The CRM is held in such high regard... Everyone in the business world talks about it. "My CRM does this, yours should do that... Have you seen the latest version of this one?"
Is a world without CRM possible? In the age of digital transformation, there’s no way to know for sure whether we can free ourselves from the powerful features of an automated customer journey, or from lead follow-up optimized for our needs. However, you can still grow your business without necessarily having a dedicated CRM solution. Let us explain how.
Why use both when the ERP can fully perform the functions of a CRM?
Who needs a CRM when you have a powerful ERP?
Today, most ERP systems have their own CRM module. When compared to a native CRM, these modules generally have less advanced customer relationship management features (although this is changing with new players in the ERP world, such as Odoo), but are simpler to use, especially once your employees are familiar with your ERP’s interface.
Moreover, a CRM-integrated ERP gives you a 360° view of all your customer information, regardless of which department houses it (accounting, logistics, marketing). This gives your sales force total visibility of the company's activity. No need to juggle between software programs to find out inventory status or reference the constantly updated product catalogue. Other departments benefit as well. In the blink of an eye, they know where a customer account stands, whether or not a reminder has been made, etc
To learn more about the benefits of using a CRM-integrated ERP, we invite you to read this article written by our team.
Good examples of a customer-centred ERP
CRM can be an excellent alternative to ERP, as long as your organization is completely “user-centric” and does not require complex inventory management, production, and so on.
However, even for these companies, it may be worth considering implementing an ERP instead of a CRM. In the event of a new product or service launch, or rapid business growth, it’s better to be prepared with software that can cover a wide range of needs.
When you’re looking to choose an ERP solution, it’s important first to clearly define your specific needs. How is your customer journey going? What are the sticking points you need to work on, and which customer relationship management features do you need to address them? Can outsourced ERPs provide these solutions? If you’re having difficulty assessing your company’s needs, don’t hesitate to consult an ERP provider to review your situation and determine the most viable solution for your organization.
This is why we chose to offer the Odoo ERP solution to our customers here at Captivea. Thanks to its great agility, Odoo is fully suited to environments of continuous growth and changing needs. Second, because one of Odoo’s greatest strengths lies in its CRM module, it is fully equipped to meet the vast majority of a company’s customer relationship needs. Additionally, with all the latest technologies available, it offers exceptional ergonomics for your organization.
To explore Odoo in more detail, you can read our dedicated articles on the blog or, even more simply, request a presentation from one of our experienced consultants.
Connect your ERP and CRM!
To help you find the perfect synergy between your ERP and CRM, we have prepared an e-book dedicated to the topic. Inside, you’ll discover:
- Data management: which solution should drive the data within your organization?
- Can you do without your CRM?
- How do you convince your Sales Director and CFO to integrate using an ERP?
- Finding the right service provider to interconnect ERP and CRM
And much more...
Captivea Odoo Gold partner
Captivea supports companies with their Odoo integration projects. Captivea is an Odoo Gold Partner and Odoo Certified.