ERP for e-commerce: what it is and its advantages

A few years later, people discovered solutions such as messengers, emails and, shortly thereafter, social networks and applications such as WhatsApp . But it was not just communication that went through a strong digitization process.

The act of buying also left a totally analogical reality to gain strength on the web. E -commerces are still on the rise, and the number of virtual stores continues to grow. The main question for entrepreneurs in e-commerce is: how to manage the store with quality?

The answer lies in the technology itself, this time in the use of intelligent digital systems, such as ERPs. Do you want to know more about ERP for e-commerce and how it brings advantages to the administration of your enterprise? So follow today's post! Good reading!

WHAT IS AN ERP?

ERP is an acronym for the English term Enterprise Resource Planning. Despite the name being centered on resources ( resource), the tool is an integrated business management system.

We are talking about software for corporate use that is capable of centralizing and managing all information sensitive to the company's operations. In addition to managing data, the system aims to integrate data, resources and processes from different areas, such as:

1. Sales;
2. Shopping;
3. Financial sector;
4. Accounting,
5. Stock;
6. Logistics;
7. Production.

Despite the focus on these seven business pillars, the data collected by an ERP also serves to foster other activities, such as Marketing actions and even the strategic performance of HR (when it acts as a result aid, a much more strategic perspective of the sector ).

A quality ERP is a changeable product, that is, it fits the customer's needs. Companies that develop management systems know that each organization has particularities and needs, so the best ERPs on the market are customizable, modular and follow the principles of scalability .

SEVERAL CENTRALIZED PROCESSES

The types of data processed in an ERP are very diverse, and there is the possibility of integrating and centralizing information arising from processes such as:

1. Billing analysis;
2. Cash flow;
3. Construction of balance sheets;
4. Expense control;
5. Tax control;
6. Inventory management and asset control;
7. Inventory management;
8. Sales processes.

In short: the function of an ERP is to be a kind of electronic brain, an intelligent and agile center, capable of handling data, performing a quick reading of them and presenting them in an understandable and simplified way for platform users.

With this, the company gains agility to monitor its results, creating the possibility of following processes and numbers in almost real time, not to mention that all the information collected by the ERP provides subsidies for strategic decision making.

WHAT DOES E-COMMERCE GAIN FROM THE USE OF AN ERP?

The adoption of an ERP helps a virtual store to control more than just the volume of sales. All the information listed above is concentrated in the system.

Along with the ease of management, it is important to emphasize that the company's contacts can be entered into the system, making it even easier to control customers and use the sales funnel .

The winner with this last item is marketing, which can develop its actions more strategically, in addition to using the data to map the main characteristics of the target audience and, with that, develop personas (which are very useful in inbound techniques and content marketing) .

In summary, ERP attacks 7 key points for e-commerce :

1. Inventory control;
2. Sector integration;
3. Process automation ;
4. Cost reduction;
5. Accuracy in financial management ;
6. Reduction of operational errors.

MY E-COMMERCE IS SMALL. DO I REALLY NEED AN ERP?

Even a small virtual store benefits from the positive transformations that ERP brings about in operations.

It's not because your business is small that it doesn't need good control, in fact, if your goal is to grow, ERP will be very useful to help with business demands.

Despite being an investment, ERP brings returns, especially by transforming company management into something more strategic, agile and uncomplicated. Not to mention that the system allows managers to have more information about the customer journey and consumption experience.

All this information is nutrients for business growth, therefore, there is no reason to stop adopting the system just because it is a small virtual store.