As companies grow, they often implement an ERP system first to manage their finances and accounting. Later, they might implement a CRM to help their sales and marketing team manage leads, opportunities, and clients. However, keeping these two systems separate often leads to a lack of visibility on key data and time-consuming manual processes. Imagine a world without satellites or cell towers: communications would be much more complicated and time-consuming! By bringing these two worlds together, you will benefit from a 360° view of your customers and activities instead.
Without integration
No integration between the ERP and CRM systems impedes the flow of financial and non-financial information between the different departments of your organization. Manual manipulations are needed to retrieve relevant information. The result: time wasted on multiple report requests and outdated information.
Risk of errors
A lack of integration means manual processes, which increase the risk of possible errors. Adjustments made in one system must also be reflected in the other manually.
Double entries
Given the lack of communication between the two systems and the number of manual manipulations, data and transactions are often duplicated, resulting in information that is less reliable.
Time wasted
Searching for information between the two systems and validating details often takes a significant amount of time that would be better spent on high-value tasks.
With integration
There are many, many benefits to integrating your ERP and CRM systems. For one, the information entered by one team will be reflected automatically across the system. Client information is always up to date, ensuring everyone has access to real-time data. By centralizing financial and operational details, you can more easily analyze your current situation by client, by department or by company.
Reports when you need them
Client information can be contextualized based on individual user needs to reduce the amount of time spent looking for the data you need.
All-time access to data
Synchronize contacts, price lists, orders, invoices, and other details to facilitate access and transfer of information from anywhere.
Shared databases
Modifications made in one system will automatically be reflected in the other so that both systems are always up to date.
Faster customer service
With access to up-to-date client information and activities, your sales and service teams can resolve situations faster, offer a higher level of service every time, and improve their sales performance.
Improved collaboration
Your departments will no longer work in silos but together, thanks to shared reports and views that will help them manage daily tasks and activities.
In short, an integration works like satellites and communications towers linking up the ERP and CRM components of your system. It ensures there’s a single version of the truth across your entire organization, which can then be accessed easily by all users. Centralizing operational and financial details provides enhanced visibility on your business, improves the flow of information, and promotes collaboration between your various teams. As a result, your users will see benefits at every level of their system use.
