Used for more than 4 million websites, WooCommerce is one of the most popular eCommerce solutions in the entire world. Its popularity has a lot to do with the fact that it's free and open-source - as well as being fairly straightforward to use. However, WooCommerce includes hundreds of extra features that are not as easy to navigate. Connecting it to an ERP is one of them.
An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a type of software that manages daily businesses processes such as accounting, contact management or supply chain operations.
By offering an integrated suite of applications, an ERP will provide you with a holistic view of your entire organisation. It can also give you an edge over companies stuck in the past. A recent survey among 255 wholesalers and distributors revealed that 88% of them were still using multiple software systems instead of centralised solutions.
Ready to get ahead of the competition? Read on to find out how to integrate WooCommerce and ERP software.
Unfortunately, connecting WooCommerce to your ERP solution is a lot more difficult than it looks on paper. In spite of the wide array of extensions and plugins that WooCommerce offers, ERP integration is a more complex process that requires access to APIs (Application Programming Interface). These APIs will allow you to link WooCommerce with different software solutions such as an ERP.
Essentially, you have two ways to go about connecting WooCommerce to an ERP. One option is to hire a developer to write tailored code for your website. On the bright side, this would give you the chance to include special features catered to your business.
However, it would also be prohibitively expensive for most small-to-medium businesses. And there is a bigger problem. Because your code has been written by only one person working on their own, it limits your options in case something goes wrong. If there is an error, chances are that only the developer you hired knows how to fix it.
Don't worry if you find the above scenario off-putting - you're not out of options. Our recommended plan of action involves outsourcing your ERP system to a third party that already has the tools in place for WooCommerce integration. On top of all the previously outlined benefits, a third-party solution will be more cost-effective and easier to adjust to a business' fluid needs. A strong ERP software such as Profit4 can be tailored to specific industries for maximum efficiency.
When you connect WooCommerce to an ERP solution like Profit4, the possibilities are endless. You'll be able to sync WooCommerce orders into your accounting sales, enabling a bi-directional integration [CP1] that will give you real-time data updates. This will significantly reduce deployment time and eliminate the need for manual data entry.
WooCommerce is an excellent tool, but it doesn't cover every aspect of your business. To unleash its true potential, you need to pair it with a versatile ERP solution that allows seamless integration and automates laborious tasks. At OGL Software, we've got just the thing.
Thanks to our expert software delivery team, your transition to our ERP system will be as seamless as possible, eliminating any potential downtime. If you want to see how it works, you can watch a demo for free.
