Unified ERP System for Manufacturing Boosts Operational Efficiency

Yes, you got that right! A Unified Manufacturing ERP System is the need of the hour. A Unified ERP implementation solution gives a complete set of resource planning tools. It helps you do things right on time and in sync.

According to Statista, 44% of manufacturers see “scattered data” as a major obstacle to expanding their operations. This is affecting everything from how they treat customers to how they manage their supply chain.

As per observation, many manufacturers have not yet transitioned. They still use different systems to manage customer relationships, sales, billing, and stocks. Bottlenecks and blind spots are created in their manufacturing operations. Thus limiting their business growth.

In this post, we will see how we can bring – CRM, sales, billing, and finished product inventory into one system. We will check what happens if we have implemented them within our business.

This will eventually help the manufacturing companies understand the importance of each. So that they can manage and simplify how their business should operate. Apart from that, they can align their profit margins as well using a unified MRP system.

Let’s dive in and check each required system for the unified

Managing Manufacturing Relations with CRM

CRM is an important need for all industries and is no longer limited to the B2C industry. Manufacturing CRM helps manage OEM partnerships, B2B sales cycle, distributors/suppliers. It also assists you in after-sales services.

What if CRM integration is not there for your business?

• Product stock availability and customer order history are not visible to the sales reps.
• No access to fulfillment or delivery status.
• After delivery, follow-ups are missed due to a lack of a unified ERP system.

Stat Insight: A 2023 Salesforce report found that 82% of B2B buyers expect manufacturers to personalize engagements—which is almost impossible with a disconnected CRM.

After CRM implementation how things work:

• • A unified customer view for all teams – sales, support, and production

• • Orders placed through the CRM do auto-checks on the availability of stock and production.

• • Field service agents now get the complete customer and order details for productivity.

Use Case Enventa is a leading manufacturer of high-quality Online UPS Systems. To cut out inefficient operations, they used a unified CRM solution, Odoo. What they achieved through the CRM implementation –

• • Lead-to-deal conversion time improved by 65%.

• • Centralized customer data eliminated duplicate entries.

• • Real-time visibility into the sales pipeline and key metrics.

• • Cross-functional teams collaborated better via shared dashboards.

• • Manual tracking time reducing by 40%.

• • Enhanced document management and client follow-ups for improved interactions.

From Manufacturing Floor to a Finished Deal – Sales

Sales in manufacturing kind a bit tricky. From making quotes and getting them approved to ensuring everything meets standards and planning production in groups.

If you are using a disconnected system, then everything is just guesswork. You might create orders by hand or guess production schedules with stock levels.

Without Unified Manufacturing ERP System Sales integration:

• • Building quotes with old pricing or quote creation for stocks that are not in hand.

• • No lead time definition, as sales teams have no unified view of production.

• • The trust factor for the product delivery is low, as the time from conversion to delivery takes too long.

Insight: A McKinsey study showed that manufacturing companies with digital integration see 30–50% better accuracy from quote to order and 20–40% quicker sales cycles.

With Sales integration:

• • Automatic inventory and pricing from stock information are available for quote creation.

• • Sales orders are directed straight from CRM into planning for production and so on.

• • Make predictions and check forecasts about the pipeline and stocks.

Increased Cash Flow Efficiency – Invoicing

Manufacturers, by default, have longer waiting times and different billing setups. This can include – upfront payment, discount based, or how much you are going to buy. So, if the billing is not directly connected with the CRM, sales issues start to pile up.

When the systems are not linked:

• • Billing relies on confirming the order and checking the delivery status.

• • Manual invoice creation causes errors and slow payments.

• • If bills take time, then this can slow down the monetary requirement for production.

Insight: The QuickBooks Manufacturing Benchmark shows what happens when companies don’t link their sales and invoicing systems. The manual invoicing can delay cash collection by 23 days on average.

When systems work together:

• • The unified ERP system helps create draft invoices depending on the milestones for delivery or production.

• • Payment status is reflected for the sales and product teams in real time.

• • Depending on the contract type, the system will automatically apply the discounts based on actual quantities.

Production Readiness to Finished Goods Stock:

For a manufacturing company, demand meets supply when finished goods are in stock. But if they do not have a unified connected system, it can make it tough to handle the process. It covers manufacturing, inventory levels, and delivering products.

What happens without integration:

• • Sales reps can mislead customers by promising stock that is not available, thereby hurting the ties.

• • Purchase orders or product batches do not match up with the inventory.

• • Lost revenue due to overstocking or stockouts.

Stat Insight: Deloitte’s Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index shows that 68% of manufacturers say they can’t manage inventory well because their systems don’t work together.

What happens when integrated:

• • Everyone involved in production, buying, and selling can check the current inventory levels.

• • When items are sold or moved, it automatically updates the financial and sales records.

• • The reordering rules ensure that the raw materials align with customer demands.

How Unified Manufacturing ERP System Increases Operations

• • Production is driven by demand, combining CRM, sales, and inventory leads to improved planning and less surplus stock.

• • Faster order processing and invoicing happen without delays or manual work.

• • You can quickly check updates on the supply chain and customer orders.

• • This results in better client retention through timely deliveries, accurate invoices, and enhanced service follow-ups.

• • Operations become more efficient with reduced administrative tasks and better resource management.

How Unified Integration Provides You with a Competitive Advantage in Manufacturing

Using separate systems ends up costing manufacturers more than they think. They lead to missed orders, late payments, and inaccurate forecasts. In a field where profits are low and deadlines are strict, merging systems is essential, not optional.

Manufacturers aiming for rapid growth, expansion, and building customer trust need their CRM, sales, billing, and inventory management to function as one. This goes beyond just upgrading technology; it’s about transforming the way manufacturing companies operate.

Why Odoo CRM a Unified Manufacturing ERP System

Odoo CRM systems assist manufacturers by providing real-time updates on sales, inventory, and billing, customizing processes for both build-to-order and build-to-stock methods, offering adaptable components for different stages of growth, and ensuring seamless automation from quoting to cash collection with integrated reporting.

Looking to eliminate gaps in your manufacturing processes? Our team can create a system that unifies everything—CRM, sales, billing, inventory, and production—into a single platform.

Talk to our experts or drop us an email at sales@apagen.com or give us a call back at: +91 9971 800 665