Transitioning from CRM to ERP: who can you trust?

January 14, 2020 by

Captivea USA, Sébastien RISS

You want to move from a CRM to a complete ERP to boost performance. Excellent idea!

Doing so can greatly improve the flow of data within your company and make it possible to integrate customer relations at the heart of your processes. However, you need to proceed carefully when making this transition! CRM The shift to an ERP requires patience and careful thought. If you don’t take the time to do this properly, you risk stalling your project or investing resources without seeing any added value in return.

Here are a few tips for moving from a CRM to an ERP.

Things to watch for when transitioning from a CRM to an ERP

An integrated management software suite will cover all of your company’s activities. Moving from a CRM to an ERP means fully embedding customer relations in the company’s overall ecosystem.

It is therefore essential to analyse your existing setup in depth to determine which ERP will best meet your current and future needs.

Let’s take the company Behring as an example: after testing a CRM, it wanted to move to a more complete solution in order to gain functional capabilities and manage all organizational activity in a more centralized way. The French manufacturer of new-generation water coolers had expanded its customer relationship management software by developing new processes to monitor its machines and coordinate maintenance services.

A CRM can carry out these tasks through specific development work. However, this can be costly and complex, particularly when it comes to maintenance and upgrades. A sudden switch to an ERP can also be challenging. It’s generally better to launch an ERP implementation project as you begin to reach the limits of your CRM software’s capabilities, rather than trying to force your existing software to meet your needs.

What to watch for when transitioning from CRM to ERP

which service provider to choose when transitioning from CRM to ERP

CRM to ERP: which service provider should you choose?

Achieving a smooth transition from CRM to ERP requires a well-planned strategy

Working with an IT service provider is essential to complete this transition quickly and effectively. But which one should you choose?

First of all, it’s important to identify the Digital Service Company that will be able to understand your processes. In what ways do you use your current CRM? How do your teams collaborate with this CRM and the various digital solutions used within the organization? Your future partner should have a clear vision of the CRM market and its components in order to understand the organization’s situation.

Then, find a service provider who also specializes in ERP. They must also be familiar with broader issues related to the information system and any technological bridges that will need to be built, etc. Of course, ask them about more practical aspects, such as the methodology, projected productivity gains, and how to reduce the time it will take to adapt to these new changes.

It goes without saying that the service provider must be able to give you customer references to demonstrate their expertise. Oftentimes, software vendors award certifications to service providers. These certifications are a good way to ensure that the Digital Service Company you have selected is knowledgeable (for example, Captivea has Odoo V12 certification and is also an Odoo Gold partner).

Of course, it’s also important that there’s a good fit among all the teams involved and that you share common values that can help make the process smoother. With an integrator that puts people first, for example, you’ll have a dedicated contact and won’t be left feeling like just a number - just another customer. Don’t say you weren’t warned…