However, it is important not to confuse the terms as they have completely different uses. As we have said before, ERPs are a comprehensive resource management tool for companies. And therefore, they go beyond what a CRM can do.
In addition to having typical CRM functions, an ERP can also thai phone numbers manage payrolls, fleets, accounting... In other words, it is a back office software, to maintain control in the company.
Because ERP systems cover all aspects of a business, they are also less specialized.
A CRM will have very specific tools focused on managing your client portfolio. For example, a calendar, email sending, or notifications. An ERP, not so much.
Functions of an ERP
So what can I do with an ERP?
When implemented properly, this back office software allows you to connect the different departments of your company and manage your resources more efficiently.
Here is a list of all the aspects that an ERP could manage:
Product catalog and stock control
Sales Overview
Project and work management
Billing and accounting
Employees and payrolls
Asset management: fleets, machinery...
Storage of internal processes
Advantages of an ERP
As you can see, an ERP covers almost everything. Having such a tool makes it easy for you to move information between each department, and thus be able to create detailed reports on the current status of your company.
If you are looking to grow your business to a large number of employees (10 or more), having at least a simple ERP is a must.
Not only because managing a company of such size starts to get complicated, but because it is a management system that helps you achieve better results.
Thanks to an ERP you can analyze in detail what happens in your business-- for example, you could extract information like the following:
The clients that bring in the most business
The circulation of stock in your inventories
Employee productivity
The evolution of benefits
ERP problems
However, not everything is an advantage.
ERP systems are quite complex, as they move a lot of information around and try to make sense of everything that happens on a day-to-day basis. Your sales department communicates with project management, which in turn needs to keep track of invoicing, and so on.
The problem with all this is that your software can be a bit superficial, without having specialized tools for every part of your business. This depends on the specific solution you choose--some ERPs are more powerful than others, with a corresponding increase in cost.
In the end, we must take into account what we have been saying: an ERP is designed for the entire company, while a CRM specializes in customers and sales.