What is CRM and ERP, and How Can Your Business Benefit?

As a business professional, you’ve probably come across the terms ERP and CRM floating around on multiple industry websites. Some articles use these terms interchangeably, making it difficult to fully understand CRM and ERP. The two systems are similar in some ways, but have different core functionalities. Both are valuable business solutions that improve both revenue and productivity.

What is ERP?

ERP is a financial and operations system for improving the efficiency of business processes, and is also known as Enterprise Resource Planning. Businesses such as yours are leveraging an ERP in the form of accounting software, such as QuickBooks, Sage 100, SYSPRO, etc.

It’s a category of business management software that companies can use to collect, store, manage, and interpret data. ERP allows for the automation and integration of a company’s core business to help them focus on effectiveness and simplified success.

An ERP system covers common functional areas including Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Engineering, etc.

According to the Aberdeen Group, 96% of growing businesses rely on an ERP system. In addition, small businesses saw a 36% reduction in time for decision making thanks to ERP software.

What is CRM?

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is used to organize, automate, and synchronize a company’s sales, marketing, and customer service. CRM is an approach to manage a company’s interaction with current and potential customers.

It uses data analysis about customers’ history with a company to improve business relationships, specifically focusing on customer retention and ultimately driving sales growth. Long gone are the days of saving customer information on scattered spreadsheets and constantly having to check in with your sales team about leads and opportunities. A CRM allows you and your team to expertly manage prospects and existing customers from one system.

SuperOffice released statistics showing CRM adoption and usage had increased in 2018 to 74% from 56% previously. It breaks down further with 91% of companies with 11 or more employees using CRM. Plus, 74% say CRM has helped their overall access to customer data.

CRM vs ERP

Which System Should You Implement for Your Business?

It’s easy for companies wanting to increase growth to see the benefits of a CRM system. It can boost sales and profit, but to fulfill increasing orders, one must have a stable ERP backbone.
So basically you need both. A CRM system to drive sales and an ERP system helps to streamline operations and reduce overall costs.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the software currently available. Popular ERP and CRM systems include:

ERP: Sage, SYSPRO, QuickBooks, SAP, TRAVERSE, Acumatica, JD Edwards, etc.

CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Zoho CRM, SugarCRM etc.

However, data between the two systems remained siloed. Luckily Commercient SYNC can integrate that data to help you streamline your business.

What Does Commercient SYNC Do?

Commercient SYNC, the #1 data integration platform for sales, makes it possible for your teams to see ERP data directly in your CRM. Click this video to see how.

This includes customer information, sales history, invoicing, serial numbers invoiced, inventory, multiple ship-to-addresses, and much more. New accounts, orders, opportunities, etc., created in CRM are SYNC’d to ERP. Commercient gives you a 360-degree view of sales and marketing.

Unlike traditional data integration tools, like an ETL, there is no coding, mapping, or server. We handle everything, so you can focus on growing your business.

Contact us today for a free Commercient SYNC demo.