Importance of Integrating eCommerce with an ERP

The COVID-19 Pandemic has completely shifted the way many businesses operate, and one important aspect of this new business model is integrating an established eCommerce system. According to the latest Adobe Digital Economy Index, it is being predicted that global eCommerce sales will reach $4.2 trillion by the end of 2021 (1). As the eCommerce market continues to surge, the importance of integrating back-office systems like an ERP to support an eCommerce system has never been more imperative.

SAP Business One offers users complete integration of back-office systems such as Finance and Accounting, Sales and Customer Management, Purchase and Inventory Control, Production Planning, and Business Intelligence. With full visibility and real-time updates, Business One makes the shift to the eCommerce market less stressful and more efficient.

Why is the integration of back-office systems important for eCommerce? Back-office systems are in essence the processes that automate the running and operating of a business. Integrating systems such as Purchasing and Inventory Control and Production Planning is especially helpful when running your eCommerce because it allows for updates and new information to automatically be visible and documented in real-time.

For example, the Item Master keeps track of purchased, sold, manufactured, and inventoried items, and the Inventory Data Tab within the Item Master displays items, descriptions, pricing, general and purchasing data. The Inventory Data Tab additionally presents inventory statuses such as level in stock, committed, on order, and available within the warehouses (3). These statuses are automatically updated by Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, and Deliveries.

These real-time automatic updates to inventory and the ability to see the status of every type of inventory make the process of selling on an e-commerce platform significantly easier and hassle-free. Having a direct view into the quantity available to be sold from warehouses ensures customers will receive their desired products. Knowing how many units are on order allows for clear communication that the products will be available for purchase soon.

Overall, the importance of integrating eCommerce with an ERP has become an integral part of the modern business model. Implementing ERP software to integrate back-office systems will make the transition less stressful, more efficient, and ultimately help business processes run smoother. Having access to organized, real-time data within back-office systems will aid in the operation of an e-commerce platform.

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1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanverdon/2021/04/27/global-ecommerce-sales-to-hit-42-trillion-as-online-surge-continues-adobe-reports/?sh=226255da50fd
2. https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/integrate-your-back-office-systems
3. https://blogs.sap.com/2015/10/27/inventory-management-and-item-allocation-in-sap-business-one/