To carry out an e-commerce activity implies many tasks related to the management of the Internet site, but also to that of the company itself. A colossal work that can be extremely time-consuming and jeopardize your assets and your productivity. This is why many companies, from small businesses to large corporations, choose to equip themselves with an ERP to optimize their internal management. However, in order to demonstrate the extent of the efficiency and possibilities of this software, it is strongly recommended to synchronize it with your e-commerce site. Calliope, specialist in business solutions for all companies, explains the advantages of such a project.
ERP, AN ESSENTIAL CENTRALIZATION TOOL
An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a management solution that brings together all of a company's internal processes to facilitate daily operations. Whatever the size of your company, ERP is a great tool for your development strategy.
Optimize the management of your company
An ERP software package is composed of many modules related to the activity of a company and its problems. These modules are designed to function independently, while interacting to create a single database and information, accessible to all departments. ERP handles all aspects of a company, from production to sales and accounting. The implementation of an ERP solution within your company thus ensures the quality of the information transmitted, and allows better communication between your collaborators and your teams.
Various functionalities
In general, ERP software offers common modules, essential to the internal functioning of a company:
E-COMMERCE SITE AND ERP : THE BENEFITS OF SYNCHRONIZATION
Despite the amount of work required, connecting your e-commerce site to an ERP solution (or to your existing ERP) represents definite advantages, both in the short and long term.
Simplified internal processes
Between the internal life of your company and that of your site, your work time is doubled; a phenomenon frequently observed which does not help your business, quite the contrary. Customer service, order and inventory management, product catalog updates, accounting and more: by using separate tools to manage these aspects, you risk losing precious time and making crucial anticipation errors. Connecting your e-commerce site to your ERP allows you to :
Ensure data quality
By connecting your e-commerce site to your ERP, all your data is synchronized. This process allows you to limit manual data entry to a minimum and, consequently, to considerably reduce the risk of errors and loss of information. Indeed, the amount of data related to an e-commerce activity (customer identity, orders, products, etc.) is particularly important. The coupling of the two platforms guarantees the automatic transmission of all this information which, thus centralized, forms a reliable and unique database.
Improve customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is at the heart of the success of an e-commerce business. It is therefore essential to take care of all the steps of the customer's journey when he visits your site, from the product search to the validation of his cart and the financial transaction. Thanks to the connection of your e-commerce with your ERP software, all the information your customers need (available stock, personalized suggestions, order status, invoicing details, etc.) are indicated and updated in real time. In addition, order processing times are reduced, which reassures your customers and demonstrates your seriousness.
CONNECT YOUR E-COMMERCE SITE TO YOUR ERP: A STRATEGIC APPROACH
By connecting your ERP to your e-commerce, you gain in quality and reliability, and increase your chances to retain your customers or to win a new one. However, the interests of this project for your company do not stop there.
Lower operating costs
By reducing to a minimum the human intervention linked to the manual input of information and their verification, you are no longer obliged to resort to the hiring, punctual or long term, of additional personnel. The financial investment in this operation is thus largely profitable, since it saves you the expenses related to new employees.
An aid to decision making
The implementation of this process within your e-commerce company ensures an excellent synchronicity of your data and your information in real time. This offers you a better visibility on the strategic stakes of your business, but also on its constraints and possibilities. You have all the information you need to anticipate events and make the right decisions.
WHICH SOLUTION TO CONNECT YOUR E-COMMERCE SITE TO YOUR ERP?
Some data are essential to connect your e-commerce site to your ERP. Stock, product prices, payment methods, delivery conditions, order characteristics and status, invoices, customer data: information that needs to be synchronized between the two types of platforms. These flows can be done in both directions, from the ERP to the e-commerce site, or from the latter to the ERP.
Depending on the content management system (CMS) that you use and the hosting platform of your site, the integration methods are different. Nevertheless, it is possible to perform certain basic steps that will allow you to connect your two tools:
ERP, AN ESSENTIAL CENTRALIZATION TOOL
An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a management solution that brings together all of a company's internal processes to facilitate daily operations. Whatever the size of your company, ERP is a great tool for your development strategy.
Optimize the management of your company
An ERP software package is composed of many modules related to the activity of a company and its problems. These modules are designed to function independently, while interacting to create a single database and information, accessible to all departments. ERP handles all aspects of a company, from production to sales and accounting. The implementation of an ERP solution within your company thus ensures the quality of the information transmitted, and allows better communication between your collaborators and your teams.
Various functionalities
In general, ERP software offers common modules, essential to the internal functioning of a company:
- A Supply Chain module (inventory and raw material management).
- A supplier management module.
- An accounting and financial management module.
- A human resources management module.
- An e-commerce management module.
- A sales management module.
- A distribution management module.
E-COMMERCE SITE AND ERP : THE BENEFITS OF SYNCHRONIZATION
Despite the amount of work required, connecting your e-commerce site to an ERP solution (or to your existing ERP) represents definite advantages, both in the short and long term.
Simplified internal processes
Between the internal life of your company and that of your site, your work time is doubled; a phenomenon frequently observed which does not help your business, quite the contrary. Customer service, order and inventory management, product catalog updates, accounting and more: by using separate tools to manage these aspects, you risk losing precious time and making crucial anticipation errors. Connecting your e-commerce site to your ERP allows you to :
- Get a better visibility of your data, in real time.
- Improve your inventory management and order processing methods.
- Facilitate your accounting processes and financial operations.
- Better adapt your offer to demand.
Ensure data quality
By connecting your e-commerce site to your ERP, all your data is synchronized. This process allows you to limit manual data entry to a minimum and, consequently, to considerably reduce the risk of errors and loss of information. Indeed, the amount of data related to an e-commerce activity (customer identity, orders, products, etc.) is particularly important. The coupling of the two platforms guarantees the automatic transmission of all this information which, thus centralized, forms a reliable and unique database.
Improve customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is at the heart of the success of an e-commerce business. It is therefore essential to take care of all the steps of the customer's journey when he visits your site, from the product search to the validation of his cart and the financial transaction. Thanks to the connection of your e-commerce with your ERP software, all the information your customers need (available stock, personalized suggestions, order status, invoicing details, etc.) are indicated and updated in real time. In addition, order processing times are reduced, which reassures your customers and demonstrates your seriousness.
CONNECT YOUR E-COMMERCE SITE TO YOUR ERP: A STRATEGIC APPROACH
By connecting your ERP to your e-commerce, you gain in quality and reliability, and increase your chances to retain your customers or to win a new one. However, the interests of this project for your company do not stop there.
Lower operating costs
By reducing to a minimum the human intervention linked to the manual input of information and their verification, you are no longer obliged to resort to the hiring, punctual or long term, of additional personnel. The financial investment in this operation is thus largely profitable, since it saves you the expenses related to new employees.
An aid to decision making
The implementation of this process within your e-commerce company ensures an excellent synchronicity of your data and your information in real time. This offers you a better visibility on the strategic stakes of your business, but also on its constraints and possibilities. You have all the information you need to anticipate events and make the right decisions.
WHICH SOLUTION TO CONNECT YOUR E-COMMERCE SITE TO YOUR ERP?
Some data are essential to connect your e-commerce site to your ERP. Stock, product prices, payment methods, delivery conditions, order characteristics and status, invoices, customer data: information that needs to be synchronized between the two types of platforms. These flows can be done in both directions, from the ERP to the e-commerce site, or from the latter to the ERP.
Depending on the content management system (CMS) that you use and the hosting platform of your site, the integration methods are different. Nevertheless, it is possible to perform certain basic steps that will allow you to connect your two tools:
- Proceed with a bilateral operation by integrating the ERP with your CMS, then the data from your CMS with your ERP.
- Check the capabilities of your ERP and your e-commerce to exchange data in real time, in CSV or XML formats.
- Use an API (Application Programming Interface), which facilitates the connection of the two entities and the interaction of their own functionalities.