FIVE REASONS TO BET ON ERP AND E-COMMERCE INTEGRATION IN 2021
As you well know, e-commerce is growing like wildfire. In 2019 this market already showed significant growth, accelerated in 2020, as a consequence of the global pandemic. And in 2021, e-commerce, whether B2B or B2C, is expected to reach astronomical figures. One of the strategies that will drive success in the world of online sales for next year will be the ERP and e-commerce integration. Do you want to know why?
WHY INTEGRATE ERP WITH E-COMMERCE?
The arrival of December is the starting signal for Christmas shopping. I am not going to fall into the cliché of saying that it will be an atypical Christmas because we all already know that. Nor will I recreate the importance of encouraging local commerce. Not even, I will stop to explain how digital business between organizations has been promoted, well, you know, B2B, during the pandemic, because of all this we are almost saturated.
But it is true that Christmas is like a kind of excuse to spend, consume, and buy. And, in a way, this year, more than ever, take a little look and thought away from a health situation that exhausts and worries us. But we are a country, a society; I would say, capable of adapting to circumstances, many times, based on ingenuity and resistance, which is what many SMEs have done in recent months. Sharpen your wits and resist.
And, although it is an attitude that helps to face adverse situations, the truth is that ingenuity is only an emergency resource, but it is not used to plan or project for the future or the operation, stability, or growth of an organization. For this reason, I prefer to propose, with solid arguments, the integration of two strategic applications to optimize online sales and, of course, B2B businesses.
So, the key question is, why is it important to promote the integration between ERP solutions and e-commerce platforms? I can think of the following answers:
TOP 5 REASONS TO BET ON ERP AND E-COMMERCE INTEGRATION
1. TO CENTRALIZE INFORMATION
The most efficient organizations are those that base their operations and, above all, their decisions on data. Accurate, updated, contextualized, relevant information. Information that can be accessed in a simple and secure way. And it should be stored in a central repository and not dispersed in different locations or applications, forming the dreaded data silos. The information must flow throughout the entire architecture to facilitate decision making. Also, to make reporting easier.
2. IMPROVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Improving the customer experience is what will define the success of e-commerce for 2021. It is clear to me. All eyes will be on the customer, and how to provide improved and personalized service and attention? If the data flow and the communication between electronic commerce and ERP are optimal, everything will work perfectly – orders, purchases, warehouse, shipping,… – and the customer will undoubtedly perceive it.
The customer experience will be a differentiator, even above the price. Today, many consumers are willing to pay more if the care received is excellent. Integrating ERP and e-commerce points towards this improvement in the customer experience for several reasons:
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3. IT MAKES BACK-OFFICE EFFICIENT
For starters, ERP and e-commerce integration allow customers to place their orders themselves without the involvement of any employee. This frees up human resources that can be dedicated to increasing sales or providing more and better service. That is, to add additional value.
On the other hand, orders, or rather information, flow automatically from one system to another. And that means that you do not have to enter the data several times or update it. The system does it alone. Automatically, immediately and safely.
In addition, when the order is completed and the information about the shipment flows from the ERP to the e-commerce platform, customers get the self-service experience they are looking for. They can log in to their account and check the status of their order without the need for anyone to intervene on the other side of the phone or email.
Another piece of information in the back office section that seems relevant to me is that the organization will not be efficient if the business function is compartmentalized. That is, when each environment has established its own rules, processes, and operations, the truth is that, although separately, everything seems to work, as a whole, the efficiency is compromised. It will be difficult to communicate and collaborate, while integration provides a cohesive system across the company and consolidates a unified and seamless corporate culture.
4. AUTOMATION OF BILLING
The ERP and e-commerce integration allows you to automate accounting tasks. The information about the orders that are made from the web flows to the ERP from where it is sent to the warehouse, the tickets or delivery notes and the shipping lists are generated, the invoices are generated, and the payment is registered automatically. That is automating your billing! With ERP and e-commerce integration, billing and payment processes are simplified, and automated.
5. THERE IS NO REPEATED DATA OR ERRORS
The fewer times the same data is entered, the less chance of making a mistake. Transferring the order data entered by the customer from the e-commerce platform to the ERP increases precision and reduces errors in order processing. The reduction of errors allows us to save time and money. As long as the possibility of human error can be reduced, everyone will be a winner.
With that, ERP and e-commerce integration also reduces data redundancy. Instead of entering and storing duplicate data in multiple locations, the data can be entered once. And then it flows to any other environment where it is required.
Surely you can think of many other equally valid arguments. Share them with us. We would like to know your opinion. And in case you are looking for a team of professionals who can help you with ERP and e-commerce integration, contact us here. We will be happy to help you.