing and shipping updates, reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks and freeing up resources for more strategic initiatives.
4. Up-front Cost Savings: Inverge fills functionality gaps present in other ERPs like Netsuite or Cin7 without requiring custom development. This saves you time and money over traditional ERP implementations.

ERP Integration FAQs

What Is an ERP Integration?

ERP integration is the process of connecting an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system with other business applications, such as CRM, e-commerce platforms, or supply chain management tools. This enables seamless data exchange and streamlines operations across various departments within your company.

What Are the Benefits of an ERP Integration?

Key benefits of integrating ERP software include:

• Improved efficiency
• Reduced operational costs
• Enhanced collaboration between departments
• Real-time data access for better decision-making
• Increased scalability

What Are Some Common Problems When Implementing an ERP Solution?

1. Data migration challenges: Ensuring accurate transfer of existing data into the new system.
2. User adoption difficulties: Training employees on how to use the new software effectively.
3. Cost overruns: Unforseen expenses due to inadequate planning. ERP implementations fail when companies fail to plan.

Why Is ERP Integration Important?

ERP integration is crucial because it helps businesses streamline processes by centralizing information from different systems. This leads to more efficient workflows and better communication among teams while reducing the likelihood of human error resulting from manual processes and silos.

How Are ERP Systems Integrated?

There are several methods for integrating ERPs including:

• Direct API connections between applications.
• Middleware solutions like iPaaS or ESB.
• Third-party vendor integrations that offer pre-built connectors for popular software platforms.

Conclusion

By centralizing data management and automating manual processes, ERPs break down barriers between departments, streamline operations, and ultimately increase your company’s profits.

For businesses with an existing ERP integration, add-on CRM and business intelligence tools can provide decision-makers with the data-driven insights they need to refine company processes and forecast future trends.

If you’re in the eCommerce space, check out Inverge’s API-based solution that integrates with your ERP to centralize your product catalog, consolidate transaction data, and automate order processing.

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