In today’s fast-paced business world, efficiency and seamless data flow are more important than ever. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have become essential tools for businesses of all sizes, helping them manage everything from finances to supply chains and customer relations. However, an ERP system alone isn’t enough. To unlock its full potential, it needs to be integrated with other software and systems across the business. This is where ERP integration comes in.
An ERP integration involves connecting your organization’s system with other business applications like EDI and eCommerce channels. This data sharing enhances operational efficiency, improves decision-making, and provides a holistic view of business processes. The benefit of ERP integration is aligning departments with each other, streamlining operational workflows, and driving new productivity and growth.
ERP integration connects your ERP to external order channels and partner systems via EDI/APIs/portals and to internal apps (eCommerce, POS, shipping/WMS).
The goal is a unified, near-real-time order flow and a single source of truth in the ERP, not direct ERP-to-ERP coupling across companies.
In a B2B (business-to-business) context, ERP integration enables seamless communication and data exchange between a company's ERP system and those of its suppliers, customers, and partners, enhancing collaboration, automating workflows, and providing real-time insights for better decision-making across the business ecosystem.
ERP integration links your ERP with every system that powers your B2B workflow, from eCommerce and EDI channels to shipping, POS, and inventory tools. Traditional setups rely on middleware or custom builds to bridge incompatible systems.
OrderEase replaces that patchwork with a “connect-once” model: integrate your ERP once, and OrderEase syncs every order, invoice, inventory update, and acknowledgment across all channels in real-time or near real-time.
With OrderEase, ERP integration stops being a coding exercise and becomes a scalable backbone, one connection that standardizes every B2B order flow from intake to fulfillment.
In the past, many businesses have overlooked integration due to the high cost and difficulty of implementation. Online commerce was predominantly geared toward consumer goods and online solutions mainly supported the B2C marketplace. The B2B world, always around 10-15 years behind B2C, was perfectly happy with emailing and faxing their orders in the old-fashioned way.
However, many of those same consumers are also business owners who’ve quickly become used to the convenience of B2C ordering and want the same for their B2B relationships, and this demand isn’t going unnoticed. Many large companies are quickly adopting fully automated integrations for all their systems. ERP integration is no longer a case of “Should I, or shouldn’t I?” It’s a question of “Can I afford to put off integrations any longer?"
To make matters more pressing, the widespread adoption of mobile devices in the wholesale ecosystem has driven suppliers to provide their customers with an anytime, anywhere integrated ordering solution. Not only that, they’re restructuring their websites and online ordering solutions to be more responsive to the mobile marketplace.
For smaller wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers, connecting your ERP or even accounting software like Sage or QuickBooks to your order channels creates huge efficiency gains. With a connect-once setup like OrderEase, small teams can sync every order, invoice, and inventory update automatically across eCommerce, EDI, and partner systems.
Here’s why it’s worth it for small businesses:
These advantages mirror the broader benefits of ERP integration we discussed earlier, but are especially impactful for smaller teams with leaner resources.
Most businesses purchase and deploy an ERP system long before they even start to consider an online ordering solution to allow their customers to place orders and make payments via the internet. Usually, when a purchase decision is made to build out online ordering, it’s typically kept separate from the ERP for change management reasons.
If your ERP and online ordering solution have their own databases, any changes implemented in one system have to be transferred to another, requiring manual data entry.
Waiting for a database update before you can process orders, replenish inventory levels, or update availability for your customers will result in slower operations and a higher risk of database errors.
Depending on your integration provider, you’ll likely face four issues in ERP implementation:
You can break ERP integrations into two main groups: one-way and two-way.
When evaluating a solution to integrate your ERP with other systems to make order management more efficient—shipping software, sales channels, online marketplaces, order management, and mobile ordering solutions—you need to be aware of the different options that exist for how an integration communicates with the other side.
There are three main communication standards integrations can work with:
With each of these, there may be limitations on what information can be transmitted due to limitations of functionality. However, the most important thing organizations should take into consideration is the underlying functionality of their integrations.
As with most B2B trends, everyone has been 10-20 years behind on the zeitgeist of B2C buying habits. Your customers, long accustomed to the ease of ordering from major commercial companies such as Amazon, want the same ease in their B2B orders.
To meet consumer demand, businesses are implementing ERP system integration to simplify online orders and how your customers can interact with your products.
When integrating your ERP with systems like shipping software, online marketplaces, or mobile ordering tools, it’s not just about whether the systems connect but how they communicate. The method determines how fast, reliable, and automated your data flow will be.
Here are the most common communication methods used in ERP integrations and when to consider each:
|
Method |
When to Use It |
How It Works |
|
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) |
Best for companies that exchange a lot of documents with retailers or suppliers, such as purchase orders or invoices. |
EDI is a common system used by large retailers and distributors. It replaces paper and email documents with structured digital files, letting businesses trade data automatically. |
|
Application Programming Interface (API) |
Great for modern tools that need instant updates, like eCommerce stores, mobile apps, or delivery platforms. |
An API works like a live conversation between systems. When an order is placed or stock levels change, both systems know right away. |
|
Secure File Transfer Protocol (sFTP) |
Useful for older or traditional systems that still rely on file uploads |
sFTP moves data between systems in encrypted files, keeping it private and safe. Businesses often use it for scheduled updates, like sending a daily file of new orders or stock numbers overnight. It’s slower than real-time connections but works well when speed isn’t critical. |
With each of these, there may be limitations on what information can be transmitted due to limitations of functionality. However, the most important thing organizations should take into consideration is the underlying functionality of their integrations.
Integrating your ERP system with other business applications is key to streamlining operations and ensuring accurate, real-time data flow across your organization. There are several tools and platforms available that can simplify the process of ERP integration, depending on your business needs and system requirements. Here’s a look at some of the most effective tools you can use for ERP integration:
ERP integrations are an essential step for businesses looking to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and streamline operations. By connecting your ERP system with other business tools and platforms—whether through APIs, middleware, or custom integrations—you can reduce errors, lower costs, and scale your business for growth. However, it’s important to consider the costs, complexity, and impact of implementing an ERP integration solution to ensure it aligns with your business needs and goals.
If you're ready to integrate your ERP, get in touch with the OrderEase team!
An ERP ordering system focuses specifically on managing orders within your ERP system, tracking sales, inventory, and customer data. In contrast, integrated software combines multiple business functions such as accounting, HR, and supply chain management into one unified platform. The key difference is that an integrated system connects various business processes, whereas an ERP ordering system is more specialized for order management.
The time it takes to implement an ERP integration solution can vary depending on factors like the complexity of the system, the number of applications being integrated, and the scale of your business. On average, an intégration ERP project can take anywhere from a few months to a year. It's important to work with experienced professionals who can provide a realistic timeline based on your specific needs.
Before starting an ERP integration B2B project, it's crucial to understand the scope of integration, the systems you plan to connect, and the business goals you're aiming to achieve. Proper planning and clear communication with your business partners will help ensure smooth integration. Consider factors like data security, user training, and ongoing support to maximize the success of your b2b erp integration.
For ERP marketplace integration, several tools and platforms are popular for their ease of use and powerful features. Look into platforms like SAP, Oracle NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for comprehensive ERP integration solutions. These tools offer flexibility, scalability, and a wide range of integrations with marketplaces, ensuring that your ERP system can efficiently sync with external platforms for smooth transactions.