As retailers prepare for 2022 and beyond, they realize it's time to integrate their eCommerce platforms and ERP software to exceed customer expectations. Shoppers expect an omnichannel experience where they never feel the seams between these services, and eCommerce ERP software can make these expectations a reality for your eCommerce company.
In their report, the IDC stated that "the global COVID-19 crisis heightened the importance of customer experience and operational systems. In 2020, IDC saw a dramatic shift toward digital commerce as organizations moved business models overnight and accelerated the adoption of digital commerce levels previously expected for 2024."
To remain competitive, IDC analysis found that businesses need to "ensure that their customer-facing applications are deeply integrated with systems of record so that they are resilient, digitally enabled, and agile enough to tackle future commerce trends."
So, if your shoppers make a purchase online, they expect to be able to return it at a location. Suppose they have created an account on your website. In that case, your customers expect their contact information and order history to be accessible regardless of the channel they prefer to use to contact your company.
One of the major retail trends in 2021 was the accelerated growth of online shopping, even after lockdowns. Expectations for omnichannel sales (consumers buying from a business via a website, over the phone, or in-person) rose exponentially in 2021.
Retailers faced labour shortages, website issues, and late deliveries and had to work hard to overcome them. Companies that stuck with manual processes and disconnected systems struggled the most. In fact, the IDC analysts determined that the key to accelerating retail growth was providing an omnichannel customer service experience fueled by the integration of two technologies:
Retailers can achieve the elusive omnichannel sales experience and automate sales order and fulfillment by integrating Acumatica's Sales, CRM, Financials, Fulfillment, and Inventory modules with their eCommerce solutions. For example, the robust, native integrations built into the Acumatica system create an automated omnichannel environment that enables seamless merchant and customer experiences.
Acumatica offers on-board integrations with several popular eCommerce platforms, such as BigCommerce and Shopify. In its report, IDC called the Acumatica for BigCommerce Connector a "single package solution" that "integrates BigCommerce web stores with financials, inventory, operations, and reports running on Acumatica," synchronizing the two platforms into one omnichannel experience.
With Acumatica, you'll reduce stock-outs and back orders, improve order processing and fulfillment, streamline returns and exchanges, and easily integrate with web stores and POS systems. In your back office, you get a single source of truth of synched data that your team members can access anytime, anywhere, from any device. Acumatica enables your business to manage these retail processes from a single dashboard:
Both the retailer and the consumer benefit from the collaboration offered by integrated solutions at a time when exceeding expectations enables growth. Your business will be able to anticipate your customers' needs and expectations by providing them with an omnichannel experience. This extraordinary customer experience is the key to accelerating growth and is made possible by integrating your ERP, retail systems, inventory management, and financial management.
A Partner With Experience
If it's time to supercharge your customers' omnichannel experience, ensure that you have a suitable eCommerce module or proven partner that can integrate your eCommerce platform to the rest of your ERP functions and database. The team at Aqurus can help you. Reach out today to discover how their expertise can help you create efficiencies and cost savings. Call (403) 768-0322 or email today!