Online businesses have become more prominent with the steadily growing importance of eCommerce functionality. With this in mind, the integration of a company's data (ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning) with an eCommerce platform is touted as making possible increased productivity, boosted revenue, eliminated mistakes and increased customer focus.

Speaking to WhosWho.mt, a spokesperson from a local leading solutions-based business, PTL Limited, commented that the process can be facilitated with the use of specific modules or add-ons which can make the process easier in today’s fast-paced life.

The company can help businesses to integrate their systems in a modern and flexible way, unlocking efficiency, create better storefronts, launch faster, and driving business.

What challenges do many businesses face?

• Dependencies on products, customers and stock or quantity.
• Flow of information
• Managing data and information

When an eCommerce and ERP integration is well thought out and running seamlessly, what benefits can you expect to see?

Data Collection and Synchronisation

Through seamless integration between two systems, each system can extend the other to support data collection. When more data is captured, it enhances the value of each synchronisation. Through a system that is accurate and fast, a business can build better customer profiles and ensures a better experience for the end customer. One can delight customers with new product suggestions, promotions or discounts tailored to their preferences.

Being able to show what’s in stock (or when it will be) with minimal effort, can help the overall customer experience. This will reduce negative customer interactions and supports a positive brand experience, no matter what.

Reduce ERP Burden

When you try to do more than is expected with your ERP software, it will often result in system slowdowns, poor performance and other issues that will have a negative effect on the customer experience.

By integrating your ERP with the eCommerce platform, you can remove the burdens from your ERP system and eliminate any strains or feature stretches.

Having a tight system integration will result in having both systems working more efficiently with less maintenance required to keep your business up and running smoothly. Business units will be able to continue focusing on their key areas.

Customer-Focused Experience

Having such integrations between an ERP and eCommerce platform provides direct benefits to the customer experience. For example, preferred payment and purchasing options, account information updates, shipping address details and tracking orders. These are necessary for maintaining your long-term customer relationships. This will avoid manual data entry and paperwork and therefore the service teams can focus on tasks such as lead generation and relationship building. This is all dependant on having regular, accurate syncing between platforms.

Extend what you’re already doing

Your marketing and sales teams will have more freedom to sell. They’ll have the tools required to create unique offers and customer experiences, all with an optimised digital storefront. They may also have the potential to sell non-traditional products and services that were traditionally bought as B2C.

PTL stresses what many have throughout this pandemic: business flexibility is key. "Companies must be agile to make business changes quickly when new strategies or opportunities arise. Companies must ensure that their key integrations operate efficiently, no matter what demands are placed on them."

Contact PTL for more information here.