October 4, 2024 by Stonewave team

The interface problem between ERP and e-shop is a common issue faced by e-shop managers. They often find that their products are not synchronized correctly or their orders are not transferred directly to ERP, which leads to serious business problems.

The biggest challenge, however, is that when an error occurs, they do not know who is responsible for solving it or where the problem originates. This uncertainty causes delays and unnecessary time consumption, since the parts involved do not have a clear picture of the cause of the issue.

First, let’s make something crystal clear. It is totally normal to have mismatches and errors when interfacing, especially when the implementation is new. Every system is different so it requires specific solutions when interfacing which if not implemented many problems may occur like the ones mentioned below.

Issues that arise during the synchronization of products between an ERP system and an e-shop.

One of the most common problems is the mismatch between the products in the e-shop and the data in the ERP. This can involve prices, stock numbers or even product availability. E-shop managers often find that changes they make in their ERP are not directly reflected in the e-shop, resulting in incorrect information being displayed to their customers.

These discrepancies cause sales problems, such as over-ordering products that are not available or prices that are not up-to-date.

Time delay when updating products between ERP and e-shop.

When we talk about the ERP and e-shop interface, the communication between the two happens in real time. This is especially important when it comes to inventory management, as customers need to see product availability immediately.

It is obvious that even a small delay in data synchronization can have tremendous consequences, such as over-ordering products that are out of stock or even loss of sales due to non-updated information.

These are perhaps the most common problems that e-store managers are asked to solve in their day-to-day work. So at this point they face another major problem, they don’t know who to turn to for their solution.

Is it a matter of the ERP, the e-shop or the interface system? Who is the person responsible to provide a solution?

This uncertainty often leads to confusion and time-consuming processes, as managers have to contact all parties involved without knowing who exactly is responsible for the problem. This general communication usually leads to delays and late resolution.

Monitoring Tool: the key to solving ERP interface problems

The quick and effective solution to these problems lies in the use of a monitoring tool. Such a tool can give the e-shop manager the ability to see exactly where the problem is and activate the right people to deal with the problem.

If, for example, the data from the ERP is leaving correctly, but is displayed incorrectly in the e-shop, then the problem is located in the interface between the two systems and requires the intervention of the web developer. If, on the contrary, the data leaves the ERP incorrectly, then the problem is located in the ERP itself and needs to be resolved there. This level of transparency saves time and resources by allowing direct intervention at the correct source of the problem.

However, in our experience we have found that product mismatches are caused by errors and omissions in the entry of product information, rather than by technical issues.

It is also worth emphasizing that when we are talking about activities that run in real time such as product price updates or stock updates, immediate resolution is vital for a business.

Enter Sebastien

The above need led to the implementation of a management tool by our team. The Sebastien Project.

With this tool, which solves many interface problems between ERP and Magento 2, it is easy to check the information in the ERP, the e-shop manager and the suppliers’ files, so that the e-shop manager can easily identify where in the overall infrastructure there is a problem and address the right person to solve it.

In addition to the capabilities it provides for effective problem solving, Sebastien is the right solution for those who want to have a central management point for their e-shop, automatic import of products from any source and the ability to configure products without the need for programming work!

Concluding

In conclusion, synchronization problems between e-shop and ERP can cause significant difficulties in the operation of a business, especially when the cause is not easily identified. Effective management of these problems starts with proper identification of the source and segregation of responsibilities to resolve them.

With the right tools like Sebastien, e-shop managers gain better information about their systems and can thus ensure seamless communication between them, avoiding time-consuming processes and operational errors.

If you think we can provide you with connectivity and ERP solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 2310221500 or by email at [email protected] and let’s talk more!