ERP and eCommerce – Why an Integrated Solution Is Important for Distributor
If you have an ERP and an eCommerce platform, there’s a good chance the two aren’t connected. Its time for a integrated ERP system.
Customers are accustomed to integration at every level. Virtual home assistants connect everything from refrigerators and thermostats to your customers’ phones. They fully expect a smooth technology experience when making purchases from you, including accurate inventory, correct pricing, and up-to-date product information. If that doesn’t happen, your sales and your bottom line will suffer.
If you have an ERP and an eCommerce platform, there’s a good chance the two aren’t connected. If you sell products online, integrating your ERP and eCommerce platforms offers numerous benefits, from meeting customer expectations to providing business intelligence that makes scaling and expanding possible.
Deliver a smooth customer experience
When you make a purchase, whether it’s online or in person, you don’t really know what happens behind the scenes, but if you’re buying from a retailer with a sophisticated tech stack, several important steps occur. Their inventory is automatically updated, and your purchase is recorded in your purchase history. The price point is recorded. In some instances, you’re automatically offered the option to purchase a warranty. The type of payment method you use is recorded and possibly saved.
When these things don’t happen, it comes through in the customer experience. If, for example, the customer needs more information and calls, the sales rep won’t have access to their purchase history and can’t provide the outstanding service expected. Or, if the customer needs to make the same purchase again in a month, but they can’t remember all the details, they won’t be able to find it easily and may go to a different retailer.
When your ERP and your eCommerce platform are connected, your customer receives better service overall and enjoys a smooth buying experience.
Avoid errors
Manual tasks increase errors. Humans are prone to making mistakes like reading a line incorrectly or hitting the wrong key without realizing it. Not only that but paying a human to make manual updates to your system is expensive.
Automating tasks such as updating prices and tracking inventory reduces errors and costs. Integrating your ERP and eCommerce platform allows for automation and greater efficiency results. Plus, your team is free to do higher-value tasks.
Clearer picture of your business
When you know what your inventory is in near-real-time, you can make more informed business decisions. You can better determine where to place resources and where to pull back. ERP and eCommerce integration improves logistics and allows for just-in-time delivery. A centralized system means that data is quickly available, and reports are easy to generate.
In today’s volatile business climate, a clear picture of your business is essential for simply surviving. But with increased efficiency, decreased costs, improved customer loyalty, you can do more than survive—you can thrive.
Scale everywhere, at once
With integrated systems, you can introduce a new product line everywhere at the same time. Product information, shipping details, and pricing only have to be entered one time and are reflected anywhere your customers make purchases from you. Digital sales and eCommerce continue to grow, and your business needs to be ready to take advantage of the opportunities that growth will produce.
Final Thoughts
ERP and an eCommerce go hand in hand.
Velosio experts can help you evaluate ERP solutions, migrate on-prem systems to the cloud, and unify all data and processes in one place.
We provide hands-on guidance and data-driven insights that help you realize business value faster and put you on the path toward future transformations. Contact us today to learn more.