You're likely familiar with the terms configuration and customization when you deal with an ERP system. These are essential parts of integrating ERP applications into your business environment. Each ERP application must be customized to specific requirements to meet the company's business processes. Both are essential, but it is easy to misinterpret them.
Configuration and customization are two key components of ERP applications that work well together. Understanding the differences is essential to get the best out of your ERP solution.
ERP Configuration
To configure an ERP application, you must optimize its essential functions and components to make it work with the existing system environment.
Examples of ERP configuration
- Set up language, currency, and time zone preferences.
- Standard options and page layouts.
- Set up a default email client.
- Configuring custom fields and objects.
- Standard security parameters to be defined.
- Access Controls based on hierarchy and role definition.
ERP Customization
It is called customizing an ERP application to meet specific business or company needs.
Examples of ERP customization
- Modifying existing features or improving them.
- Add new options and features that were not included in the original package.
- Configure the application to support third-party functions.
- Task management can be enhanced.
How to Customize?
Customization is avoided if you can achieve your business goals through the application's configuration alone. Why? Because you have already purchased the software and are using its existing features to maximize efficiency, optimizing by configuring correctly is much easier and faster. Because customization involves making changes in the ERP software's source code, it is often more complex and requires custom programming. This can lead to more time-consuming, expensive, and potentially risky work (unless your business process is clearly defined in your base ERP application).
Remember that ERP configurations are almost always safe from being updated. As you know, most software updates available to ERP applications allow the custom user and system preferences to be maintained.
Updates can be more difficult to manage customizations. It may not be easy to update an ERP system, depending on how much customization is required. Some customizations might be lost even if an update is possible. However, customization can enhance an ERP solution's functionality and help it deliver the right results under the circumstances. There are better solutions for some businesses. It is challenging to reverse customizations and should be done after thorough analysis. Before making any major changes, consult your ERP vendor or an industry specialist.
ERP Software Customized
Automation-first philosophy
Built on a low-code platform, a custom ERP system with advanced visual workflow editors ensures that automation is not ignored as an added value. Advanced automation workflows that are easy to deploy can help your ERP system rise to the top of your business operations.
ERPs that reflect your operations
Custom ERP platforms are built using a bottom-up approach. This ensures that your business processes, culture, and data are included in every stage of your ERP release, maintenance, and build.
Lower maintenance, higher utilization
Although a customized ERP may take longer to design and develop, it is much faster to build and maintain. The focus is always on the business basics, and not the release details. Because each feature was designed to meet specific business needs, the utilization rate of features is close to 100%.
Seamless data transfer
Our Creator's enterprise-grade capabilities for data management ensure easy data import, transformation, and maintenance. Data migration from legacy applications to our Creator is easy, to cloud-based backups and encryption. This ensures that your data quality remains intact.
Zero hidden costs
Transparency in pricing is a key feature of custom ERP solutions. You are in complete control of your ERP spending because you only pay for the platform and the data storage.
Empowering citizen development
Your business users depend on traditional programmers to realize your vision. This is why there are gaps between your expectations and the actual outcome. By giving business users a platform to deploy complex customizations and workflows in a visually integrated development environment, you can reduce cycle time and increase the relevance of your ERP to their end users.
Cloud-based
Cloud-based ERPs offer faster implementation, improved collaboration, increased uptime, lower costs, and zero fixed capital. You can focus on your core competencies and leave maintenance and security concerns to our experts. Our 100% owned and fully encrypted data centers provide 99.9% uptime with complete data protection.
Read More: 7 Tools to Look for When Choosing an Integration Consultant
Services For Custom Integration
Magento Integration
Our Magento integration services allow you to organize all of your eCommerce activities. They are capable of enabling end-to-end shipping, payment, and order management.
Salesforce CRM Integration
Our Salesforce integration specialists can help you implement and optimize the process, whether you want to integrate Salesforce into a new or existing application.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Integration
A good strategy and technical expertise are essential for successful integrations. Our clients have relied on us to integrate Microsoft Dynamics CRM with other systems via BizTalk, Dynamics connector, and web services.
Shopify Integration
Our Shopify integration services make it easy to manage and control all aspects of your eCommerce sales management, as well as inventory management.
SAP Integration
We offer SAP integration services for Adobe Commerce and Big Commerce, as well as Magento and Cloudfy.
Managed Integration Services User Cases and Applications
It is well-known that data to managed integration services and multiple systems can take time and effort. This is because of the complexity involved and the need to have skilled personnel to handle the work.
- End users want to be able to import/export data into other systems using a standard.
- You must be able to create new flows to support business changes.
- Customers should be able to manage data from obsolete systems to create new strategies.
- A user must be able to convert data from one format into another.
What is CRM?
CRM is customer relationship management. It refers to software that manages client information, such as purchase history, contact information, and other marketing details. These data are stored to make it easier for customers to close future deals. However, the platforms can also be used to manage projects.
Are CRM Systems Compatible With Social Media?
In recent decades, the majority of customer-business communication was done via email, telephone, and websites. However, social media is driving interaction and direct sales. Integrating CRM systems with social media is becoming a more important part of customer relations management. Much social media management and automation applications integrate well with CRM systems.
What does CRM Integration Mean For Customers?
When CRM integration is used correctly, customers will see an improvement in the speed of communication from businesses. But they will most notice a business's more remarkable ability to personalize. Because CRM systems are so effective at analyzing customer patterns using so many customer data sources, a company can make its communications more personalized to each customer.
What Are The Differences Between CRM Systems?
The three main types of CRM apps are operational, collaborative, and analytical. Although each has its own strengths, they all help automate repetitive tasks, store vital information, and identify trends. To find the right solution for you, check out our guide to top CRMs for small businesses.
CRM Software Explained
Customer relation management combines technologies and strategies to manage customer interactions. It involves gathering and analyzing data from all points of contact with customers during the "customer lifetime cycle." This can include initial connection with leads, post-sales interactions, and client or subscriber retention efforts.
CRM software is a central platform that consolidates customer-related information in a single or multiple databases. This allows for easier, faster access and analysis. Customers can be managed more efficiently by storing and compiling customer bio details, account information, and sales data. A few CRM systems can be single-purchase software products installed on a company server. This gives the business complete control over the program and the data. Some systems can be used as software-as-a-service (SaaS), which a business can access anywhere. Open-source solutions are also available.
CRM systems enable customers to store, organize and retrieve their data automatically. Automating customer interactions not only improve customer service but also reduces workload. The most significant advantage of CRM systems is their ability to connect with and adapt to other systems. Are customers required to provide email addresses when they purchase a program? But another program handles email marketing. This gap can be bridged by CRM software.
How CRM Integration Works
Connecting with other software and applications will help a CRM system reach its full potential. Integration is simply the process of linking a CRM system to other systems. It allows a business's customer information to integrate with third-party systems seamlessly. Although these third-party systems may not be related to CRM, the data they produce or use can help CRM work better and vice versa.
Different types of businesses will have different ways of integrating. Some people think it is as easy as linking a CRM system to a few functions on a company website. This can be accomplished using integrations built into CRM software. For more complex businesses, however, it will be necessary to link a CRM platform with multiple systems, including ERP (enterprise resource plan) systems.
Integrations of CRM systems require the use of APIs (application programming interfacings) for most cases. Integrations using CRM systems are often performed with the "integration platform-as-a-service" (iPaaS) tool. This facilitates information sharing among third-party systems.
Why Not Use Custom Code Instead APIs and iPaaS?
Developers can write code that connects two systems and forces them to communicate. This is possible without much difficulty. This strategy is not unusual, but it can be messy. Companies may have hundreds of applications, and connections can become broken if one of them updates. Integrated CRM systems are recommended for businesses that regularly update or change their products and services.
CRM Integration Examples
Although CRM integration can be used to integrate with many business functions, these are the most common examples.
Integration of CRM with E-Commerce
The world of sales is the most beneficial area of a CRM system. It's possible to integrate it with other areas of your business. CRM systems are valuable in this area as they track and record data about current clients and leads from many channels.
The CRM system should be integrated with any e-commerce platform used to manage sales operations in order to get the best out of it. Customer browsing, ordering, and payment collection). Examples include BigCommerce, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Square, just to name a few. This will allow contact information, orders, and products to be synced in one system.
Read More : System Integration Solutions To Enhance Systems Visibility
Integration of CRM with Marketing
Many businesses want to be able to gather information about potential customers before they make sales. The goal is to have a "360-degree view" of each customer's profile. Many businesses use marketing automation systems like Adobe Experience Cloud, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and Adobe Experience Cloud to integrate customer data from all the major marketing channels.
Integration of CRM systems is essential to view potential customers through all channels and market to them effectively. CRM integration is crucial in marketing. It can link relevant data to all customer information throughout the customer's life cycle and help direct the lead toward the right marketing channel to close the sale.
Integration of CRM and Customer Service
Customers can contact businesses to request information and assistance. Tickets or cases are generated and need to be organized and tracked. It is essential to track and cross-reference current details about warranties, repairs/maintenance, and returns. These aspects of customer service can be addressed by various software, including IT service management software and field services software. However, integration with CRM software or other services is required to link this information with the rest of the area.
CRM integration can combine customer service data with more extensive customer databases. It can also link customer service operations with other channels. Do on-site technicians have access to customer calls? How will customer service or marketing know when to follow up with customers if they have a note from a technician about anticipated maintenance?
CRM Integration Has Many Benefits
Integration of CRM within a business is best described as the expediter in a restaurant. It links the customer-facing part of operations with the back of the house where services are generated. Both cases require a predictable and streamlined flow of information. This is how customers are happy, and the business runs smoothly. These are some of the significant benefits that CRM integration can bring to this end.
Improved Communication and Customer Care
Customers' experiences when doing business with your company are just as important as the quality and quantity of your services or products. This is especially true when similar products or services are offered by multiple competitors. Businesses cannot afford to lose sight of customers and keep them satisfied. They must communicate promptly, accurately, and personally with all those who reach out to them.
Many businesses have found CRM integration invaluable for their customer-facing functions. It allows them to access information and automate tasks, as well as the potential to increase employee awareness. CRM integration can be a powerful tool for driving sales growth by attracting and retaining customers through proper communication.
Automatization Opportunities
A platform that automates communication and records-keeping tasks can help businesses save time. These are two areas that otherwise consume a lot of employees' time. A well-integrated CRM system, for example, can link customer support information to a system that automatically communicates with the customer and other relevant business parties. This saves time and money as there is no need to hire employees to manage the workflow or keep track of it once it's finished.
Improved Organization and Efficiency
Consolidating information into one system is as essential for internal efficiency and productivity as it is for automation. Employees can perform customer monitoring and analysis tasks more quickly and on a larger scale if they don't need to log in and switch between different systems. Also, information can be retrieved instantly and modified immediately. Employees can access organized data from a central location to reduce their workload and promote transparency within the company.
Not only is your CRM essential for communication with customers, but it should also help to create alignment and streamline communication within the company.
These are some key connections to your CRM or other business processes:
Email Integrations Sales reps spend a lot of time in their inbox. Email is your best friend, whether you're sending out cold pitches, answering prospect questions, or sharing data with your team.
Integrating your Gmail and Outlook CRM allows you to log all your emails, access productivity tools such as sequences, and view all of the contact information in your CRM without ever leaving your inbox.
Calendar Integrations
Keep on top of important tasks by synching your Google and Outlook calendars with your CRM. Two-way integration allows you to log meetings in your CRM and Google or Outlook calendars. You can also create meeting notices and send invites.
Our CRM users can integrate the meeting scheduling app. This allows prospects to book meetings with you based on your real-time availability. It eliminates back-and-forth coordination.
Connector Integrations
These integrations allow you to connect your CRM with various applications and extend functionality. You can create custom integrations to facilitate specific tasks and create automated workflows. We have interested in which transfers data between your CRM system and more than 1,000 third-party applications. Make are two of our favorite connector integrations.
Make allows you to connect to your CRM with over 1,000 others. You can also use their visual automation platform to create complex and simple workflows. This will enable you to connect your CRM to automatically exchange data with all systems, from accounting and payment apps such as Stripe and Stripe to project management platforms such as ClickUp and Asana.
Social Media Integrations
Nearly every business uses social media as a sales tool. Integration of your company's social media accounts into your CRM will give you valuable insights about your audience. This data will allow you to know which content they are most interested in and what they share.
Integrations with social media can also streamline and automate your posting. Connect popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google to your CRM.
Looking for Software Integrations
Integrating third-party tools to identify and engage prospects is a great way to improve communication. Integrating a prospecting tool such as the LinkedIn Sales Navigator into your CRM will allow you to engage prospects with personalized outreach through features like InMail, related leads, and icebreakers within your CRM.
Integration of Team Communication
You can increase team coordination and accessibility by using a communication tool. Integrating Slack into your CRM allows you to utilize the chat functionality in Slack or directly from your CRM. This makes it easier for team coordination and accessibility.
Forms and data collection integrations
You can learn more about your contacts and leads using custom forms and surveys with tools. You can sync the data from your forms to make it easier to reference and analyze them with your CRM contact data.
Software Integrations
Calling integrations to make it easier to plan and execute phone and video sales calls, regardless of whether you host regular conference calls with colleagues or need them to organize calls with prospects. Your CRM will log your contact information and call details when you integrate your calling program with it. This allows for easy access to your data in the future. We love these calling software integrations:
- Zoom - Meeting software that integrates easily into your CRM and calendar software.
- Uber Conference -- Allows you to make calls directly from your CRM.
- Aircall -- Cloud-based phone system that allows support and sales teams to manage calls and workflows from within their CRM.
- CallRail -- Call-tracking software that syncs calls and text messages with CRM.
Customer Success Integrations
Integrating customer success software tools and Services Hub can help you sell more products. To keep up with your customers' service needs, sync customer helps ticket data to your CRM.
Proposal Integrations and Document Integrations
You can easily send proposals and contracts by integrating a document and proposal software tool with your CRM. Sign contracts and have them automatically synced to your CRM contact information. You can also import CRM data directly to your documents.
Live Chat Integrations
A live chat integration with your CRM will ensure that prospects who engage in chat software on your site are captured as leads.
Intercom is a popular live chat tool that can capture website visitors and convert them into leads when connected to your CRM. You can easily capture contact information and conversation history to be ready to engage with leads.
Integrations in E-Commerce
Sales reps who work for ecommerce companies need to integrate their online shopping cart platform with their CRM. This is crucial to understand your customers. Integrating your Shopify store to sell products can automatically sync orders, contacts, products, and products so that you have the correct information.
Integrating Stripe with your CRM will allow you to add contacts to receive quotes automatically. Customers can also pay invoices directly from your CRM without going back and forth.
Integration of Web Forms
Automated sync between your website's lead generation forms and your CRM will save you time with manual entry. Integration of your CRM with web forms software like Unbounce, WordPress, and Mailchimp allows for the capture of viable leads. This ensures that your contact database is always current. No manual uploads are required.
Event Integrations
Integrating your CRM with event management software can help you understand the impact of event ticket sales on your sales funnel.
A tool for ticketing live events. Integrating this system with your CRM will provide valuable data about who attends your circumstances and how to connect with them in the future.
Sales reps who sell at virtual events like webinars can save time by integrating their CRM with a system. You can connect your webinar system to your CRM to send reminders about registration events to your contacts, create follow-up campaigns and create robust funnel reports that will help you understand the ROI of your event.
Video Integrations
Integrating a video platform like Youtube into your CRM can give valuable insight into your leads. You will be able to see data from your CRM about which videos and messages are popular with your audience. This will give you an advantage when you engage with potential customers. Integrations can be a powerful tool that saves time when working with data and systems.
Conclusion
Cyber Infrastructure Inc. team of integration consultants will assist you in creating and implementing tailored solutions that meet your business needs. You can achieve your business goals and needs with our custom integration consulting services.
High-level security is a key part of our personalized payment integration services. This ensures data security and protection from being stolen. We have a team that can cater to businesses' ERP or CRM needs.
