CRM & ERP Systems
CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
Purpose: Manage interactions with current and potential customers.
Key Functions:
Lead and contact management
Sales pipeline tracking
Customer support and service
Marketing automation
Reporting & analytics on customer interactions
Popular CRM Tools:
Salesforce
HubSpot
Zoho CRM
Microsoft Dynamics 365 (CRM module)
Pipedrive
Main Users:
Sales teams
Marketing teams
Customer service reps
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
Purpose: Integrate and manage core business processes.
Key Functions:
Inventory & supply chain management
Finance & accounting
Human resources
Procurement
Manufacturing and production planning
Popular ERP Systems:
SAP
Oracle NetSuite
Microsoft Dynamics 365 (ERP module)
Odoo
Sage
Main Users:
Operations teams
Finance & HR departments
Supply chain and logistics
| Feature | CRM | ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Customer management | Business process management |
| Primary Users | Sales, Marketing, Support | Finance, HR, Operations |
| Goal | Increase sales & retention | Improve efficiency & reduce costs |
| Customer-centric? | Yes | No (but can include customer modules) |
| Data Focus | Leads, contacts, sales | Orders, inventory, payroll |