ERP Integration: What It Means for Your Data
What is ERP integration?
ERP integration is the connection between a company's ERP and other applications: an online store, a CRM, a shop-floor system, a quote calculation tool or a reconciliation platform. The goal is for a piece of data to be entered once and reach the other systems automatically and reliably.
Without integration, someone copies data from one screen to another or exports and imports files by hand. That takes time and causes errors: wrong amounts, duplicate customers or orders that never get invoiced.
ERP integration methods
- API: the application reads from and writes to the ERP through its programming interface. It is the most direct method and allows near real-time work.
- File exchange: one system produces a file (CSV, Excel, XML or a bank format such as Norma 43) and the other imports it. It is simple and useful when the ERP has no API or the source is external, such as a bank.
- Integration platforms: a middle layer connects several systems and handles transformations and retries.
- Database access: reading or writing directly to the ERP's tables. It is quick to set up but fragile when the ERP is updated, and best avoided for writing.
API or file export for ERP integration?
ERP API integration is preferable when data must be up to date, when you need to write back to the ERP or when volume is high. Files fit batch processes, such as loading one bank statement a day. Many integrations combine both: a file for the external input and the API to read and update the ERP.
How to connect an application to the ERP
- Define which data moves, in which direction and how often.
- Map the fields in each system and agree which one is the source of truth for each piece of data.
- Start in a test environment, reading before writing.
- Design for errors: what happens if the ERP doesn't respond or rejects a record. Retries must be safe so they don't create duplicates.
- Log every operation so it can be audited and corrected.
ERP integration at DPI
For a company in the glass industry, we replaced its old quote calculation tool, which was sending inaccurate data to the ERP. The new platform calculates surface area, weight and material cost and sends the correct data to the ERP (Holded) automatically. It took 6 weeks from analysis to ERP integration.
In automated bank reconciliation, the system integrates with the client's ERP via API to get open invoices, receives bank transactions in a Norma 43 or Excel file and sends approved matches back to the ERP. Integration with your ERP, CRM or internal systems is part of the custom development service.