CRM and ERP Combination for Business Solutions

Published on: 04 June 2019 Last Updated on: 15 October 2019

A major component of running a business successfully -any business- is being able to have all your information integrated. At MCA Connect we have the ability to intertwine both your CRM and ERP needs seamlessly.

Every business has 2 sides. You have the customer base side and you have your employee sides. Both of these sides are vital to your business success and both sides have unique needs. It is crucial for business owners to understand the needs of both sides. The owners can work with technology experts on how best to combine those two, ensuring that all needs are being met.

Let’s take a look at each aspect and how it affects your business:

ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning, is a vital component of your business’ operations. To run ERP successfully you will need to implement this software within your company. ERP software will help manage sales and marketing, human resources, accounting, manufacturing, order management, and distribution.

Using ERP software effectively will help your company with product and purchase planning, manufacturing and delivery planning, inventory management, shipping and payment, supply chain management, accounting, marketing and sales, and customer relationship management. An ERP system can be comprised of a single suite of software or multiple software applications that can be integrated with each other.

CRM stands for Customer Relations Management. This type of software is used to assist the customer-based side of your business. This software will help your business to keep track of customers and their purchasing patterns, identify business opportunities and new sales leads, streamline the sales process and reduce paperwork, automate the marketing process, manage social media, and facilitate support for current customers. You can purchase different software to handle all of these applications, but there are some all-inclusive software options available.

So how do both of these functions work together?

Both ERP and CRM systems will help your sales force automation and marketing automation. There is where the overlap ends. If you are using an ERP system that you like, then you can just integrate a CRM system.

If your business is growing or you just need to revamp your current system, then it is recommended that you upgrade your ERP. Once you have your updated system in place, you can add in CRM components to best fit your company’s needs.

Using a combination of both ERP and CRM systems will streamline your business and be a positive change for your company. By using both technology systems, you are integrating both sides of your business. A good combination system will allow you to be up to date with your manufacturers and suppliers and to have up to the minute info on orders and deliveries. Your company will also be able to accurately and quickly answer questions from customers and manage their needs. And everyone in your company will be using the same technology and will have access to all up to date information.

This combined CRM and ERP technology will assist your company seamlessly and help it to continue to grow and be successful.

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Why Your Business Needs Call Center Tracking

Customer service is the cornerstone of your business's success. It's also the key to keeping the customers you already have. In fact, companies with a thought-out customer service approach enjoy a 92% retention rate. If the bulk of your customer service efforts is in the hands of a call center, it's important you make this operation as efficient as possible. To do this, you need detailed information about what's going on behind the scenes. Utilizing call center tracking is the best way to get this data. Implementing call center tracking software will help show you where improvements need to be made. The result is a better customer experience. Monitoring your call center can help your business in a number of ways. Read on to learn more! 1. Understand Your Revenue and ROI: Knowing what products and services are driving revenue is important for any business. It allows you to make decisions about future products and improve ones that aren't doing so well. By tracking your call center, you know what customers are more excited about and what they find troublesome about your products. You'll be able to see the source of each call to get a better grasp on exactly where most of your profit is coming from. This data will also help you understand what your return on investment is for the marketing campaigns you're creating for each product. Where your calls are coming from clues you into which advertising channels are working. Tracking call center metrics makes all this very easy. Detailed reports from your tracking software will lay all this out in an easy-to-read manner. 2. Measure Adherence to Scheduling: A huge benefit of tracking your call center is a better understanding of the KPI (key performance indicator) of your customer service reps. This information will help you streamline your call center scheduling. You may be asking yourself how this works. Well, you can monitor inbound and outbound calls, the average length of calls, and the location of inbound callers. All this helps you improve in-house scheduling and reduce the chance of calls going unattended. You'll also be able to measure the productivity of each rep. You'll then know if your call center isn't robust enough and if certain employees are causing bottlenecks. All this information helps call center managers create a more well-oiled, effective operation. It also greatly helps with optimal shift scheduling so customers are more efficiently serviced. 3. Refine Marketing Strategies: Detailed call monitoring provides invaluable information about your customers you wouldn't otherwise have access to. Such information includes customer loyalty, purchasing trends, and who your potential customers are. Think of call center tracking as a way of becoming more familiar with your target audience. All this information allows you to make changes and strategize future marketing efforts. It can also give you some insight into which strategies you should do away with. Your marketing team can use this information to focus their efforts on the right channels. They'll also be able to better understand the strengths of your products and services and emphasize them in advertising campaigns. All this will have a positive effect on your overall revenue and help maximize your ROI. 4. Recording and Routing Calls: Call center tracking software provides the capability to record calls between your reps and customers. This feature can help in a number of ways. First, you'll be able to get a firsthand account of what problems customers are having with your products and services. You'll also be able to tell which products consumers like the best and what elements of your product are the most desirable. This data will allow you to refine your product and make more informed decisions on future designs. Recording calls will also help you determine which employees need further training and which have the potential for promotion. Tracking software will also help in figuring out kinks in your routing procedures. This is important, as misrouted customer service calls can lead to a loss of existing customers. 5. Improve Your Quality of Service: One of the biggest benefits of tracking calls is the effect it can have on the quality of customer service you're providing. You'll be able to pinpoint exactly where setbacks occur in your current operation and remediate them. Find out how easy it is for callers to reach a solution to their problems. If the process is difficult, you'll need to take means to streamline it. You can also see what the average wait time is for callers. If you notice customers abandoning the call because of long delays, you know you have a problem. This is where you can use caller id reputation to filter out the callers whom you must prioritize to make the most out of the conversion. Are you seeing missed calls or routing issues? You may need to beef up your staff or reposition certain employees. You may even find that a virtual receptionist service would benefit your operation. Whatever solution is right for you, call tracking services can expose areas that need improvement. 6. Cut Down on Employee Turnover: A high turnover rate causes a loss of time and money. When you track your call center, you're able to fully understand the skill level of each employee and the overall morale of your department. You can then make changes to your training protocol. It also provides an opportunity to appropriately place employees in roles more suited to their strengths. All of this makes for a much healthier work environment. It also creates a more rewarding experience for each employee. These things are key to keeping your turnover rates low. Boost Your Customer Service with Call Center Tracking: Knowing what's working and what's not is the first step in creating the best possible customer experience for your business. Implementing call center tracking can allow you to undercover information about your operation so you can make educated improvements. Call tracking software has come a long way and now offers many features that can help you streamline your customer service process. Look into implementing it for your call center and let your customer experience evolve. For more articles that will expand your knowledge in the business world, check out our blog. Read Also: Top 4 Creative Team Building Ideas For A Call Center Industry This 2016

6 Shameless Examples of Product Placement in Movies We’d Like to Forget

Imagine you're on the edge of your seat in the middle of an action-packed, spellbinding movie. After a few climactic scenes, the main character makes a frantic phone call. He then cracks open a can of soda. Nothing about this scene seems out of the ordinary. The character is simply quenching his thirst after a big police chase or a kung fu brawl. That is until some familiar brand of soda appears on the can in a big, bold, unapologetic font. Talk about a plot twist. But product placement in movies is nothing new. Old school marketing techniques show how far companies will go to advertise. They'll even go as far to pay directors and producers to feature them in films. There have been great instances of advertising that worked well in films. But there have been plenty of others that were so shameless and unnatural, we wish we could forget them. Here are 6 of the silliest, most cringe-worthy moments of advertising in movies. 1. Starbucks (You've Got Mail): 'You've Got Mail' may be the first film to portray online romance. Given that it takes place in 1998, AOL was practically its own character in the film. Without it, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's characters would have never "met" and fallen in love. But AOL wasn't the only company to get prime ad space in 'You've Got Mail.' At the beginning of the film, Tom Hanks quips about the obscurity of Starbucks. His character's snarky commentary doesn't serve much to the plot. But it does help to give the audience somewhat of an introduction to his character. All while appealing to pretentious coffee drinkers like his character in the process. 2. Designer Brands (Sex and the City): Curious which movies with the most product placement made our list? It shouldn't come as a surprise that the 'Sex and the City' film featured dozens of fashion labels. After all, fashion was a constant theme throughout the hit TV series. The series has long appealed to women in the 20-30 age bracket. So, when it went to the big screen, tons of the biggest fashion labels came calling. You better believe Louis Vuitton and Chanel made a handful of cameos throughout the film. But some other products made the cut, too. Nike, U-Haul, Apple, and Marie Claire are just a few of many brand name drops in 'SATC'. Producers and creator Darren Starr were clearly not ashamed. 3. Reese's Pieces (E.T the Extra-Terrestrial): Not all instances of product placement in movies are bad. Certain films have done it so subtly we hardly pick up on the smell of advertising. Steven Spielberg's 'E.T the Extra-Terrestrial' is undeniably one of those movies. Who could forget when Elliot entices E.T by scattering Reese's Pieces around the woods and back to his house? Hershey's certainly cashed in when E.T became a box office hit. But this was back in 1982. So, can product placement still hold merit today as an advertising technique? The technique may actually be more effective than ever before. You can discover more about the different ways this technique continues to work. 4. Popeyes Chicken (Little Nicky): Whereas E.T is a good example of subtle product placement, Adam Sandler's 'Little Nicky' is not. It's one of several Happy Madison comedies that wasn't well-received by critics. But it gained a cult following for its ridiculousness and quotability nonetheless. In one scene, Adam Sandler, who plays the kindhearted son of Satan, learns how to eat with the help of a talking dog. What does he learn to eat with? Popeyes fried chicken. And the large takeout box of it sits in the center of the shot. Even a big K-mart bag makes a small cameo, as well. The scene concludes with Nicky proclaiming how awesome Popeyes chicken is. Not subtle in the least, but the scene is something fans continue to quote to this day. 5. "I Will Not Bow to Any Sponsor" (Wayne's World): Is it any less shameful when a movie calls itself out on its attempts to advertise? Few films are able to make fun of themselves about their blatant attempts to advertise. But the first 'Wayne's World' film provided a plot where it was possible to do so. Wayne and Garth sell their public access show to a big-time TV producer. In the build-up to the climax, the producer confronts Wayne and Garth about their contract. They agreed to air an interview with the show's new sponsor, but Wayne insists otherwise. What follows is a satirical scene of obvious advertisements all surrounding Wayne's opposition. While opening up a box of Pizza Hut, Wayne proclaims, "I will not bow to any sponsor." Wayne goes on to explain that he doesn't believe in "selling out" while holding a bag of Doritos and drinking a Pepsi. Garth also gives his two cents on the idea of selling out while clad in Reebok gear from head to toe. 6. Heineken (James Bond Franchise): The character James Bond has always had an affinity for dry martinis. This trait has inspired fans of the franchise to become martini drinkers for decades. But over the years, James Bond has dabbled in other commercial alcoholic drinks. In 1997, the famous film franchise partnered up with the Dutch beer company, Heineken. Heineken has advertised the James Bond films since 1997's 'Tomorrow Never Knows.' The ads have always been over the top, contributing to the promotional side of the Bond franchise. But Bond himself never drank the Dutch beer until 2012's 'Skyfall.' In one scene, while James Bond is in bed cuddled up with his latest love interest, he drinks a Heineken. For any fan who has ever wished to be like James Bond, this scene is definitely inspirational. At least that's the kind of association Heineken had intended to portray. The Power of Product Placement in Movies: If you've ever watched a movie and noticed an advertisement, you may have reacted one of a couple of ways. You may have hardly noticed or didn't care all too much. You could've felt preyed upon as a consumer or felt the ad ruined the experience. Or, you may have thought to yourself, "Wow. That was actually a great instance of advertising." Product placement in movies allows companies to reach a worldwide audience. Depending on how big the film is, these audiences can reach into the millions. When characters we love use certain products, we're more inclined to buy them. But there are other lots of other innovative and clever ways to advertise in movies - and beyond. If you're in need of some inspiration, check out more advertising news and ideas. Read Also: Online Marketing: Selling Your Product And Services Important Things To Consider When Packaging Your Product

Creative Pop-Up Event Ideas for Your Business

As a marketer, you probably spend a lot of time trying to nail down abstract concepts to promote your brand. However, have you ever sat down to think about pop-up events? In a word, they can create a buzz in your marketing efforts if executed properly. This article introduces you to creative pop-up event ideas. When implemented with pomp and color, the ideas enable your customers to get up-close and personal with your brand. What is a Pop-Up Event? Pop-up events are temporary events, conferences, parties, or experiences that span a host of creative outputs. Examples of such events are pop-up dining events, a subcategory of their own. Additionally, spontaneous cooking contests, supper clubs, and speakeasies are other examples that attract attendees in large numbers. Pop-up event planning is a big industry worth more than $10 billion in sales. In reality, a 2018 Harvard Business Review Analytic Services survey showed that 93% of business executives prioritize hosting events. Fortunately, the events aren't only for large organizations but also small businesses. With this in mind, it's also crucial that you carefully choose the location of your pop-up event for a lasting impression. Depending on what suits your business best, you could rent a commercial kitchen, private cafes, storefront, cabana, theatre, or mansion. However, ensure to obtain the necessary municipal requirements like permits and licenses. Executing Your Pop-Up Event Ideas Next, put these creative pop-up shop ideas into use to pull the event off successfully: 1. Hire On-Brand Decor Your customers know your brand’s design through your website. As such, it’d help if you keep the decor of your pop-up event similar to your site's. Check with your local event-decor rental companies for on-brand decor. It'll be a bonus point if the decorations are photogenic to make it easy for your guests to post them on social media. 2. Ensure Your Pop-Up Event is Goal-Specific One of the significant factors for any pop-up event is having a crystal clear goal. Consequently, you'll be in a better position to choose the venue, creative design, and have metrics for measuring the event's success. For instance, your goal could be to: Conduct market research Provide your customers with an experience they'll gladly pay for through a product launch. Attract new customers Increase brand or product awareness Promote collaboration with the local community However, you could delve even further into the intricate details of the overall goal. As an illustration, consider the Japanese company Dohtonbori, known for its Okonomiyaki dish. This is a pancake the company makes from organic vegetables. Unfortunately, most of its customers didn’t know this. In order to promote itself as a healthy fast food company, it opened a pop-up shop in a Tokyo neighborhood. It then positioned itself as a "Fast Food Aid" stop, with the staff dressed in pharmacist white. They would then accept fast food receipts and exchange them for pill vials comprising crucial nutrients missing from most fast foods. On the temporary retail space walls were huge clear tubes holding a year's supply of supplements. Overall, the aim was to show customers the number of nutrients they don't get from other fast foods, but they're present in Dohtonbori’s offerings. Later, the company posted the short film on YouTube, attracting over a million views within the first few days. While the company sold nothing in the pop-up shop, the message was loud, clear, memorable, and effective. Traffic at this company increased by 125%. 3. Use Digital Signage to Attract More Customers Whatever venue you choose for your pop-up event, consider incorporating digital signage as one of your pop-up event ideas. Markedly, digital signage marketing is a trend that effortlessly enhances your marketing efforts. A Mood Media survey showed that 68% of shoppers are highly likely to purchase a product marketed through digital signage. Another 44% of the respondents said digital signage ads would draw them towards the promoted product instead of the one they initially intended to buy. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that you should use digital signage in your pop-up party. Its benefits include: Setting the tone by using attractive signage content to enhance the ambiance of your pop-up stores Promoting and enhancing brand awareness by immersing your customers in your brand's values. You can uniquely use one screen to display hundreds of images or branding elements. Boosting location-specific sales and offers, allowing for more control and flexibility over the content you display. Creating an interactive and memorable experience through digital signage apps like social walls. For example, your pop-up store visitors can post on social media platforms like Instagram. Then, display their posts on your digital display screens to boost customer engagement. Final Thoughts Holding a successful pop-up party is a matter of putting creative pop-up event ideas into use. With some planning, proper logistics, and much preparation, you can hold an event that your customers will never forget. Besides, it could be the one that spreads word and interest about your brand, bringing in more customers. Additional Reading: Creative Marketing Strategies to Put Your Small Translation Business Lucrative Business Ideas to start Near Water Bodies Six Low-Investment Business Ideas You Can Start Today

CRM and ERP Combination for Business Solutions

Let’s take a look at each aspect and how it affects your business:

So how do both of these functions work together?

Battle Tested, Proven and FUN: Nine University’s KT V.I.P

Leadership Qualities help in Enhancing Visionary Transform

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Why Your Business Needs Call Center Tracking

6 Shameless Examples of Product Placement in Movies We’d Like to Forget

Creative Pop-Up Event Ideas for Your Business

CRM and ERP Combination for Business Solutions

Let’s take a look at each aspect and how it affects your business:

So how do both of these functions work together?

Share this Article

Battle Tested, Proven and FUN: Nine University’s KT V.I.P

Leadership Qualities help in Enhancing Visionary Transform

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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