Today, ERP and business intelligence (BI) are quite similar. Operations and data management typically overlap between both. But, we ought to remember: their purposes still differ.
On the other hand, they provide a complete business overview. So, integrating them can be crucial for any firm. In this article, you’ll learn why.
This is our third entry in the crucial integrations series. You can learn about ERP and CRM here!
Why should ERP and business intelligence integrate?
Fundamentally, ERP records and processes transactions. Likewise, it keeps all relevant logs on a cloud database. BI builds on that base.
BI focuses on analyzing operations. Thus, it uses ERP’s data to create flow charts and spot improvements. Moreover, you can link finances to their causes and consequences.
In the end, you paint the full operational picture.
What do you get from combining ERP and business intelligence?
Netsuite has an amazing breakdown of this implementation. ERP and BI can enhance each other. Naturally, they both deal with overlapping data. Their integration has four fundamental benefits for companies.
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Better data analysis and predictions
Firstly, ERP generates huge data volumes. In most cases, this data is outstanding for BI systems. BI lets companies leverage this data for accurate forecasts and predictions.
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Greater insight for decision-making
Secondly, making decisions is always intimidating. With that data, predictability becomes an advantage. We can centralize these databases for faster access.
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Process efficiency
Thirdly, we can optimize operations and specific processes. BI’s analysis shares fundamental insight on what can improve. Moreover, sharing this data between teams boosts performance.
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Detailed reports
Finally, BI condenses this insight into detailed reports. So, different teams can access simplified data for relevant decisions. Despite their details, reports tend to be highly intuitive.
How to guarantee ERP and business intelligence integration
Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal guide. ERP and Business intelligence systems are unique. Our best advice is to ask providers for integration possibilities and options.
Either that or you can work with professionals. At Zero Point, we provide advanced software development and integration. If you have any doubts, make sure to book a free meeting!