Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions continue to mature and expand their reach to support core business functions, including human resource, marketing automation, sales force automation, manufacturing, procurement, and accounting.
If you want to get more familiar with ERP integration, keep reading!
What is ERP Integration and Its Trends
ERP integration refers to the method by which organizations connect their ERP software with other applications. The integration’s primary goal is to share critical data across systems. That way, they improve insights and productivity while creating one source of truth.
Bear in mind that each piece of software comes with a well-defined set of rules about how it wants to utilize and manage data. With ERP integration, data is synced in the correct format and ensures it stays valuable and accurate.
Since more and more organizations rely on ERP, they continuously evolve and innovate to incorporate new technologies while supporting a broader functions range.
Below are the top trends of ERP integration that you should keep an eye on:
Cloud ERP Adaption
With cloud ERP adoption, and Cloud ERP Strategy, you can take advantage of fewer internal resource requirements, new functionality, elasticity, lower costs, and more straightforward deployment.
Two-tier ERP
The two-tier ERP trend allows your organization to leverage your current ERP systems investment at the corporate level. In contrast, divisions and subsidiaries are allowed to operate using another ERP solution.
Digital Transformation
As digital technology is integrated into various business functions, you can expect improved day-to-day operations, boosted competitiveness and revenue, increased employee productivity, and enhanced communication and customer service.
Personalization
The AI-based conversational and assistive user interface is a growing trend, which interprets text input and user’s voice and responds to questions through customer information stored inside the ERP.
Predictive Analysis
The year 2021 focuses on using predictive analysis to discover and address things in the future and optimize the organization’s maintenance schedules.
Mobile ERP
Mobile ERP comes with a user-friendly interface that allows the users to get their work done anywhere they are while providing always-on access, more accurate and faster data capture, improved productivity, and increased agility.
What are the Benefits of ERP Integration
ERP software is advantageous when it comes to consolidating critical information to streamline business operations. It comes with functionality that runs the scope from human resources to manufacturing.
Below are top benefits you can expect from ERP integration:
Centralized Data
ERP integration solutions allow data to be in a single accessible location to ensure improved internal workflows. Having data in a centralized location effectively facilitates core business processes while reducing the time spent by the employees waiting for information from different departments necessary for completing the tasks.
Business Process Automation
With integrated ERP solutions, business processes are streamlined across all workflows and departments. In return, the amount of manual input is reduced and the time spent to complete essential tasks.
Workflow Visualization
Data centralization goes hand-in-hand with the business’ task and workflows’ higher visualization. Integration with tools like project management software gives employees the ability to see what their co-workers are working on.
Decreasing Human Errors
Since ERP system integration increases automation activities that occur along with the business operations and workflows, human errors are reduced. For instance, emails and typos sent to the wrong customers are prevented.
What Does A Successful ERP Integration Strategy Include
The bigger your organization becomes, the more advanced software you need. That is why you need a successful ERP integration strategy to prevent clunky workarounds and inconsistent data. This integration is essential to reduce the possible inefficient workflows through data centralization. In return, you can expect improved transparency and increased collaboration.
The best way to plan the ERP integration strategy is to prevent duplicate data, use integration methodology based on your project and organization, and keep the business logic.
Data Map
Generally, the data necessary for the integration project already exists in the ERP. That is why setting a strategy around data integration is critical. Identify which system should own the data and where each data element must be stored. Then, create a data map to clearly document and define the ownership.
Business Logic
Consider the business logic necessary for processing the ERP order. Most of the time, ERP systems include functionality that eliminates data duplication. Take a look at the business function within the ERP system that is suitable for function processing. Plus, your integration team should identify which system effectively handles the functionality.
Integration Methodology
An ERP integration strategy should include various integration points. An integration project often uses 4-6 integration points. However, some projects can have only one or two or even up to 10. For instance, your integration point can be inventory availability.
What are the Different Types of ERP Integration Methods and Their Respective Challenges
Without an ERP integration, your organization can either rely on moving data manually or leave data sitting in limitation. Beware that manual entry can result in no real-time data accessibility, reduced collaboration, and errors. So,
Below are the different ERP integration methods with their respective challenges:
Point-to-Point Integration
This method connects a particular piece of software with another. When there is only two connected software, the method becomes quick and effective.
However, Point to Point Integration is rarely true for modern businesses. Most organization uses plenty of software solutions, which creates and maintains integration for even half of these becomes a big challenge for the IT department.
Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)
This integration method offers a cloud-based approach, enabling organizations to sync applications more accessible and faster than other methods. iPaaS platforms give lots of benefits like not required coding and connection between ERP systems and SaaS products.
However, more integration resulted to more complexity. The internet of things, mobile devices, and cloud computing further complicate the processes.
Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)
ESB method refers to the on-premise software architecture, enabling various apps to share data and communicate with each other. Most data that come onto the bus are in the form of XML.
However, this method does not scale well horizontally. As a result, it is not an idea for organizations that require integration with third parties and SaaS solutions.
What are the iPaaS Platforms and Their Role in ERP Integration
iPaaS refers to the data and applications integration from on-premises and cloud environments. It helps in the processes development between the applications with no integration platform expense.
Through this cloud solution, your organization can network systems, processes, applications, and data clearly, cleanly, and uniformly. It gives organizations to connect and operate without interruption.
iPaaS helps eliminate ERP integration roadblocks, including the need to integrate an ERP t external systems like cloud-based mobile platforms and applications and internal systems in data centers, and support data transformation from and to several formats and outbound data from an ERP to other business systems.
What are the Top Benefits of EDI ERP Integration
With EDI ERP integration, manual human processes like emails, faxes, invoices, paper, and phone calls are reduced. As a result, there are greater staffing efficiencies, fewer mistakes, and faster turnaround times. It also reduces the handling costs of sorting, organizing, and distributing documents through electronic data storing and manipulation.
Below are the top benefits of EDI ERP integration:
Eliminates Data Structures and Formats Complexities
In the EDI ERP integration, protocols are known to enforce best practices while the data is wrapped into ERP. The exchange middlemen mask the data structures and format complexities. These middlemen standardize the EDI implementation across the organization.
Biggest Cost Savings
Most of the time, EDI ERP integration is the most significant cost savings if your organization is currently managing your supply chain communications manually. Plus, small organizations can take advantage of an opportunity to work with bigger national partners who usually mandate particular EDI implementations in place of human communications by phone calls, mails, and emails.
Critical Link Between Retail, Transportation, and Manufacturing Companies
EDI’s need for seamless and accurate data communication continues to skyrocket, making ERP technology a critical link between retail, transportation, and manufacturing companies. ERP solutions have filled that gap through robust back-end EDI interface implementation with front-end administration and management tools.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central As Your ERP Solution
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is one of the most consistent and reliable ERP software on the market. It assists with business management, supply chain management, financial reporting, operations management, project management, and financial management while remaining agile, intuitive, and straightforward.
This all-in-one, robust ERP solution helps control and reduce annual IT costs. You can save a lot on software costs and stay up-to-date, thanks to its subscription system. Check our the Microsoft Dynamics ERP Pricing. Once you open it, you will see everyone and their critical role immediately. It comes with a simple user interface letting the employees access all the essential information to complete their tasks.
This Microsoft ERP products can boost your employees’ productivity level by reducing guesswork, unnecessary human resource inquiries, and training times. It comes with critical tools that prioritize customers according to their purchasing interests and regularly monitor your sales cycles, boosting your customer relations.
When keeping track of your deadlines and budgets, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an excellent cloud solution for your organization. The cloud solution can simplify your task management, scheduling, and budgeting while staying up-to-date.
Since remote working becomes the norm, ERP solution gives you the freedom to move to meet the team’s flexibility needs and globalization demands. This ERP software is accessible from the cloud and on-site, and your employees can access the same tools regardless of th device they use and where they connect.
Benefits of Choosing MS Dynamics 365 Business Central
While MS Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based ERP system, it also delivers a reliable CRM capabilities. Meaning, you can manage your finances, optimize the supply chain, etc., while accelerating your sales.
If you are interested in this ERP solution, below are some of the many benefits:
Low Cost Ownership
MS Dynamics 365 Business Central helps keep costs low, particularly the small to mid-sized businesses looking to control their cash flow. It comes with a monthly subscription-based fee model, so the prices are predictable, and you have nothing to worry about large upfront payments.
Single Source of Truth
This ERP solution creates a single source of truth for the organization’s data across all departments. Meaning, all your data are stored in a primary and secure location that constantly updates in real-time.
Supply Chain and Warehouse Management
This ERP software is equipped with robust supply chain and warehouse management capabilities. It allows you to optimize the warehouse storage facilities while streamlining the storage and receiving through templates to identify the best item placements. It also allows you to optimize the supply chain through predictive replenishment and create purchase orders according to the expected stock-outs and sales forecasts.
EPCGroup Approach as ERP Consultant for Successful Implementation
ERP solution integration is a wiser investment to increase your business growth and productivity. As ERP software is integrated throughout your business, the core functions include budgeting, sales order entry, finance, customer relationship management, procurement, materials, human resources, and management accounting and streamlined.
Once you switch to ERP integration, EPCGroup offers the best ERP consultancy approach for a successful implementation. Their ERP consultancy solution includes migrations and integration, implementation and customization, Dynamics 365 training, and Dynamics managed services and support.
Their data migration and integration offers complete capabilities, from customer profile information to sales figures. They will help you eliminate duplicate data entries. As a result, you will receive a holistic cross-linked data view across multiple applications.
EPCGroup has a team of experts who has the real-world experience and knowledge necessary to deliver a successful ERP integration implementation. They ensure that you have an ongoing ERP integration strategy to bring additional data insights, automate workflows, and build applications.
Conclusion Most organizations rely on ERP solutions to cut costs through redundant process elimination and mundane task automation. Plus, they also give the employees access to critical data and information to better decisions as quickly as possible. You will have a single source of truth. ERP software also streamlines and improves your back-end processes and front-office functions.
