ERP Integration—Why It Matters and How It Works

As your organization chooses its next Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application, you will likely compare features and functions, read reviews, and speak to references. It’s less common for shoppers to consider integration capabilities as they shop for their next ERP. Why is that? 

Here, we explain why ERP integration is an important consideration, debunk some persistent myths surrounding ERP integrations, review various integration options, and share why we believe Sage Intacct may be the best platform to unite your operations. 

Why Integration Is So Important

While ERP applications have broad capabilities, few businesses rely solely on one application to power their operations. For example, your organization might also leverage specialized applications such as CRM, eCommerce, HRMS, and business intelligence. Or perhaps you rely on legacy ERP software that holds historical transactions or industry-specific software such as medical billing or membership tracking. As a result, vital business data is stored in multiple, disparate applications, depriving your organization of a single source of truth and deep data insight. 

Simply put, integration is the exchange of data between two or more software applications. It can be unidirectional — where the data travels only in one direction — or bidirectional —where both applications send and receive data.

Integrating your vital business software systems extends the value of each of them — and unlocks tremendous opportunities for efficiency. Integration allows you to take advantage of new capabilities (such as expense management or fixed asset tracking). It also reduces the need for duplicate data entry to keep multiple applications (think CRM and ERP) up to date. The benefits of ERP integration are many, including:

  • Minimized data entry
  • Access to real-time information
  • Extending the capabilities of your ERP
  • Enhancing collaboration across the organization
  • More comprehensive reporting
analyzing-data-with-erp-solution-on-laptop
Debunking Common Myths About ERP Integration

Myths and misconceptions can often deter companies from unlocking their full potential. Let’s shine a light on some of the myths surrounding ERP integrations to separate fact from fiction.

Myth 1: ERP Integrations are Time-Consuming and Disruptive

Truth: It’s a common misconception that ERP integrations take an eternity build and disrupt daily operations. While this might have been true in the early days of ERP systems, modern solutions are designed for smooth and efficient integrations. Your business can implement seamless integrations without significant disruptions thanks to cloud architecture, pre-built connectors, and intuitive interfaces.

Myth 2: ERP Integration is Only for Large Corporations

Truth: This myth was likely perpetuated along with Myth 1 above. Since earlier integrations required extensive internal and external IT resources and expertise, they were often out of the reach of small to mid-sized organizations. Today, modern ERP platforms are designed to integrate, with many product integrations available out-of-the-box.

Myth 3: Customizations Get Lost with Integration

Truth: A pervasive fear is that your unique customizations will be overridden or unsupported once you integrate the ERP system with other applications. However, contemporary ERP platforms prioritize flexibility, ensuring that businesses can maintain their customizations and unique processes even with outside integrations.

Myth 4: ERP Integration is Too Technical for the Average User

Truth: While it’s true that a “from scratch” integration may require technical knowledge of both systems, many ERP applications offer out-of-the-box integrations. For example, you can shop the Sage Intacct Marketplace for hundreds of pre-built integrations with general and specialized applications. 

What Makes Sage Intacct “Integratable”

Sage Intacct has emerged as a preferred choice for many businesses seeking a robust business management solution, particularly when integrating with other applications. Here are several reasons why Sage Intacct stands out as “integratable.”

Cloud-Based Architecture

Sage Intacct’s cloud-based design ensures businesses can access and integrate their data anytime, anywhere. This makes it easier to connect with other cloud applications and synchronize data in real time.

Open API Framework

Sage Intacct provides an open API that facilitates integration with a variety of applications. Whether it’s CRMs, e-commerce platforms, or HRMS tools, this open API ensures a smoother, custom integration process.

Pre-Built Integrations

Sage Intacct offers a marketplace with numerous pre-built integrations for popular software platforms. These reduce the time and effort required for integration and vastly extend the core capabilities of Sage Intacct.

 

Scalability

One of Sage Intacct’s strengths is its scalability. As your business grows and its integration needs evolve, Sage Intacct can easily accommodate new connections or adjust existing integrations without significant overhauls.

Flexible Data Model

Sage Intacct’s flexible data model allows businesses to customize their records, fields, and workflows. This flexibility ensures that when integrating with other applications, you can adjust data mapping and flow to suit your business needs.

Emphasis on Financial Integration

Given its reputation as a leading financial management software, Sage Intacct shines when integrating financial data with other applications. This ensures accurate financial reporting, even when data sources span multiple platforms.

Regular Updates

Sage Intacct’s regular updates mean that its integration capabilities are continually improving. The platform ensures compatibility with the latest versions of integrated applications and often introduces new features to enhance integration functionalities.

How Sage Intacct Supports Integration 

There are several integration methods commonly tapped by Sage Intacct users, third-party vendors, and development teams:

API Integration (Application Programming Interface)

Sage Intacct provides a comprehensive set of APIs that allow developers to create custom integrations with other applications. This involves making calls to the Sage Intacct API to retrieve, send, or update data. API integrations are suitable for businesses that need real-time data sharing or have unique integration requirements not met by pre-built connectors. 

Middleware Platforms

Middleware solutions are an intermediary layer connecting Sage Intacct with other systems. These platforms, such as MuleSoft, Dell Boomi, or Jitterbit, simplify integration by offering pre-built connectors and transformation tools. These are best for businesses that want to connect multiple systems without extensive custom development. It’s especially beneficial for complex integrations that involve data transformations.

File-Based Integration

This method involves exporting data from one system in a file format (like CSV or Excel) and then importing it into Sage Intacct. While more manual and less real-time than other methods, it can be suitable for periodic data updates.

Webhooks

Webhooks are a way for applications to communicate automatically. When an event happens in one application, it sends a message (through a webhook) to another application, triggering a specific action. Webhooks are useful for event-driven integrations where a particular action in one system should trigger an immediate response in another.

Custom Adapters

Some businesses have unique (often legacy) systems that might not easily connect using APIs or middleware. In such cases, programming teams (like The Answer Company) can develop custom adapters to bridge the gap. Custom adapters come into play for businesses with proprietary or outdated systems that aren’t easily integrated using standard methods.

Third-party Integration Apps

The Sage Intacct Marketplace offers numerous third-party applications designed to integrate seamlessly with Sage Intacct and pre-built integrations to other applications. These are ideal for businesses that use popular software solutions (e.g., Salesforce or Bill.com) for which pre-built integration apps are available.

Partner For A Successful Integration Strategy

In our work helping clients with hundreds of integration projects, we see that the strategy behind integration truly dictates success. Businesses must approach integration with foresight, armed with the right information, and backed by a reliable ERP partner to unlock the transformative potential of their ERP applications. 

The Answer Company can help your organization plan, execute, and maintain a tailored integration strategy that maximizes value while minimizing time, cost, and disruption. Reach out to a member of our team for more information.