Common Problems with ERP Integration

Using an ERP software is the best way to simplify and streamline your business processes, particularly when you are in the manufacturing industry. However, to get the most out of ERP, it needs to be integrated with your existing software applications. ERP integration comes with several benefits but the challenge lies in integrating it with your existing systems.

As we all know, ERP system has several modules like inventory control, HR and production planning, and integrating each of them with other software applications is not easy. This problem is compounded when these ERP modules are purchased from different vendors. In such a situation, each module will have a different architecture. As a result, it can get difficult to make these modules interact with each other. To resolve this issue, a lot of customization is needed in order to connect these modules.

Data exchange between ERP and other systems is one of the main problems encountered by developers. For instance, data from ERP has to be sent in a format that the organization uses. This conversion from one format to another to ensure smooth flow of data from one system to another is done by a separate application.

Considering the amount of efforts involved in ERP integration with other system, it is not possible to integrate all touch points. Integration is done only at a few touch points. Another issue that arises is when a new version of the ERP is launched. Integrating this latest version may again require extensive customization to ensure seamless exchange of data between systems. In other words, you might have to completely break the existing integration in order to incorporate the recent version of ERP.

On the whole, when you decide to incorporate an ERP system into your organization, make sure it is easy to integrate with your existing business processes. You should have a clear idea about what applications you want to integrate with your ERP system and what formats will be used for data exchange.