ERP vs CRM system: What is the difference?

If you don't know the difference between an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system and a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, we will explain it in detail below because they are currently the 2 systems most chosen by companies. They usually have points or functions in common, but they also have many differences.

ERP or CRM: What to implement?

Smaller companies, especially service companies, may first invest in a CRM solution to support the process of acquiring new customers and improving relationships with existing ones; this generally helps to accelerate development.

Companies whose business is based on the trade of goods will benefit most from the implementation of the ERP system.Even if they are not yet on a large scale, but it allows them to control purchases from suppliers, warehouses and sales. A modular ERP system is therefore a good option. At the beginning, you can implement only those modules of the system that are needed at the current stage of the company's development, and later, over many years of operation, you can gradually expand the system and turn it, for example, into an ERP with Artificial Intelligence.

Regardless of which system is implemented first, there will generally come a point at which your company will need an ERP and CRM system. These systems are complementary and it is worth ensuring that they are integrated in a way that avoids performing the same activities twice, separately in each system.

Differences: ERP vs CRM 

Both CRM and ERP allow information to be disseminated throughout the enterprise. and are used for improving business processesHowever, they differ:

• ERP: focuses on the processes of the entire organization.
• CRM: focuses solely on customer relationships.

What is an ERP system?

ERP is used for enterprise resource planning. Within one application it is possible to manage many resources, some even say all the processes that take place in the company. This includes marketing, sales, customer base, production, warehouse and much more. The selection of the number of modules, i.e. system components, depends on the individual needs of a particular company and the processes that take place within it.

Thanks to this, it is possible to easily share information between departments and employees of the company. Each of them has a function in the system, which allows, for example, editing, displaying or deleting data. In this way, data flow and security are guaranteed. 

The continuous input of information will make the system a database of updated company data, which will benefit all departments of the company. ERP solutions also allow for future expansion and integration, according to the needs of each business.

Companies that use ERP tools to share purchasing/sales information with other areas of the company.

Therefore, ERP systems ensure:

1. Precise adjustment to the needs.

2. Collection of many different data within one application.

Data security.

4. Possibility of integration and future expansion.

What is a CRM system?

CRM is used for customer relationship management. It also helps to organize and automate processes, but its scope is much smaller. CRM helps to manage, standardize and improve only sales, marketing and customer service processes.

Therefore, the CRM system may have a different degree of expansion, but it will not enable the operations offered by the ERP, e.g. production management.

Companies that had a computer application to manage customer information (CRM tools).

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CRM systems allow:

1. Customer relationship management, marketing and sales.

2. Sales escalation and proper evaluation of sales opportunities.

3. Future expansion as needs increase.

4. Integration with external systems.

CRM System - Application and Benefits:

ERP System - Application and Benefits: