Fernando Labastida’s Integration Blog

Fernando Labastida
Tel: 512-231-6048 Cell: 512-586-4396 Toll Free: 877-477-0322

Integration is the key to CRM success

With the increasing popularity of CRM software, especially CRM using the software-as-a-service (saas) model, there is a growing need and demand for integration with a company’s back-end systems. ERP, accounting, and other production applications that have existed as silos of information in the enterprise for years contain information critical for a complete picture of the business. As the over-used phrase goes, companies want the 360 degree view of their customer.

The key to this is integration. Integration will enable you to:

Make sales more responsive

When sales executives and customer service representatives are interfacing with their customers, they need to have immediate information on the status of orders, trouble tickets, purchase history, and accounting information. That valuable data has traditionally been at the mercy of a few ERP or accounting “specialists” who hold the keys to the kingdom. Integration between these legacy systems and hte new user-friendly CRM applications will give people who are on the front lines with the customers information that will allow them to make on-the-spot decisions to close the deal or save an account.

Automate Transactions and Invoicing

After closing the sale in your CRM system, what next? Companies trying to compete in this fast-paced economy can’t afford to manually enter orders into a fulfillment system that completes the transaction and issues the invoice. Again, sales executives need the ability to get the whole process rolling from their CRM system. Integration will enable the CRM system to automatically kick-off an instruction to the back-end systems that get the manufacturing or distribution gears cranking.

Gain Intelligence on the Health of your Business

Most of the new CRM systems have visual reporting tools that allow executives to see the health of their business at-a-glance. These dashboards are only as valuable as the data that feeds it, and gaining access to information locked away in other mission-critical systems will enable more powerful and accurate reporting.

Additionally, for more sophisticated reporting companies often have to acquire a third-party business intelligence tool because the CRM systems’ dashboard functionality isn’t comprehensive enough. Integration is key to enabling a third-party business intelligence solution.

To find out how to integrate your CRM systems with your mission-critical back-end systems, please call or email me at 512-231-6048 or flabastida@pervasive.com
Fernando Labastida

Fernando Labastida is a Sales Executive for Pervasive Software, covering Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Southwest Canada, Minnesota, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, and all of Latin America.

Contact him at: Direct: 512-231-6048 Cell: 512-586.4396 Toll Free: 877-447-0322 flabastida@pervasive.com

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