How to choose a Sage-Magento integration solution

Wednesday, June 28, 2017Lindsay Hampson The job of working out how best to link hybrid systems together is a common, but complicated, one.  Often Operations Leaders, or IT Managers preparing or upgrading their Sage ERP are given the goal of Magento integration, with little timeframe, little guidance, and a lot of pressure from upper management.  The reason behind the task is a good one – disparate systems must be connected in order to provide one version of the truth, and easy access to data – but it is a logistical nightmare. 

So what are helpful hints when outlining a Sage-Magento integration project?

1.    Create your Sage-Magento integration schematic

• Before you hunt for consultants and solutions, sit in a room with a few pieces of blank paper, and outline the applications you are running, plan to be running, and the flow of data that you want to automate.  For example: 

                1. Magento to Sage order data 
                2. Sage to Magento tracking number data
                3. Magento to Sage customer info data

• Be sure to invite the entire team that will be impacted by the integration.  Think about Finance, eCommerce marketing, and even your Sales Manager. 
• The end picture is your integration schematic.  Now, when you approach vendors or potential partners for help with your Sage-Magento integration, the goal of your efforts is there in black and white.
• Better yet, build your integration blueprint with this handy online tool: http://ebridgeconnections.com/Blueprint-Builder.aspx 

2.    Get the right Sage partners on your team

• Sage X3, Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage 500 and the rest of the portfolio are complex applications with functionality not to be overlooked.  Engaging with a Sage ERP value-added-reseller, or Sage consultant, on your integration might be a good choice, for these reasons:

               1. They know Sage in and out
               2. They likely have been on a team that has completed an integration project
               3. They can recommend the right solution or vendor to help with dataflow

3.    Engage Magento to make recommendations 

• Magento knows eCommerce selling.  Their platform is slick and ever-evolving to serve businesses with complex customization requests.  Although your business is unique, your integration schematic is likely not completely foreign to them.  

4.    Research

• Companies like Sage and Magento write and share customer success integration stories for people like you!  Digest several complete Sage-Magento project stories, and learn from mistakes and wins
• Better yet, get on the phone with brands like Everlast, who have been through an integration involving Magento and an ERP application.  
• Google, Google, Google
• Forums, forums, forums – check LinkedIn, SageCity, Magento Community and other spots like Quora for smart people that can give you unsolicited advice.  

5.    Get 3 proposals, minimum 

• Ask for project proposals and pricing from the top 3 integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) vendors on your list
• Take in demos from each, and share your schematic (or Blueprint) with each vendor
• Consider a few things when reviewing each proposal

1. Is the vendor certified with both Sage and Magento?
2. Is the vendor long-standing?
3. If I change or upgrade my Sage ERP, will it be costly?
4. Can I add additional applications to my integration as our company expands selling channels?
5. Do I need programmers or developers on my side to make it work? 

While these 5 tips are helpful, a 6th could be added.  It’s as simple as this: does the Sage-Magento integration vendor care about your business and do you feel they will do a good job?  Trust your gut.  

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