As a strategic ally of Emperor Palpatine and head of an army of determined, energetic stormtroopers, Darth Vader is a typical sales director in the Galactic Empire. With stubborn determination and ready to do anything to hit his targets, he embodies the (sales) Force of the Empire. A true man of action, he drives business development, leads prospecting efforts, and optimises results for the Dark Side. To manage all this expertly, Darth Vader, of course, uses an ERP with a high-performance CRM solution. Here, Darth Vader breaks down the benefits of an “all-in-one” solution for the sales department.
An ERP system to optimise your interactions with customers and prospects
All SMEs have a responsibility to maintain high-quality relationships with current and prospective customers; that is the foundation of their success. A good CRM tool is therefore an essential part of their arsenal. But have you ever considered using an ERP system to manage your customer relationships? This could be a good alternative for an SME or a micro business, because CRM solutions that are integrated into ERP software are generally simpler and thus quicker to get to grips with than a dedicated CRM solution.
Moreover, these modules are relatively basic and require relatively little customisation to meet salespeople’s needs. CRM solutions integrated into ERP enable the native sharing of information across all modules within your management applications.
A 360° view of all your customer information
When following up with customers and checking available stock levels, your salespeople often find themselves constantly switching between the CRM and ERP packages. However, it is possible to increase their efficiency and productivity by using a single, integrated business application. This will give them 360° visibility of all customer information held across different areas of the business (accounting, logistics, marketing, etc.). There is therefore no longer any need to switch between the CRM and ERP software just to search for data!
Take the example of quotation management with a solution like Odoo: all files, such as price lists and product catalogues, are available together with the different pricing offered to each type of customer (general public, resellers, VIP customers, etc.). This saves your sales team a considerable amount of time. In addition, unlike a traditional CRM system that only provides a high-level overview of information, an integrated tool offers a detailed, real-time view.
Choose a modern CRM solution
To optimise sales management within your business, you should keep an eye out for new features, because some solutions are more comprehensive than others in terms of their functionality.
One tool that is extremely popular with salespeople is the Kanban view. It allows CRM data to be managed via a highly visual, user-friendly interface. This makes it possible to customise how all current opportunities are displayed. This simplified, global view is ideal for salespeople because it enables them to quickly identify the next action to take, thereby triggering activities in a smooth, continuous flow.
Then, as you know, going paperless is a key concern for SMEs. This puts an end to time‑consuming tasks; the era of time‑saving is here. For example, a modern ERP solution lets you create and send quotations within seconds, then share them as a PDF or directly online. To go even further, and significantly enhance your return on investment, some ERPs even support electronic signatures. No more waiting endlessly for everyone to sign hard‑copy documents.
From now on, your (sales) Force will always be with you as you conquer the galaxy.
Master Yoda's advice
“With a CRM deployment, you will start.”
CRM is a key part of your business, and you are strongly encouraged to implement it before other modules in your ERP system. Ultimately, it is in your interest for the business to be more "customer‑focused" than "production‑focused".Moreover, the amount of bespoke development required is very limited, if required at all.