Integrating your ERP/accounting software with your webstore, EDI trading partners or CRM system may seem like the perfect rectification method to save your company time and money! Along with eliminating data entry, integration can greatly minimize chargebacks and allow you to power a faster order-payment delivery cycle. But before you get too caught up in the benefits of integrating your software, here are some helpful tips you should know before you start your integration project research:

1. Have a list of your ‘pain’ points ready! are going to ask you why you are looking into integration and which aspects of an integration project would help your company. If you have reasons already noted than discussing your needs and requirements for an integration project will be much easier for both ends. You’ll be able to discuss a more detailed plan for your specific integration project in terms of which aspects of integration will really help your companies’ business processes.
2. What platforms are you planning to integrate in your project? It’s important to know which ERP or accounting software you are using as well as what version it is. If you’re looking to integrate with trading partners, eCommerce webstores or CRM packages, have that information ready as well. The more prepared you are the quicker your integration project can be deployed.
   • Note to reader: A lot of times people are pro-active when deciding if integration is right for them or not and haven’t chosen an ERP platform, accounting software, eCommerce webstore or CRM package yet. It’s totally fine to call without this information if you’re doing some preliminary research but even if you have platforms in mind, the Account Manager can inform you if the integration is possible or not.
3. If you have any customizations to your ERP/accounting software, make sure to have that knowledge available. Most adapters are built to a softwares ‘vanilla’ version, so if you have any customizations done to your ERP/accounting software, you will likely need to carry over those customizations to your integration project.
4. Have an ideal ‘Go Live’ date ready. That will give Account Managers an idea of how quickly the integration project needs to be completed so they can build out your project accordingly.
5. It is important to let your Account Manager know if you have had an integration project done in the past, what was integrated during that project and if that project has gone live or not. This allows the Account Manager to understand why you have come looking for a new integration project and helps explain where the last integration provider may have lacked in feature set or functionality.

Bonus Point:

1. Have a budget in mind for your integration project. Different types of projects are available with a wide range of costs so having a budget in mind will help one not get ‘sticker shocked’ once you start discussing your integration needs. Think of it like going car shopping, everyone would buy a souped-up luxury vehicle if we had the budget but the truth of the matter is we often are not awarded with an unlimited budget. You should set a preliminary budget based on your needs and how much you’re willing to pay for an integration project so projects don’t end up being more of an expense than you had hoped for.

If integrating your ERP/accounting software is something that you’re interested in pursuing than you should contact the Integration Specialists at eBridge Connections. We make ERP integration easy with over 20 years of experience in the integration industry and our partner certified adapters. We integrate over 40+ ERP/accounting softwares including Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, SAP, Netsuite, Epicor and many more. We contact to more than 20 popular eCommerce webstores, thousands of EDI trading partners and leading CRM platforms, making eBridge Connections the integration platform of choice for mid-sized businesses. Check if eBridge Connections supports your system on our Integration Blueprint Builder. If you are interested in integration please comment below or contact me via email pvanasseldonk@ebridgeconnections.com.

CRM Integration, EDI Tips and Tricks, Education, Integration, Integration as a Service, Webstore Integration, eBRIDGE Blog, eCommerce

Just recently I came across an interesting article on B2B.com which reported that a universal integration system is the top strategy for businesses challenging with internal and supplier communication. Aberdeen Group, a research firm in Boston,  surveyed the chief supply chain officers at 158 enterprises last April and 78% of the respondents said the top business strategy for dealing with supply chain issues is improving internal cross-departmental visibility and integration.

“In short, today’s supply chain management professional is being asked to move products further and faster than ever before through all these various channels while striving to decrease logistics costs and increase profitability,” Aberdeen reports.

B2B Companies today are being asked to have exact inventory levels available at all times to ensure the retailers they are working with have access to their up to date product information. Implementing processes and technologies, like eBridge’s EDI integration, that automate the tedious day-to-day work that keeps your business running will allow you and your employees to focus on higher-level strategic tasks. An EDI integration system for B2B companies ensures an integrated flow of data that eliminates data entry. EDI is used in all major industries, such as health, retail, automotive, finance etc. and can be implemented almost immediately, depending on the type of EDI solution chosen.

This type of seamless integration is also becoming increasingly valuable and often necessary for eCommerce companies. With the eBridge eCommerce integration, customer and sales order information is automatically entered into the back-office financial system from the Ecommerce storefront. In turn, product information and order status updates are automatically entered into the Ecommerce storefront to provide customers with essential and up-to-date information. The eCommerce solution greatly increases the speed of information exchange, resulting in improved customer service efficiency and customer satisfaction.

If you believe your company would benefit from eBridge’s universal integration platform, please comment below or contact me today: pvanasseldonk@ebridgeconnections.com

Also, if you wish to view the report “Supply Chain Visibility and Collaborative Execution in Consumer Markets: Addressing Omni-channel Logistics” it is normally available for Aberdeen clients at a price of $399, but is available as a free download for a limited time only.

CRM Integration, EDI - Our Customers Trading Partner Series, EDI Buyers Guide, EDI Integration, EDI Tips and Tricks, Education, General EDI, Integration, Integration as a Service, Uncategorized, Webstore Integration, eBRIDGE Blog, eCommerce eCommerce

Most people start the New Year with high hopes thinking that this year will be a more successful year than the last. Goals are set and resolutions are made, so if one of your goals or resolutions for 2013 has to do with eCommerce success, than you came to the right blog.

I found three articles that really lay out what eCommerce retailers need to do to be effective in the fast pace tech-industry during 2013. The articles lay out what you need to do to set your eCommerce site apart from others. Shoppers now have the flexibility to shop in a store, online, or through their mobile device, which gives them access to eCommerce stores all over the world. The three articles do a great job providing tips and tricks that range from website layout to unique promotional ideas which I think will give ideas for even the most veteran eCommerce sites.

Perhaps you’ve neglected your 2013 goals or just haven’t gotten around to making the wanted or needed changes to your eCommerce website, well now is your time. Don’t put it off any longer. 2013 is moving quickly, so by following these helpful tips, you could reach success that you once thought was only a dream!

If you have any other great eCommerce articles, please post them in the comments section. I would love to read other tips you have used to help your company succeed in 2013!

13 Tips for Ecommerce Success

http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3882-13-Tips-for-Ecommerce-Success-in-2013

Revamp Your Open Source e-Commerce Website for the New Year

http://www.practicalecommerce.com/blogs/post/1011-Revamp-Your-Open-Source-e-Commerce-Website-for-the-New-Year

What Do Shoppers Think of Your Ecommerce Site?

http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3873-What-Do-Shoppers-Think-of-Your-Ecommerce-Site-

If you have any other great eCommerce articles, please post them in the comments section. I’m sure that there are tons more effective tips that may help your fellow e-retailer!

Education, Support, Uncategorized, Webstore Integration, eBRIDGE Blog, eCommerce eBRIDGE Blog, eCommerce, eCommerce Tips

Similar to the saying ‘Call Before You Dig’ we would like to remind all of our customers to ‘Call Before You Upgrade’. A lot of companies are upgrading their ERP systems or adjusting their eCommerce, EDI or CRM applications so that their company can be using the best and most intuitive software available. eBridge Connections is a firm believer in staying on top of innovative technology but when it comes to making upgrades that may affect your integration, you should always call your eBridge Integration Specialist before making any changes. This will ensure that the upgrade does not interfere with your solution because that ends up creating headaches for both us and you.

The aftermath of upgrading without letting your Integration Specialist know beforehand can vary. Sometimes nothing changes and it’s business as usual, but unfortunately, it usually ends with your integration needing some work done so that it can run properly again.

Here are the most common issues eBridge runs into when you make upgrades without letting us know:

• The integration adapters often have a version check, so while there may not be changes at the database level from version to version, upgrading can cause the solution to fail based on this alone
• An old version of Windows or SQL server may not be compatible with the adapter, however, if the ERP officially supports a particular version of Windows or SQL, this shouldn’t be an issue
• If the customer updates and we haven’t released that version of the adapter, they can be production down for several days…or weeks
• If the customer forgets or isn’t aware they have customized their ERP database in a way that required a customized adapter, this could compound the delays
• It’s possible that the integration will appear to work but some of the data fields will not map to the correct location anymore

If you have any questions about your current solution or are planning an upgrade during the new year I advise you to call your eBridge Connections representative right away. This is because if any changes need to be made to your solution, it can be scheduled ahead of time to avoid any down-time or problems with your integration. If you are not sure which representative you should contact about your integration, please email me at pvanasseldonk@ebridgeconnections.com and I will forward your inquiry to your proper specialist.

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One of the most common questions we get asked from customers when building them an integration solution between their ERP system and their eCommerce sites is, “How are you going to be able to match data between our platforms?” When matching data between the two platforms, there is no golden rule or single solution. The answer to this question usually varies from integration to integration because it often depends on which ERP system you are using and which eCommerce site you are running. When eBridge Connections deploys an integration, they have to decipher between customer and product information before deciding which data matching approach is the most appropriate.

Since this question of matching data has come up so often, eBridge connections decided to run a webinar which was hosted by our Technical Sales Engineer, Mike Catalfamo. The webinar Best Practices For Matching Data Between Your eCommerce And ERP Systems was presented on December 12^th 2012 and it talked about the best practices and considerations customers need to contemplate when matching data between their systems. Mike explained different product (item) and customer complexities that potential customers have to overcome before an integration project starts. He also went through a few examples on how eBridge Connections rectifies these data matching issues.

Here are some approaches Mike discussed during the webinar and some potential caveats eBridge encounters when using these approaches:

If you follow this link ->Best Practices For Matching Data Between Your eCommerce And ERP Systems you will be able to view the full 20 minute presentation plus a 10 minute question and answer period at the end. If you have any questions about data matching or if you have any other questions regarding an integration project please feel free to email me at pvanasseldonk@ebridgeconnections.com and I would be happy to discuss these questions with you.

Education, Integration, Press Releases, Support, Technology Corner, Webstore Integration, eBRIDGE Blog, eCommerce Data Matching, eCommerce Tips, erp integration, Webinar

Over the last decade eBridge Connections has watched eCommerce solutions continuously grow in popularity as an integration platform. This eCommerce growth isn’t strictly an eBridge situation, it’s a trend that has been occuring throughout B2B and B2C industries as well. And the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. According to eMarketer, online shopping will increase by 17% this holiday season in the US. Many eCommerce merchants are currently preparing their stock and their webstores for the holiday season so here are some valuable tips eCommerce merchants use to prepare themselves for the holiday rush:

1. PPC (Pay-Per-Click)

With the increase in online sales comes an increase in competition. The online market is becoming more and more saturated so online merchants need to find effective and creative ways to reach their target audience. Many merchants turn to PPC options to reach their target market.  eCommerce sites can choose specific keywords for their product sets or their competitive advantage which will hopefully bring more traffic to their site.

A research site called spyfu.com makes it possible for you to see if your PPC keywords are similar to your competitors. Using sites like spyfu.com or other SEO tools can really leverage your company’s PPC efforts.

2. Comparison Shopping

Even though there are many customers out there that are brand loyal and would only shop at certain webstores, there are also many customers that are looking for the best deal possible, especially around the holiday season. ‘Understanding Comparison Shopping Engines‘ is a great article about comparison shopping which has many valuable insights for eCommerce businesses.

One of the most popular free comparison shopping sites is Google’s ‘Google Product Search‘. It’s popularity arises from it’s push from webstores for ‘real time’ pricing and product availability.  Google Product Search downgrades products that don’t display accurate information making it a very trusted site by its users.

3. Mobile Commerce

Mobile Commerce is another increasingly popular online payment tool. With the number of smartphone users growing and smartphones becoming more innovative and secure, mobile commerce will see continued growth in the future. PayPal grew its mobile payments from $141 million to $4 billion from 2009-2011.

eCommerce users need to ensure their websites are mobile friendly to ensure they don’t lose out on potential mobile customers.

4. Accounting Package Integration

This holiday season if you integrate your eCommerce webcart with your accounting package you will feel a lot less stressed, you will receive fewer headaches and you will have more time to enjoy your holiday season. (*Not Scientifically Proven* but true nonetheless!)

An eCommerce and accounting integration will ensure that your inventories are up to date and that this up to date information is reflected on your webstore. That way you don’t have to send any embarrassing emails to customers saying their product is on back order. Integrations also automate fulfillment of eCommerce orders which ensure that your process speed is as quick as it can be. Lastly, an integration solution will keep accurate shipping details reflected on your customers eCommerce account, which makes products very easy to track.

Webstore Integration, eCommerce 2012 Holiday Season, eCommerce

As promised, this week we wanted to follow up with the eBridge attendees to the Sage Summit 2012 to get some on-the-ground insight on the Summit and what it means for Sage accounting stakeholders moving forward!

Representing eBridge Connections at the Summit were two of our Account Managers, Neha Dar and Kevin Moffat.

We will start with Neha:

Neha, as a first-time Sage Summit attendee, how would you weigh the value of these types of conventions?

As a first time attendee I was not sure what to expect. I had heard the stories and read the manual. Needless to say, it was much more than advertised. These events are a phenomenal opportunity to meet like-minded people who are aiming to service the needs of customers thru technology.  Some of the main highlights were most definitely the commitment of the Sage team to educate their Business Partners and end customers alike. In addition to this, Sage has a lot of emphasis on networking and the benefits of that. The atmosphere is relaxed and extremely social.

What were some of the highlights of the summit for you?

One thing that struck me the most is that we are primarily viewed as an EDI Integration company.  This time we focused our attention on the eCommerce integration. With more and more people moving parts or all of their business into this space, this type of integration is essential

How do you see integration solutions from eBridge fitting in with the strategic vision of Sage over the coming months and years?

Our commitment to continue to service a large line of Sage products leaves us in a unique position as we are able to offer eCommerce integration with 20+ platforms, 100s of EDI trading partners and CRMs to a large customer base. Our Cloud based solution makes deploying the solution faster and a smoother process.

Thank you, Neha. Your input has been very informative.

Now we will speak with Kevin Moffat:

Kevin, as a veteran Sage Summit attendee, what was unique about this summit as compared to previous years?

Aside from being in Nashville TN this year VS the previous year in Washington DC, all show dates had a mixture of End Users and Re-sellers.

I also noticed there was better scheduling of the breakout sessions so that they ultimately would not interfere with the tradeshow hours. That alone was a huge positive for both attendees and vendors.

Is there anything that jumps out as a general theme for this particular Sage Summit?

What really stuck out for me while attending the conference this year was the strong emphasis on the use of eCommerce. I’ve been noticing as each year goes on, there are more customers and vendors interested in attending the information sessions surrounding eCommerce related topics. Myself, working for a company that specializes in Sage Integration to 20+ eCommerce Shopping carts; this excites me to see and to be a part of.

What were some of the highlights for you, and what did you take away from the Summit which will leave you better equipped to accommodate Sage users in need of an integration solution?

One of the biggest changes this year for Sage was their re-branding of all of their product lines. Having been a vendor at this year’s show allowed me to fully understand Sage’s desired direction with their products and where they’re envisioning the company being in 5-10 years down the road. Coming back to eBridge equipped with this knowledge will allow me to provide my clients with more insight to the Sage product. As well as demonstrating to them how our integration solutions are able to compliment and grow with their Sage ERP.

Thank you, Kevin.

If you have attended a Sage Summit, or plan on attending in the future, drop us a comment and let us know your thoughts!

We hope everyone has a great weekend!

Cheers,

The eBridge Team

Events, Integration, Webstore Integration, eCommerce e-commerce, e-commerce integration, eBRIDGE Blog, Sage, sage accounting integration, sage mas 90

The powerful eBridge Connections platform allows you to integrate and automate data between your back-office systems and hundreds of EDI partners, eCommerce marketplaces and CRM systems. By using the eBridge Connections API, you can connect the integration solution to any platform using web services.

In this video, we follow an order from Amazon through the eBridge Connections universal integration platform and into an ERP system. FBA and non-FBA programs are both supported, as is Amazon EDI. We can also integrate and automate the settlement reports into your accounting/ERP system.

If you’re wondering about integrating your specific accounting/ERP system, please watch the following video to learn why it doesn’t matter what you are using.

How to setup Accounting Integration – Why EDI, CRM and eCommerce endpoints don’t matter

Do you have questions about integration or our Amazon connector? Leave me a message in the comments below.

Integration, Webstore Integration, eCommerce Amazon, FBA, Non-FBA, Settlement Report

Good Morning Everyone,

This morning, as I browse back through our Blog and some posts from 2010, 2011 – I noticed a great article series written by our Mike Catalfamo on eCommerce Integration and the best practice process for integrating Sales Orders, Customer info, Inventory Quantities, and Shipping details (tracking #’s etc) to your accounting package.  Here are the 4 parts of this series again:

1. An Introduction to eCommerce and Accounting Package Integration
2. Creating eCommerce Sales Orders
3. Managing eCommerce Inventory
4. Updating Sales Orders and Thoughts on Shipping Info (Tracking #’s etc)

Enjoy the read – Mike and I would both love to hear your feedback on the proposed best practice approaches.

Best,
Dave Malda.

eCommerce AspDotNetStorefront integration, Magento integration, Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, SAP Business One, Volusion integration

With a looming debt crisis in the United States and Europe, it’s no question that there are turbulent times ahead for businesses.  So what can an e-commerce store do to mitigate a decrease in demand for their products or services?  Here are a few tips:

Back-office automation

Increased automation with your back-office systems can save your company a substantial amount of money.  There are several affordable plugins and integration products that can be used with your existing e-commerce platform including accounting integration, email marketing, and payment processing.  For instance, eBridge’s cloud-based accounting integration platform is an extremely affordable way to integrate your e-commerce store, EDI trading partners, and CRM system with your accounting system.

Don’t cut back on your marketing efforts, improve them

When times get tough, many companies make the mistake of becoming overly defensive by cutting costs.  It’s important to remember that your marketing and advertising efforts produce sales.  Online retailers can spend much more on their advertising efforts than brick-and-mortar stores as their operational costs are much lower.  Instead of cutting back on marketing, it’s wise to reevaluate your current strategies.   For example, when was the last time you reviewed your online advertising campaigns?  Are there new advertising channels that are available to you?  Do you have a mobile marketing strategy in place?

Review your product line

Changes in consumer behavior are usually the first signs of recessionary cycles.  During economic downturns, consumers draw more attention to non-cyclical goods or staples.  Reviewing your product line for new additions is a great way to increase demand.  For instance, you may want to offer complementary products for your stores ‘core’ products.

Increase customer loyalty

Be sure to increase communication with your existing customer base as they are the ones that are most likely to buy from you.  Offer incentives like rewards, promotions, and contests to make sure they are returning to your store.  Also, improve your customer service efforts to ensure that your customers are completely satisfied with their purchases.

Expand your reach

The internet and free-trade has opened up the gates to world markets.  Emerging markets like Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC’s) are well positioned to maintain strong growth in e-commerce over the long-term.   Be sure to look into these markets if you haven’t already!

eBRIDGE Blog, eCommerce