ERP&CRM - Part 3: Possibilities of integration

There is no way around the integration of CRM and ERP. Why integration is necessary in the first part of this series. In the second part, we looked at the necessary business processes. Whether all-in, only all systems or two software solutions from different providers - a lot is possible with CRM-ERP integration.

All-in solution : The ready-made CRM-ERP integration

The most convenient solution is probably the already integrated systems, in which ERP and CRM are in one. As one software, this solution banishes all problems, such as the data exchange when two separate systems work together. SAP Business One, for example, is a ERP systemin which the CRM is fully integrated.

Everything from one house: CRM-ERP integration in one language

Using different products from one manufacturer also makes it easier to integrate ERP and CRM. Time-consuming adjustments to work processes and data objects are no longer necessary and the two different solutions can still be used across systems. Neither updates nor bug fixes disrupt the cooperation between the systems, as the manufacturer is and remains responsible for its products and their cooperation.
One example of such partner systems from the same company is SAP, where sales employees have the choice of entering quotations and orders in the ERP or CRM system, for example. Also Microsoft has an ERP and a CRM solution. The Scribe interface can be used as standard for data exchange between the two systems.

Solutions from various providers

Despite the advantages described above, many companies obtain their CRM and ERP systems from different manufacturers. They do not want to deal with a integration from one and the same provider. The integration is carried out in-house and customised to your own company.
If the software has system-independent technologies, CRM-ERP integration of software from different manufacturers is not a problem. Newer software also already has standardised Connectors from ERP to CRM systems.

Normally, CRM systems have just as interfacesthat connect them to ERP systems or their master data. The interfaces can be used to call up various functions that the two systems call up outside of the actual applications. These interfaces do not work on the data layer, but on the business layer. They are usually accessible via web services and also help with the validation of data entries.

When implementing interfaces, it must be borne in mind that an update can further develop one of the systems. To avoid having to adapt the interface after every update, it is still advisable to use an interface that is supported by the software manufacturer. This means that the manufacturer must ensure compatibility via the updates guaranteed beyond.
Furthermore, standard interfaces always come with predetermined functional options, which reduces the implementation effort. However, ERP solutions often deviate from this standard. In addition, the functions required for the interfaces are sometimes special. This is why manual (time-consuming) customisation is often unavoidable.