Shopify and ERP Implementation
Shopify is an online marketplace platform where users can build a frontend to display your products/ services, collect payments, manage inventory, and to ship. You can also integrate your Shopify store with Amazon and Facebook Marketplace. It provides an ecosystem for eCommerce business functions across in-house and partner applications, shipping firms, suppliers, and vendors. Shopify store owners grow at 126% YoY on an average. Shopify Plus is its enterprise-level solution with the following salient features:
- An over-the-cloud model with 99.99% uptime.
- Unlimited bandwidth, zero transaction fees, and customization-friendly APIs.
- High scalability with no limits on product count.
- Quick customization and deployment cycles.
- It can be used without any dedicated in-house IT support.
- 24/7 Customer support over phone calls, live chat, emails, and community forums.
- Single ecosystem for all your online business requirements.
- Relatively affordable as compared to legacy online selling platforms.
You can integrate Shopify with any leading ERPs like Microsoft Dynamics, SAP Business One, and Sage 100. Ideally, you should always consult an expert before considering ERP implementation. This is because its upfront costs and post-implementation costs like employee training are considerable investments. Getting stuck with the wrong solution is expensive and sabotages productivity until an extended period. You can evaluate the need for using one based on some key indicators as mentioned below:
- You are facing trouble in coordinating sales with inventory management.
- Your IT infrastructure is becoming a significant cost center.
- Managing operations requires a vast number of repetitive clerical formalities.
- Your estore has complex workflows and uses multiple software solutions for various business processes.
- Core business functions like analytics, accounting, and supply chain management are suffering due to weak information visibility.
Nestle, Tesla Motors, Pepsico, and Redbull are some of the major brands that rely on Shopify to run their online stores. However, using a dedicated enterprise resource planning system is equally crucial for running a profitable estore.
Points to Keep in Mind While Selecting your ERP Software for your Shopify-Based Online Store
Many factors affect the selection of the right ERP vendor due to the customization and utility criteria. Online stores are moving towards omnichannel sales and mobile-first strategies, which require agility, intuitive automation, BYOD friendliness, system stability, and data security. While selecting the right cloud ERP solution, you should look out for integrations with online selling platforms, shipping management, and inventory control support for omnichannel sales. Also, reflecting information across the selling platforms and the accounting system is a must. Warehouse management, too, needs an integrated approach for streamlining operations. Typical market offerings have hostility towards extensive customization and mobile-friendliness. It should harness marketing automation through engagement tools, reduction in errors, maintaining data integrity across cloud, on-premise, and your eCommerce platform. You should keep all of these aspects in mind while considering ERP Software for your eCommerce platform.
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