The CRM is held in such high regard… everyone in the business world talks about it. “My CRM can do 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, it’s hard to say if we can really break away from the powerful features of an automated customer journey, or from lead follow-up optimised for our needs. However, it is still possible to grow your business without necessarily having a dedicated CRM solution. Here’s 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 come with their own CRM module. Compared with a native CRM, these modules generally have less advanced customer relationship management features (although this is changing with new players in the ERP market, such as Odoo), but they are easier to use, especially once your employees are familiar with your ERP interface
Moreover, a CRM-integrated ERP gives you a 360° view of all your customer information, no matter which department it sits in (accounts, logistics, marketing). This gives your sales team complete visibility over the company’s activities. There is no need to switch between different software just to check stock levels or look up the constantly updated product catalogue. Other departments benefit too. At a glance, they know the status of a customer account, whether a follow-up has been made, and so on
To learn more about the benefits of using a CRM-integrated ERP, have a read of this article we wrote.
Good examples of a customer-centric ERP
CRM can be an excellent alternative to ERP, as long as your organisation is fully user-centric and does not require complex inventory management, production and so on.
However, even for such 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 is better to be prepared with software that can cater to a wider range of needs.
When you are looking to adopt an ERP solution, it is important first to clearly define your specific needs. How is your customer journey currently performing? Where are the pain points, and which customer relationship management features do you need to address them? Can outsourced ERPs provide these solutions? If you are finding it difficult to assess your company’s needs, do not hesitate to consult an ERP provider to evaluate your situation and determine the most viable solution for your organisation.
This is why we have chosen to offer the Odoo ERP solution to our customers here at Captivea. Thanks to its strong agility, Odoo is fully suited to environments with continuous growth and evolving needs. In addition, as one of Odoo’s key strengths lies in its CRM module, it is well equipped to meet the vast majority of a company’s customer relationship requirements. On top of that, with all the latest technologies available, it offers exceptional ergonomics for your organisation.
To explore Odoo in more detail, you can read our dedicated articles on the blog or, even simpler, 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 subject. Inside you will cover:
- Data management: which solution should guide the data within your organisation?
- 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 assists companies with their Odoo integration project. Captivea is an Odoo Gold Partner and Odoo Certified.