Leveraging ERP Software with Back End e-Commerce Website Integration

One of the greatest benefits to be realized from the purchase of a manufacturing or wholesale distribution software solution is fully-integrated e-Commerce functionality that allows customers to place orders online and further automate the order entry process. Sophisticated e-Commerce solutions tie directly into the ERP’s data tables, so all customer-specific pricing, promotions, volume discounts, bill-to and ship-to addresses, and available products are displayed to customers over the Internet when logged into their customer account. In addition, customizable e-Commerce solutions allow the manufacturing or distribution organization to integrate back-end e-Commerce functionality into the company’s website while still maintaining the website’s aesthetic characteristics, resulting in a completely transparent site visitor experience when viewing a page that uses e-Commerce or content management system (CMS) functionality on the back end.

A great example of e-Commerce functionality in action can be found at More Than Gourmet’s new website. While More Than Gourmet, a gourmet French sauce manufacturer, uses a CMS for the vast majority of its web pages functions that allow customers to log into their accounts or add products to an online shopping cart are accomplished through e-Commerce software functionality that is integrated with the company’s website and ERP system. When a customer places an order, the data is transmitted directly to the organization’s ERP system via e-Commerce. In addition, the site visitor does not see any difference between pages on the organization’s website that were created with a CMS vs. those that were created with back-end e-Commerce software (unless of course they bother to look at the change in the URL).

By integrating e-Commerce functionality, manufacturers and distributors are able to streamline the order entry process and fulfill a larger volume of customer orders on a daily basis. The end result is an improved overall level of customer satisfaction and an increased opportunity for repeat customer purchases.