Comparing ERP and CRM: What Does Your Business Need?
You’re trying to automate your business operations, but you’re not sure where to start. Sound familiar? ERP and CRM solutions are essential in helping companies store, manage, and analyze data in a centralized database, but that doesn’t mean they serve the same function.
Discover the difference between ERP and CRM and learn from digital consulting experts which one—or both—will benefit your business.
The Basics of Business Software
ERP and CRM are business software applications that store and analyze data, either on-premise or the cloud. Many companies, from small businesses to large enterprises, use both an ERP and a CRM system to effectively manage their customer relationships, spreadsheets, sales, and more. But what’s the difference? Does your business need both? As experts in digital consulting, we understand that business software capabilities can be confusing, but that’s why our network of expert ERP and CRM consultants are ready to join your team and support your success.
What is ERP?
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) consists of various integrated modules or business applications that share information from a shared database to unify your business operations and optimize your work across the entire organization. From accounts payable to inventory and order management, ERP supports and automizes a range of processes throughout your business to act as a catalyst for business innovation, a platform for efficiency, and so much more.
Having a centralized database, where a single source of information and data lives, across the entire organization allows for businesses to make faster, more accurate decisions, streamlining processes and scaling operations.
What is CRM?
Customer relationship management (CRM) is software that stores, organizes, and manages interactions between a business and its customers. Also a centralized source of information, CRM resources allow organizations to gain valuable insight into customer behavior and make informed decisions to best serve their customers and improve their business processes.
What’s The Difference?
Not sure which one your business needs? Many organizations rely on both.
Ask an ERP consultant—our network of over 18,000 digital consulting experts—and they’ll tell you that ERP is predominantly used for financial data, typically used by the finance department, while CRM experts focus on data used by the sales and customer service departments.
Successfully Implementing Your Software
The benefit of having both ERP and CRM systems is that they are able to share data and unify your entire organization, from the finance department to your sales reps—but that’s only if you’ve implemented and optimized your software successfully. That’s where hiring a digital consulting expert comes. ERP implementation consultants and CRM experts can help you get the most out of your technology investments and support your success.
