How to Select a SaaS ERP eCommerce Software Solution

Choosing the eCommerce SaaS Platform to Scale and Grow Your Business
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Updated October 9, 2024

Key Takeaways
  • Software as a Service (SaaS) eCommerce refers to online platforms that provide hosted solutions for businesses to manage their digital storefronts and transactions.
  • To select a SaaS ERP eCommerce software solution, assess scalability, user-friendly interfaces, integration capabilities with existing systems, security measures, and customer support.
  • Consider the platform's ability to adapt to evolving business needs and its track record for updates and support. Evaluate the cost structure, ensuring it aligns with your budget and offers transparent pricing.
  • Ultimately, choose a solution that streamlines operations, enhances customer experience, and aligns with your long-term business goals.

What is the Meaning and Function of an ERP?

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), refers to data handling software that offers the ability to integrate various processes of a business on a unified system. ERP has been around since the 70s, as a continuation of Materials Requirement Planning (MRP), a software developed from IBM. MRP was designed to calculate the resources needed for production of a given product.

Today, ERP software is used in several business areas such as human resources, accounting, and customer relationship management. It offers the added benefit of connecting information contained in all these departments in a main database, allowing end users to interact with it and ensuring a single “final version” of each entry (information) that is integrated in every relevant outlet. This ensures that information is accurately updated in every relevant department of the business and everyone is “on the same page,” avoiding mistakes and discrepancies that could cost the business to lose money or clients.

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SaaS and ERP

Integrating ERPs with SaaS eCommerce is more common than you might think. Clarity makes it happen every day and offers support to keep it running.

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Which are the Benefits and Disadvantages of Different ERP?

There are several companies offering SaaS enterprise resouce planning options that can be either eCommerce SaaS platforms or on-premises. Advantages and disadvantages of different ERP options boil down to what your business is looking for, what size and type of business you have, and how much you are willing to pay. Depending on the type of business (or possibly the specific sector of the business looking to implement ERP), there are different options.

Popular cloud ERP software options in the business sector of accounting are available from Sage (Sage 300, Sage 100, Sage X3), Microsoft (Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV), SAP (SAP Business One) and Epicor (Epicor 9). On the other hand, popular ERP healthcare software options applied in the manufacturing sector include Epicor, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Rootstock, Syspro, and MREasy.

Company size is also important for the selection of a suitable ERP option. A cloud ERP provider can offer different ERP options for companies of different sizes. For example, SAP offers “Business All-In-One” for small and medium businesses, or “Business One” for small, medium, or large (enterprise-level) businesses.

Similarly, a cloud ERP provider might only cater for a specific size of business, although usually this indicates that their options are preferentially applicable to small businesses (ex: Viewpoint, ComputerEase, or ERPNext). That being said, well-established ERP providers — such as SAP and Oracle — can offer ERP solutions for different departments within a company, ensuring that they integrate seamlessly with each other.

General Rules When Shopping for a Suitable ERP

When shopping for an eCommerce ERP solution, one should take into consideration the reputation of the vendor, the available ERP options, the functionalities of a specific software and the ease to use, the availability of technical support and training, and of course, the pricing of the product.

A well-known ERP provider tends to be beneficial in terms of product functionalities and technical support, but it can also be associated with increased costs. Trusting the data handling of your business to an ERP solution developed and provided from a smaller, not-so-well-established company might lead to reduced cost for implementation, but it could result to issues with software operability.

This could include glitches during expansion or lack of personalized support. In the long run, investing on an ostensibly cheaper option might end up costing a business more money. No ERP vendor can claim that the offer the unequivocally best ERP solution, but a client can state that the “X” ERP solution was the best for the needs of their business.

How can an ERP make or break your eCommerce Business? An ERP solution is supposed to be your right hand for your business, integrating information, connecting different departments of your business, keeping up to date with information changes, and presenting an accurate picture of your business interface to potential clients.

Consider this example of an online fashion retailer. What would happen if online customers could not see half of the available merchandise? Or if the inventory was not updated after every customer purchase and/or delivery from merchandise providers? Or if marketing strategies (such as discount codes, SEO, and online campaigns) could not be applied? These are issues that suitable healthcare ERP systems for this particular business would be able to keep on track of, integrate, and make sure that customers see an up-to-date, optimised storefront.

What Should You Check Before Investing In an ERP for your eCommerce Business? Overall, the ideal eCommerce SaaS ERP should:

  • Offer the ability to be tailored to your business’s needs
  • Be flexible to implement different configurations or applications to cover emerging needs
  • Offer fast, cross-departmental communication and deliver fast insight into resources, sales data, costs, and performance
  • Be simple to operate and allow you to manage your company
  • Improve business-specific areas that could benefit from an integrated approach (e.g. inventory visibility, quality control, waste minimization, responsiveness to customer needs, project management)
  • Offer easy scalability, especially given that we are talking about SaaS options, rather than on-premise options

The ideal ERP should pave the digital transformation and automation of a company, allowing it to reach — and possibly surpass — the potential envisioned by its creators.

Which eCommerce SaaS Platform Is For You?

Clarity offers integration solutions for nearly every ERP out there, and we can help you find the one that's right for your business during our discovery process.

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FAQ

 

A SaaS ERP (Software as a Service Enterprise Resource Planning) system is a cloud-based software solution that integrates various business processes and functions into a unified platform. Unlike traditional on-premise ERP systems, A SaaS ERP solution is accessible over the internet, allowing businesses to leverage the software without the need for extensive infrastructure investments.

SaaS ERP covers a range of critical business functions, such as finance, human resources, supply chain management, and customer relationship management. The system facilitates real-time collaboration and data sharing across departments, promoting efficiency and informed decision-making. Users can access the platform remotely, enhancing flexibility and enabling businesses to scale easily.

One of the key advantages of SaaS ERP is its subscription-based model, which often includes regular updates, maintenance, and support from the software provider. This reduces the burden on in-house IT teams and ensures that the system remains up-to-date with the latest features and security measures.

SaaS ERP systems are designed to be user-friendly, promoting widespread adoption within organizations. The cloud-based nature of SaaS ERP also enhances data security, with providers employing robust measures to protect sensitive business information.

 

When selecting a SaaS ERP eCommerce solution, consider several key factors.

First, assess scalability to ensure the system can accommodate your business growth. Evaluate user interfaces for simplicity and widespread adoption, as user-friendly platforms enhance overall efficiency. Integration capabilities are crucial; choose a solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing systems.

Security is paramount, so prioritize platforms with robust measures to protect sensitive data. Adequate customer support ensures timely issue resolution, making it essential to choose a provider with a reliable support reputation.

Also, assess adaptability—opt for a solution that can evolve with your business needs. Finally, carefully scrutinize cost structures, ensuring they align with your budget and provide value through features, updates, and support services.

 

SaaS ERP enhances collaboration within your organization by facilitating real-time data sharing across departments. With a unified and cloud-based platform, employees can access information from anywhere, breaking down geographical barriers and promoting seamless collaboration.

Teams can collaborate on projects, share insights, and access up-to-date data, fostering a more informed decision-making process. The centralized nature of SaaS ERP ensures that all stakeholders have access to the same real-time information, reducing the risk of communication gaps and promoting transparency.

This enhanced collaboration streamlines workflows, improves efficiency, and ultimately contributes to the overall success of your organization by fostering a culture of cooperation and shared knowledge.

 

SaaS ERP contributes to data security through robust measures implemented by cloud-based systems. These include advanced encryption protocols, regular security updates, and dedicated teams focused on monitoring and addressing potential threats.

Cloud service providers often employ top-tier data centers with stringent physical and digital security protocols, safeguarding against unauthorized access. Additionally, SaaS ERP platforms typically offer secure authentication methods and access controls, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information.

The centralized nature of the cloud enables more effective management of security protocols, reducing the burden on individual organizations. By entrusting data security to experienced SaaS providers, businesses can benefit from industry best practices, ensuring a higher level of protection for their critical business information.

 

Creating a Software as a Service (SaaS) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system presents several unique challenges. Firstly, scalability is crucial to accommodate various business sizes and needs. The system must handle large volumes of data efficiently and support simultaneous users without performance degradation. Security is another critical concern; safeguarding sensitive business data and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations is paramount.

Interoperability with existing systems is challenging, as the ERP needs to integrate seamlessly with other software applications within an organization's technology stack. Customization poses a dilemma; balancing standardization with flexibility to meet diverse customer requirements without sacrificing usability or maintainability is key.

Continuous updates and maintenance are essential to keep the SaaS ERP system competitive and secure, requiring a robust software development lifecycle. Also, user adoption and training are vital; ensuring that users understand and utilize the enterprise resource planning system effectively is crucial for successful implementation and customer satisfaction. Addressing these challenges demands a comprehensive and strategic approach to SaaS ERP system development.

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Author
 
Written by Stephen Beer
Stephen Beer is a Content Writer at Clarity Ventures and has written about various tech industries for nearly a decade. He is determined to demystify HIPAA, integration, enterpise SEO, and eCommerce with easy-to-read, easy-to-understand articles to help businesses make the best decisions.

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