According to the Economist, the world’s most valuable asset is no longer oil, but data. And it’s for a good reason: it can be used to create new products or services that improve people’s lives. The same applies to businesses. They have access to an increasing amount of data about their customers, suppliers, employees, partners, and competitors. This information can help them develop better strategies and make smarter decisions.
But this wealth of data also poses challenges. For example, collecting, analyzing, and using all this data takes time and effort. That’s where business intelligence (BI) comes in. BI refers to software tools that help companies manage and analyze large amounts of data. In other words, BI helps you turn your data into knowledge. An excellent BI solution is Microsoft Dynamics 365, a cloud-based business applications platform that integrates seamlessly with ERP, CRM, and other productivity and AI tools.
This article explores how integrating your ERP and CRM system with Microsoft Dynamics 365 can benefit your organization. We’ll look at key benefits, including improved customer service, increased productivity, and reduced costs. But first, let’s understand what ERP and CRM entail.
What Is ERP?
ERP stands for enterprise resource planning. ERP systems are designed to streamline processes across multiple departments within an organization. In addition, these systems provide visibility into operations, allowing managers to monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
What Is CRM?
CRM stands for customer relationship management. CRM systems focus on managing relationships between organizations and their customers. They track customer interactions, such as sales leads, orders, and invoices. They also allow users to send personalized messages, respond to inquiries, and automate follow-up on tasks.
How Does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fit Into All This?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 combines the functionality of both ERP and CRM. It provides a single view of your entire business, helping you keep tabs on everything from sales activities to inventory levels. In addition, you can easily integrate your ERP and CRM with Microsoft Dynamics 365 using connectors. For example, when you add a product to your ERP system, you can automatically update its price in your CRM. Or, if you receive an order in your CRM, you can automatically generate an invoice in your ERP.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 also offers powerful analytics capabilities. With these capabilities, you can gain insights into your business by analyzing real-time data. For instance, you can see which products are selling best, who’s buying what, and which marketing campaigns are working.
Benefits of Integrating Your ERP and CRM System with Microsoft Business Apps
Integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 allows you to take advantage of several key benefits. Let’s explore these benefits now.
Improved Customer Service
Connecting your ERP and CRM systems to Microsoft Dynamics 365 gives you access to customer data that helps improve your customer experience. For example, you may be able to create custom emails that offer special deals to repeat buyers. And you might even be able to use this data to personalize your website.
Increased Productivity
Combining all your company’s data into one place can increase efficiency throughout your organization. For example, you could assign employees to specific projects based on their skills and preferences. Or you could make it easier for them to find the right documents by storing them in the cloud.
Actionable Insights from Data
Connecting your ERP and CRM systems to Microsoft Dynamics 365 allows you to gain actionable insights from data. For example, you can analyze historical information to determine whether certain products are popular or unpopular. If so, you can adjust your pricing strategy accordingly.
Cost Reduction
You can save money by consolidating multiple systems into one. By integrating your ERP and CRM systems with Microsoft Dynamics 365, you’ll have fewer points of failure. If one system has a problem, the other will still work. Moreover, you won’t spend too much money on software licenses because you’re only paying for the features you need.
More Accurate Product Forecasting
Connecting your ERP and CRM systems with Microsoft Dynamics 365 can share information about your current and future needs. In turn, this shared information can help you plan and accurately predict how many units you’ll need to produce.
Reduced Customer Approval Time
When customers sign contracts, approve payments, or request quotes, they expect fast service. But sometimes, you don’t always get the results you want. When you combine your ERP and CRM systems with Microsoft Dynamics 365, you can automate tasks like sending invoices and tracking orders. This makes it easy for customers to submit requests and receive responses quickly.
Better Sales and Marketing Strategies and Results
When you connect your ERP and CRM systems to Microsoft Dynamics 365, they become part of a unified platform. That means you can leverage the power of each tool to help you achieve better results. For example, you might be able to send personalized messages to customers who haven’t bought from you recently. Or you might be able to target new prospects based on their previous purchases.
Why Work with One Microsoft Partner to Manage Both Solutions vs. Two Separate Vendors?
The integration between your ERP and CRMs solutions is easy to set up. But if you try to do it yourself, you may not get the same level of support as you would from an experienced partner. A good Microsoft partner has extensive knowledge of both ERP and CRM technologies. They know how to integrate them. They can help you avoid common pitfalls. And they can provide expert advice on how to best take advantage of the benefits of working with both solutions.
And the best part? You won’t have to deal with two support teams that don’t always understand what the other team does. When you work with one Microsoft partner, you’ll benefit from a single point of contact. And you won’t incur two billing cycles for services.
TMC Is Your One-Stop Microsoft Shop for Seamless Integration and Ongoing Support!
At Technology Management Concepts, TMC, we’ve been helping companies like yours implement progressive Microsoft technologies for over 19 years. We offer comprehensive consulting services, including implementation, training, ongoing maintenance, and technical support. Besides, our consultants are experts at using Microsoft tools to streamline business processes and improve productivity.
But that’s not all; TMC is rigorous with our CRM and ERP implementations approach. We use state-of-the-art technology to ensure that your solution meets your needs today and in the future. And we make sure that you get the most out of your investment. So if you’re looking to connect your ERP and CRM systems to Microsoft Dynamics 365, we invite you to contact us today, and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.
