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How Does ERP Integration Work with End-to-End Procure-to-Pay Software Solutions?
If your company is already using enterprise resource planning (ERP) software like Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, or NetSuite then you might wonder how that could affect other software you might want to use to automate specific financial processes. ERPs are great for managing processes at a high level, operating as a sort of “nerve center” for companies. However, ERPs do have limits and weren’t designed for handling smaller-scale—but equally important—tasks like generating purchase orders, tracking goods received, and processing invoices for payment.
You can enhance your ERP software with business process automation (BPA) software that automates processes like accounts payable, travel and expense reporting, and purchase orders. Software modules to enhance these processes are widely available, and they can add functionality to ERPs if you can integrate the two types of software.
Often, we talk about integrating an ERP system with one specific type of software. For example, integrating ERPs with accounts payable software or with capital project management software. But what if you want to create a seamless, end-to-end automation solution to streamline the entire financial process from CapEx/budgeting to procurement to accounts payable? Is it possible to integrate that type of complex BPA solution with an ERP system?
The good news is that you can integrate an end-to-end automation software solution with your ERP. However, you need to make sure you work with a software supplier that can handle the integration and deliver the functionality that you’re looking for.
How Does ERP Integration Work?
At the most basic level, ERP integration is the process of connecting your ERP system to other business processing software. When the integration functions properly, the two systems work together. The software systems share data and work together seamlessly, providing your company with functionality neither the ERP nor the BPA software has on its own.
Integration is not always a simple matter. Some ERPs provide support for integrations so you can easily use them with other software systems. If the software you want to use is on the ERP’s list of supported software, then integration will be fairly simple. However, those ERPs typically only support a limited selection of software integrations.
Even when the ERP doesn’t provide integration support, manual integration is possible. In situations where you already have an ERP and are looking to integrate with a new BPA software system, your automation provider should handle the integration for you. Be sure that you ask potential software suppliers about how they handle integration and their experience working with companies that use the same ERP system that you do.
Can All BPA Systems Integrate with ERPs?
If your goal is to use your ERP and new automation software together, then you’ll need to select an automation provider that can handle integration with your ERP. Be sure to check the software provider’s track record with integration and ask questions about how they handle integration.
NetSuite, for example, is notoriously difficult to integrate with other software. However, NextProcess has a 100% NetSuite integration success rate and we provide ongoing support to keep all your software working together perfectly as NetSuite rolls out automated updates.
It doesn’t stop with NetSuite, either. NextProcess also integrates seamlessly with SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, and QuickBooks. If you’re running a different ERP than those, there’s a strong possibility we can handle that integration as well (and we might already have done it for another client).
What About Integrating with Multiple BPA Systems?
When you’re shopping for BPA software, you have a wide range of options. Different software suppliers offer different features and different modules. Some focus on automation for just one process, such as accounts payable or purchasing software. Others provide BPA software suites that can automate several different departments.
If you want to automate as many financial processes as possible, you might wonder if it’s a good idea to pick and choose software from different Software as a Service (SaaS) providers. Mixing and matching like this is a recipe for disaster. If you do that, you’ll not only have to integrate the different software systems with your ERP, but with each other as well.
Integrating multiple BPA systems with your ERP is much easier if you get your whole software suite from a single provider. You won’t have software conflicts because the software is already designed to work together. Implementation and customization will also be simplified. Plus, it’ll be easier for employees to learn to use different software systems that come from the same supplier (much like it’s easier to learn MS PowerPoint if you’re used to using Word).
How is NextProcess Different?
In addition to integrating seamlessly with all major ERPs, NextProcess offers the only suite of software providing a true end-to-end solution that covers budgeting, project management, purchasing, accounts payable, and payments. We supply modules to power and simplify your capital project management, procurement & purchase orders, accounts payable, travel & expense, and payment disbursements.
With NextProcess, you can automate your whole procure-to-pay process and seamlessly integrate all the software modules with your existing ERP system. In addition, we don’t simply deliver a “good enough” integration with basic functionality. We provide a customized solution to fit your company’s unique needs. Our software is highly flexible, and we’ll work with you to configure it in a way that supports your company’s preferred processes and automatically enforces your policies.
We have one of the highest successful implementation rates in the industry. We work with your company through every step of the implementation process to ensure the software works perfectly. And we continue providing support and software updates the entire time you have our software. To learn more and see our software in action, contact us today and set up a free demo.
