ERP integration with other business solutions usually synchronises ERP software / modules data with other business applications such as eCommerce, Business intelligence, Customer relationship management (CRM), Project management etc.

There are different modules that can be integrated with the ERP. The ERP system pulls the data from different modules that are built to help various departments from supply chain to accounting to human resource management. So the modules are designed for specific business functions. Each module has their own data. The basic idea of integrating ERP with each module is to bring a synchronisation between each module and to make the business process more efficient and productive.

ACTouch Cloud ERP Software / Cloud applications is an Integration Platform with RestAPI features to initiate an integration process with other tools. Its important to arrive an integration strategy and integration methods based on your business needs and available resources that you have. 

Enterprise Resource Planning System is designed to build a connected systems like ecommerce platform or to Order processing tools or Business management software to increase business activities. Focus is reduce manual processes or manual tasks and improve the automation works. Few times a standard integration tools doesn’t work and you need a custom integrations. These are taken as an integration projects with developers and software architects to drive the project. 

Why ERP Integration is necessary?

Many organisations don’t integrate their platforms with ERP which turns out to be costly in the long run. Few companies run their each department on separate software. increase in cost or loss of business due to lack of ERP Integration could be a major issue to resolve.

Few reasons are

1. Each Departments evolved separately. Cost savings was the focus in initial days and it delays from employee to own the process and increase seamless communication.
2. Each Department process are complex as they started with MANUAL Controls to Software controls. Many department heads do not want to give the “Power”.
3. Technology and Platforms are different and that leads to bad customer experiences.
4. Few cases, 50% is on software and rest on excel. People are comfortable and dont want to change it.
5. Few cases, the software purchased doesn’t have the needed functional modules or missing real-time updates. 
6. Enterprise resource planning software is deployed with few modules and rest are FELT as complex ones.
7. Lack of people and leads to avoiding major ERP Integration challenges and not to invest on good integration solutions.

Because of above reasons many companies management are afraid of ERP deployment or do an ERP Integration.

The effects of not having a seamless integration in ERP are as below.

Time Consuming and Labour Intensive

ERP integration is needed to avoid manual data entry to be fed into the ERP. For example let us assume that a lead has been generated at our e-Commerce website, this remains in the e-commerce unless someone manually makes an entry into the ERP. So integrating eCommerce with the ERP helps us eliminate the manual data entry into ERP which is time consuming and labour intensive work.

Avoiding Human Error with Seamless Integration in ERP

Manual entry is never error free as the data is manually fed by humans, so always it is better to integrate with ERP so that it automatically gets updated and remains error free.

Real Time Data for eCommerce integration with ERP

For example, if there is any sales of a product happening, then there should be an interaction between the different modules or business applications such as finance, inventory management, order management etc. so that each department or module is updated about the sale happening and automatically the data is updated in the all modules and this updating happens only when the ERP is integrated with all the modules available in the business.

Team Coordination

The data should always be consistent between systems for better coordination between different teams so that they work without any conflicts. Without ERP integration team coordination is bound to hamper due to data inconsistency between systems.

What are the benefits of ERP Integration?

Automated Processes

Integration of ERP helps smooth flow of business process across various departments in the business. Procuring the data from various applications such as e-commerce, CRM and so on as and when it arises can happen only when it is integrated with the ERP else manually entering the data might result in wastage of productive time. Integration and seamless communication with ecommerce platform and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a good example. 

Real-time data

The major time consuming part is the manual data entry which is avoided by integrating the business applications such as sales team, customer relationship management, project management, inventory management with ERP software. Since integrating with ERP provides us with real-time data, we can make use of that data to make quicker decisions and scale up the business.

Workflow Enhancement

Integrating ERP with business tools such as project management enables the data to be centralised and available by all working in the company. This helps to know what others are working on and to set priority levels to employee tasks and also to schedule processes.

Quicker Sales Conversions

For example, suppose a customer wants to buy some product on the e-commerce store then the customer first submits a lead, then requests a demo or purchases the product. We use the CRM software to know the lead quality, customer details and preference, position in the sales funnel. But when ERP is integrated then the information about the lead is known to all departments and can work in unison towards specific customer needs and demands. More leads are processed in very less time which ultimately results in increased revenue from the business.

For example ACTouch cloud ERP has integrated with eInvoice features provided by TCS iON.

ERP Modules

Financial Accounting module

This module allows the businesses to understand their financial state and make amends accordingly.

It basically tracks the accounts payable and accounts receivable and manages the ledger. It can automate tasks related to vendor payments, billings and helping accounting department to close the books in timely manner.

Procurement Module

The procurement module or the purchasing module makes it easier for the organisations to secure the products needed to manufacture or sell goods.

It can automate quotes, can track and analyse quotes. It helps the purchasing department prepare and send out purchase orders. The procurement module updates the inventory level automatically once the order arrives.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

This module stores the data of all the customers and also of the prospects. It also includes the company’s communication history with the customer and as well as their purchase history. The staff can easily access the customers’ information which leads to better customer service. CRM is also used for managing sales leads and to suggest which customers to be targeted for cross-selling opportunities.

Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management module tracks the movement of supplies and goods throughout the supply chain from sub-suppliers to suppliers to manufacturers to distributors to retailers or consumers. It also manages the refund or replacement of the materials or product.

Any product company – a category that includes almost all manufacturers, distributors and retailers will benefit from the supply chain management.