Getting the best out of your business offerings and services is something everyone wants. And for those who operate with online business platforms? They need integrated eCommerce. In this guide, we explain what it is, how it works and the various types of integrations available.
What is integrated eCommerce?
Electronic or rather integrated eCommerce, refers to buying and selling products, and their relevant services, over electronic systems. It also includes the movement of all information needed to complete online transactions.
To get a sense of our work track record, explore our integrations for Meridian Wine Merchants, Spier Wine Farm, and La Concorde Bakery. These cases involved organising orders with eCommerce integration, order processing and iPaas. We specialise in connecting your eCommerce platform to any common resource planning systems. This can include simple integrations or our larger-scale enterprise solutions. Common projects range from integrating systems to helping with seamless processes for orders, invoices, stock inventory and shipping notices. We also work on:
- Workflow automation (to eliminate internal business manual processing of data)
- Big data aggregations for reporting
- Automations for
- B2C orders, invoices, credit notes and other B2C related documents
- B2B data flow between corporate trading partners
Types of integrations for eCommerce
There is a difference between one-way integrations and two-way integrations. This point is important for your type of business and its needs. B2C uses simple plug-in software. A B2B business, however, needs customisation with specialised software. Thus the need for a system that works internally and externally, to connect with other companies, customers, platforms etc.
ERP integrations
Stands for: Enterprise Resource Planning
This integration deals with managing daily business activities.
An ERP integration contains customer, order, inventory, and accounting data. A correctly established ERP smooths information flow between systems, improves customer experience, and streamlines back-office operations. A two-way ERP integration offers benefits like:
- Removal of manual data entry processes, removing possibilities of errors and omissions
- Real-time inventory, pricing, and promotions personalised by the customer
- An improved buying experience by providing transparency in ordering and fulfilment
- Supports increased demand and selling channels
2. CRM integration
Stands for: Customer Relationship Management
This integration aligns your eCommerce platform with your relevant marketing and sales department tools.
This includes storefront activity, sales, order, and shipping information syncing with the CRM, so that sales and marketing teams can get to addressing and assisting customer needs faster. Other benefits include:
- Eliminated incorrect order entry due to automated sales processes
- Creating customer visibility across touchpoints throughout your eCommerce system
- Customer grouping, organised by site activity or abandoned carts
- Assisting in generating reports for sales pipeline, conversions, and order data
3. PIM integration
Stands for: Project Information Management
This integration refers to processes that evaluate, identify, store, manage and distribute product data or information.
PIM systems have the potential to enhance and manage product data. As a solution, it centralises specifications, descriptions, multimedia, customer-generated content, and more. It also helps teams in the sales, marketing, data, and management departments to better understand the impact of their products on different areas of their business. It provides benefits like:
- Managing all eCommerce digital assets in one place
- Centralising product information, according to each individual product
- Specifying relationships between related products and upsells
4. Shipping integration
This integration improves the purchase experience for customers by informing them about shipping rates and status, so they can have a better insight into their order turnaround time. And adjust their expectations. Integrated eCommerce and shipping solutions:
- Provide customers with shipping and courier options to suit their needs
- Coordinates shipping from multiple warehouses for a seamless distribution
- Manages packaging and label printing for goods and orders
5. Punchout integration
This integration links a business and their eCommerce system to the customer procurement system. Managing purchases becomes a much easier and frustration-free experience overall. Most establishments need purchases to be made through procurement systems via the eCommerce platform. This category of integrations includes benefits like:
Enter the world of integrated eCommerce with our team
For all your integrated eCommerce queries, projects and personalisations, contact us for a bespoke business integration experience.