ERP & CRM

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) are two sides of the same profitability coin. ERP and CRM are similar in many ways, as they are both used to increase the overall profitability of a business. These systems overlap in some areas, and can be completely integrated in others. However, as their core functionalities are completely different, it’s best for a business to first look at them as separate, stand-alone systems. When viewed separately, it’s easier to see how ERP and CRM each play a role in improving efficiency and increasing sales.. .

What is CRM? Simply put, CRM is a system for recording and storing all information related to customer interactions. Simply put, CRM is a system for recording and storing all information related to customer interactions. CRM systems like Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics CRM provide a standardized method for collecting and sharing customer data and cataloging customer interactions. Since all of the data is standardized, it’s easily shared throughout the business. CRM can be used by executives to create sales projections, by sales reps to maintain contact with clients, by shipping clerks to verify addresses, and by the billing department to create invoices. The goal of CRM is to provide a comprehensive store of customer data that can be used to increase sales, improve customer retention, and make customer relations more efficient. What is ERP? Where CRM is focused on the customer, ERP focuses on the business. ERP is a system for improving the efficiency of business processes. Like CRM, ERP allows for the rapid sharing of standardized information throughout all departments. Executives, managers, and employees all enter information into the ERP system, creating a real-time, enterprise-wide snapshot. Problems in any area will automatically create alerts in other affected areas. This allows departments to begin planning for issues before they become a problem in that department. In short, by allowing the business to focus on the data, instead of the operations, ERP provides a method for streamlining business processes across the board. Popular ERP vendors like Epicor, SAP, Oracle , Intuit and Microsoft either also make CRM software, or their ERP solutions directly integrate with CRM from other vendors.