ERP integrations: how they expand your digital scope of action.

Automation and digitalization with long-term benefits – that’s what enterprise resource planning stands for. A future-proof solution that keeps pace with growing demands, understands the functional needs of the industry, serves as a reliable source of information, and stays technologically up to date.

But how can all of this be achieved at once? The answer lies in integrations that connect the ERP system with other solutions. Why they play such a vital role for companies, what to look out for, and which opportunities they open up – you’ll discover in this blog post.

By definition, an ERP integration is the bridge that connects an ERP system with other applications that are not directly available within the ERP. These could include, for example, a laboratory connection, a production system, or a digital document management system.

As a connector, an ERP integration makes it easy to unify different systems and link a wide range of business processes for automation. The potential to save time is enormous.

Companies often use multiple software applications to manage processes such as accounting, human resources, and warehouse operations. An ERP integration ensures data can be exchanged between these solutions, creating seamless integration. This increases data consistency and accuracy while reducing the need for manual entry.

When selecting an ERP system, it is therefore essential to ensure that it offers strong integration capabilities.

From order processing to goods issue – the number of processes an ERP system covers and automates is enormous. On its own, the solution already raises your processes to a level of efficiency that would be impossible to achieve manually. Yet the potential for automation goes even further.

By integrating additional solutions that cover specific business areas, the functional scope becomes even broader. Typical examples of applications that can be connected to an ERP system include:

Maximum security, strict regulations, top quality: For companies in the process industry to meet these high demands while still using an ERP system, they need a specialized solution. This is exactly what our ERP industry solution delivers – extending Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and integrating seamlessly with it.

Key functions such as batch management, quality controls, and production support equip you with the tools for smooth operations – all within the familiar Microsoft ERP environment. But there’s more: thanks to ERP integrations, numerous additional solutions can also be connected to Business Central, including:

Electronic data interchange

• EDI for retail
  Automate your data exchange with retail partners efficiently and reliably, and connect them smoothly to your ERP system. Integration is possible with virtually any EDI-capable partner – for example Lidl, Amazon, Walmart, Edeka, Siemens, and Hornbach.
  
  More about EDI for retail
  
  

• EDI for the automotive industry
  Connect automotive suppliers directly to your ERP system and exchange data automatically. Industry-specific requirements are met with ease, and your processes are aligned with standards from the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Odette, or AIAG.
  
  More about EDI automotive
  
  

• Intercompany
  Automate electronic data exchange within your corporate group using the intercompany solution. Ready-to-use best-practice templates get you up and running quickly. Work with shared master data across multiple companies, manage master and transactional data, set up authorization concepts, optimize sales planning, and more.

Process automation

• Scanning app
  As part of the Yaveon ERP industry solution, the Scanning app lets you scan warehouse items during processing instead of entering changes manually into the system. This saves time and optimizes warehouse processes.

• Workflows with Microsoft Power Platform
  With the Microsoft Power Platform tools, you create workflows that integrate perfectly into your IT environment and seamlessly into your ERP system. Sub-processes such as IT requests, vacation management, or customer and supplier portals can be digitized easily and efficiently – saving time and creating transparency.

Data analysis and reporting

• BI cockpits
  Ready-made BI cockpits tailored to target groups such as Finance or Quality Management provide valuable insights into your data and enable data-driven decisions.
  
  Available cockpits include:

• • Quality control: Keep a close eye on product quality and response readiness, and take action in good time based on Business Central inspection orders.
  • Sales: Gain a solid data foundation to take your sales processes to the next level.
  • Purchase: Always stay on top of your procurement activities with live data.
  • Incident management: Analyze causes, origins, and reasons for complaints with complete information.
  • Cashflow: Keep financial flows under control and make informed decisions with precise analyses.
  • Range planning: See exactly which items and quantities are in stock, when they will be available, and whether potential bottlenecks are looming.
  • Finance: Prepare reliable balance sheets, revenue figures, and reports digitally with ease.

Financial processes

• ERP invoicing
  With the invoicing app, you create invoices automatically and electronically – directly from your ERP system instead of manually processing documents. Depending on your needs, you can send invoices by email, mail, fax, or as a digital invoice. The entire Yaveon portfolio works seamlessly together and also enables external integrations – for example with Shopify, Amazon, and DATEV. Our focus: start-ups as well as small and mid-sized companies in the process industry.

Bidirectional integration

Ensure your ERP integration supports bidirectional integration. This allows you to both send and receive data with the ERP, giving you a unified and consistent view of your business processes.

Cloud solution

Choose a cloud-based, future-proof solution. Cloud technology enables scalability, offers flexibility, and reduces costs. Why? Because ERP integrations based on the cloud require fewer resources for hardware and software. Users can also access information anytime and from anywhere.

Security and data protection

Check whether the ERP integration complies with all necessary security standards to guarantee confidentiality and availability. Key factors: data transfer and storage are encrypted, users must authenticate, and data protection laws are observed.

Software partner

Work with a partner who not only knows the ERP system itself but also understands your industry and requirements. Training is equally important – it ensures you use the integration effectively and implement solutions with confidence. This also increases user acceptance and encourages active use of the available systems.

But which partner is the right one? Alongside experience and industry expertise, seamless integration options and well-aligned solutions are key factors.

There are countless reasons why ERP integrations are essential for companies. Some of the most important are:

Import and export in one solution

ERP integrations make it possible to import data from external sources – for example, information from systems used by suppliers or customers. At the same time, they allow you to export ERP data for use in other applications. A key benefit: reports created in tools like Microsoft Power BI provide a holistic view of your business.

More time

By automating extended business processes, such as connections to warehouse management or third-party systems, ERP integrations reduce effort and minimize errors. Workflows accelerate – and customer satisfaction grows.

A long-term companion

Requirements and conditions change. With ERP integrations, you can adapt flexibly, as they enhance connectivity and interoperability with platforms, devices, and applications.

Better communication

ERP integrations simplify the flow of data across processes and applications by integrating, synchronizing, and updating information from different sources. This gives you a precise picture of business performance.

One platform, not silos

Say goodbye to isolated solutions. With fully integrated systems, processes across different applications come together on one interface – enabling you to work in a unified environment.

Reliable data

Data quality improves as you establish a single, accurate source of truth for all business areas. Information from various solutions is centrally managed in one place.

Greater efficiency

Less manual data entry and transfer means significant time savings and higher productivity.

Fewer errors

By avoiding redundancies and eliminating the risk of manual mistakes, ERP integrations ensure clean data. Quality gates between systems help safeguard data integrity.

Transparency and access

With integrated systems, users gain comprehensive access to up-to-date information at any time.

Informed decision-making

By aggregating, filtering, and visualizing data, ERP integrations simplify analysis and lead to more precise decisions. Because up-to-date information is always available and all aspects are taken into account, performance can be measured, trends identified, and actions recommended.

Faster results

Agile, targeted collaboration becomes possible when all stakeholders are connected to your processes. This increases flexibility and speeds up results.

Competitive edge

With interacting systems, you can respond faster to market changes and customer needs – strengthening your competitiveness.

Real-time information

ERP integrations give you real-time insight into your business processes. Decision-makers gain the ideal data foundation for informed decisions.

Better customer service

Seamless information exchange improves customer support. For example, customer service teams can access stock information directly and respond to inquiries more quickly.

Scalability

As your company evolves and grows, ERP integrations ensure your software grows with it. They are scalable and can be easily extended with additional solutions or applications.

Compliance and security

By consolidating company data in a central ERP system, compliance requirements are easier to meet, and data security can be managed and controlled more effectively.

ERP integrations open up countless opportunities and advantages. At the same time, they also present challenges that need to be addressed. The good news: with the right approach, they can be managed effectively. An experienced software partner will already help minimize potential hurdles before the implementation phase begins.

Typical challenges include:

1. Complex implementation and management: ERP integrations are not always simple to implement or maintain, as they can involve technical, organizational, and security-related challenges.
2. Bugs and malfunctions: These may lead to data loss or data inconsistencies, or the maintenance of the ERP integration may prove time-consuming and costly.
3. Data security: Ensuring security and compliance remains a recurring challenge and should be clarified before the system goes live.

The non-profit organization Remar processes numerous booking requests via Bookings. In the past, this was done manually – time-consuming, error-prone, and frustrating. Today, the process runs automatically: a Power Platform integration connects Bookings with Business Central.

For Remar, this means less effort, fewer errors, and more resources available for focusing on their core mission.