It may seem contradictory to say that business software may assist manufacturers to decrease waste and promote leaner procedures. Isn’t investing time and money in a new system causing additional waste? Although it may appear obvious, the truth is that enterprise software provides the most effective tools for supporting lean manufacturing.
Some say it’s a blessing.
This is particularly true when several instances are combined into a single source of truth. When you combine your front-office and back-office data, you have complete insight and up-to-date information that may help you identify inefficiencies and waste. Your ERP and CRM software work together to simplify operations, reduce waste, and boost insight when they are correctly integrated around lean manufacturing techniques.
So many industrial companies run their ERP and CRM systems separately. This is usually because they are unaware of the revenue and growth potential they are foregoing by refusing to make the short-term investment required to connect the two. In reality, the initial expense of committing to an ERP and CRM connection is small when compared to the benefits of linking your business platforms. Your business will benefit from improved accuracy, deeper insights, and more productivity. All thanks to an integration that syncs data between your software programs in real-time!
CRM and ERP Systems
The inability to successfully handle order and demand forecasts is a typical problem for today’s businesses. This means that incorporating customer wants and needs early in the planning cycle is difficult.
Many manufacturers use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system like Salesforce, to overcome this challenge. Microsoft Dynamics, SAP Business One, and NetSuite are all important ERP systems to have in place. Front-end data is handled by CRM systems, while essential back-end data is handled by ERP systems.
CRM and ERP Data Integration
For successful business decision-making, connected data is critical. Integrating your ERP and CRM systems can significantly increase the value of your business. Manufacturers who want the best of both worlds may consider using Salesforce and integrating it with their existing ERP system.
Manufacturers can better manage complicated distribution and supply networks and satisfy product demand by using the correct connectivity technology to sync ERP and CRM data. Connect your ERP and CRM data using Algoworks’ data integration platform for sales, to ensure a seamless data flow between the two platforms.
Enhanced customer service, better data visibility for all departments, increased data accuracy, automation of data administration duties, optimization of company processes, and more are all advantages of syncing your ERP with your CRM.
Smart supply chain
A CRM and ERP system that is connected serves as a central point for vital company data. As a consequence, manufacturers have a clear picture of what is happening in the back office. They can make accurate forecasts based on historical data and respond to demand changes based on new data entered into the CRM. Users can manage the right quantity of raw materials with easy access to all of the data they need in one place, resulting in less waste and fewer back orders.
Customers data
When ERP and CRM systems are combined, you get just that. Whether it’s sales, support, marketing, or simply general customer data, your company will have all the aggregate data it needs to make more qualified decisions about how to preserve and develop your business relationship with clients.
Sales processes are streamlined
A linked system may save your sales staff money and time by preventing costly mistakes. By having immediate access to product availability, sales personnel may set reasonable expectations. This data isn’t simply available on their computers with mobile solutions. Salespeople may address any customer inquiries by checking their phones or tablets while meeting with clients off-site.
Nobody needs to waste time inputting data into numerous programs or waiting until the following day to respond to a prospect’s query.
Nobody needs to waste time inputting data into numerous programs or waiting until the following day to respond to a prospect’s query since data is automatically updated in one solution, allowing the sales cycle to be streamlined and service provided quickly and accurately.
Eliminate duplicate data
If your ERP and CRM systems are separate and don’t work together, you’re more likely to find duplicate customer data. Determining which record should be the master record can be tricky since portions of it may not be entirely copied. An integrated platform reduces the risk of meeting duplicate or incorrect data. It also supports the enhancement of data-driven processes throughout your whole business ecosystem.
Improved Efficiency
Too frequently, manufacturing companies are forced to spend time on manual, labor-consuming integration processes that eat up valuable human resources. By automating workflows and increasing productivity, an integration platform with prebuilt ERP and CRM system connections may assist you in managing these tasks.
Typical Challenges Faced During CRM and ERP Integration
While the advantages of a successful ERP and CRM integration plan seem appealing, there are a few major stumbling hurdles in your way. The most likely snag is standardizing all of your data across all of your business operations. You must verify that each linked system can accept the data being sent, which necessitates data transformation to accommodate a variety of formats.
Additionally, for a robust ERP-CRM integration, it is vital to clear up obsolete and outdated customer data. A central integration platform is intended to provide you with a contemporary, clean method to connecting the systems that handle your customer data, but it’s tough to get the most out of it if you haven’t purged those customers who haven’t been true customers in years.
Wrapping up
Too many companies believe that integrating ERP and CRM for industrial processes isn’t required or worthwhile, but they couldn’t be more incorrect. An integration project may light a match that sparks aggressive new development and innovation in your organization, aside from reducing the work associated with dual data input and the uncertainty that might come with having a technical barrier between your front and back offices.
Start streamlining your company processes efficiently by investing in an efficient Integration platform if you want to build a name for yourself in the manufacturing sector! To improve your business, combine the potential of smart manufacturing with a dependable ERP software solution.
About Us
Algoworks is a B2B IT firm providing end-to-end product development services. Operating chiefly from its California office, Algoworks is reputed for its partnership with Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Dell, Salesforce, and Microsoft. The company’s key IT service offerings include Mobility, Salesforce consulting and development, UI UX Design Consultation, DevOps, and Enterprise Application Integration. For more information, contact us here.
