ERP for eCommerce

Larger, more complex organisations that rely on eCommerce are trending towards modern cloud-based ERP systems. These systems offer far more functionality, reporting, data visibility, and control than generic platforms. This enables these businesses to more efficiently manage inventory, speed up fulfilment, maintain compliance, optimise pricing, and streamline accounting and reporting.

What is an ERP System for eCommerce?

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a powerful tool that you can use to manage your entire business processes and complexity. An ERP system is the next stage in your business’s technology journey after you outgrow a basic accounting system. An ERP system manages and controls:

• Finance
• Sales & Customers
• Supply Chain
• Payroll
• Production
• Projects, and
• Field Services

Because an ERP has access to data from across the entire organisation and between different departments, you can automate processes that usually rely on manual intervention and data duplication. ERP systems, and the automations within, are configured to fit your unique business. No two companies will ever have an identical ERP setup or technology stack.

An ERP eCommerce solution may be better suited to meet the needs of your specific business and can continue to evolve to meet your changing requirements. These systems are cloud-based, so that you can access all your important data at any time, whether you are in the office, the warehouse, or on the go.

When organisations use an ERP system that has been completely customised to meet their needs, they benefit from less time spent on manual tasks, fewer mistakes, and better, data-driven decision-making.

MYOB Acumatica ERP Software Capabilities for eCommerce Businesses

MYOB Acumatica is a powerful, cloud-based ERP system that can meet the requirements of complex, eCommerce-driven organisations. Whether it is reduced administration time, greater control of costs, or real-time reporting, MYOB Acumatica will improve efficiency in your organisation. Its integrated, modular design means that it can become one advanced platform to manage your entire organisation.

Accounting

MYOB Acumatica is built around its core financial functionality. It is a sophisticated ERP system with a range of features to support your processes:

• Automatic transaction capture from the integrated eCommerce platform,
• Automated tax compliance and tax engine integration,
• Configurable subaccounts structure for greater clarity and reporting accuracy,
• Support for multiple currencies when trading overseas or relying on overseas suppliers,
• Strong multi-entity platform for organisations requiring accurate and automatic consolidation across multiple jurisdictions and connected entities,
• Integrated Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable,
• Multiple stock valuation models to track Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) with integration to the inventory management suite.

This means you have an accurate, real-time view of costs, profitability, income, and cash flow. Data can be sliced and diced in real-time dashboards so you can better understand the details that are driving every transaction.

Integration with Shopify, BigCommerce, and More

MYOB Acumatica is built to natively integrate with a range of popular eCommerce platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce. MYOB Acumatica’s open REST-based Application Programming Interface (API) allows direct and seamless integration for other eCommerce solutions without a native connector.

Integration means that data flows between MYOB Acumatica and your eCommerce platform of choice in real-time. This is critical to a high-functioning eCommerce, Retail, and Distribution organisation.

Order Fulfilment Automation

MYOB Acumatica improves efficiency for your inventory and warehousing teams by automating part of the order fulfilment workflow.

1. Display up-to-date stock and pricing information on your website so customers can make faster purchasing decisions,
2. Sales orders and payments captured in the eCommerce platform are immediately synchronised with Finance,
3. Bank Feeds automatically match and reconcile payments from the sales order,
4. MYOB Acumatica automatically allocates available inventory to this order, including from multiple warehouses and locations,
5. The warehouse team has the information they need to pick and pack the right items, including exact bin locations,
6. Automatically select a shipping provider based on pre-selected criteria such as price, delivery window, and shipping size requirements,
7. MYOB Acumatica automatically notifies the customer with invoices, picking statuses, and shipping information as it is logged by each team,
8. Order status is updated automatically, including when the customer receives the order,
9. MYOB Acumatica also manages returns, including restocking, refunds, and exchanges,
10. Dashboards and reports are updated in real-time with the latest COGS, revenue, inventory valuation, and accounts receivable information.

CRM & Customer Data Integration

MYOB Acumatica’s built-in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module is a key aspect of its Sales & Customer capability. A unified, integrated CRM and ERP system centralises customer information and sales data from web, sales, and service channels. This means everyone on your team has access to the right information about the customer that they need for their role. MYOB Acumatica also uses this data to trigger automations and customer notifications, improving communication and customer satisfaction.

Documentation, Reports & Forecasting

MYOB Acumatica has robust document management functionality – allowing detailed records to be stored against customer profiles or debtor accounts. Document management helps maintain compliance and auditability.

Dashboards and real-time reporting are also important for maintaining accurate inventory levels and meeting customer demand. MYOB Acumatica has sophisticated Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) functionality to forecast and plan inventory requirements, so you always have the right stock on hand at the right time. Combining ERP insights with eCommerce, CRM, Supply Chain, and Inventory Management gives you a clear picture of the organisation’s health at any time. See which lines are underperforming and might need to be put on special, or identify fast-moving items that can be re-ordered.

Payroll & Workforce Management

Organisations with a high volume of eCommerce transactions often have multiple employment types and groups: full and part-time, casual, and seasonal staff. MYOB Acumatica has integrated Payroll and Workforce Management modules to support your complex payroll requirements:

• Configurable payroll groups to pay certain staff at certain times (e.g. pay full-time staff monthly and casual staff weekly),
• All payroll data is posted to the General Ledger automatically,
• Clock in/clock out functionality for precise shift timings,
• Staff can see current and projected leave balances and submit applications without creating administrative work for the payroll team,
• Team leaders and managers get automatic notification of leave requests, with a calendar view to evaluate leave requests with team context,
• Leave is automatically added to the relevant pay period with no manual intervention,
• Smart Rostering so you always have qualified members in the warehouse for every shift.

Benefits of ERP Solutions for eCommerce Business

An ERP system is a tool that, if used properly, will help improve areas of the business and transform the way you do everyday business tasks. eCommerce ERP software brings many tangible benefits and efficiency improvements.

Real-Time Sync Between Your Online Store and Back-Office

MYOB Acumatica maintains complete data accuracy over your entire technology ecosystem in real-time. You will eliminate the stress of double-checking listings and the fear of making mistakes. Everyone in your team can work confidently, trusting the information in the system and able to deliver the best outcome for the customer.

One Platform to Manage Orders, Inventory, and Finance

Having one platform as a single source of truth for orders, inventory, and finance eliminates manual double handling of data and enables a real-time view of organisational health. This also streamlines compliance and reinforces auditability requirements.

Faster, Error-Free Fulfilment and Happier Customers

MYOB Acumatica connects the different data siloes in your organisation together, allowing automated processes based on data updates and triggers. Automation powers faster fulfilment and better communication with your customers, making everyone happier and satisfied.

Smarter Insights with Live Reporting and Dashboards

Role-specific dashboards mean every team member has direct access to the specific information they need. Everything is updated in real-time, eliminating requests for up-to-date reports or chasing static spreadsheets for insights. You can make better, more informed decisions at a faster pace to navigate changing business environments.

Easily Add New Sales Channels and Integrations as You Scale

MYOB Acumatica is customisable and has an open REST-based API. This makes it receptive to new integrations, further scaling its ability to act as a single source of truth for your data. It is cloud-based, eliminating the need for on-premise hardware and simplifying your expansion to new locations, jurisdictions, and countries.

We Make ERP Simple So You Don’t Have to Worry About Getting It Wrong 

Kilimanjaro Consulting are experts in MYOB Acumatica implementations for eCommerce organisations. We have a proven history of improving efficiency for larger, more complex organisations through the clever use of innovative, proven, and creative technology such as MYOB Acumatica.

One of the keys to our success is our structured implementation methodology, which has been developed and honed through thousands of ERP implementations. We rely on the methodology to manage the risks associated with an implementation and ensure it is delivered to meet your requirements the first time. We understand that in all complex projects, the cost of rectification and completion far outweighs the cost of doing it properly the first time.

Your choice of ERP system is important, but so is your choice of ERP implementation partner. Kilimanjaro Consulting will guide you through the ERP selection process, ensuring that you select the right system to meet your requirements and that the system is designed and built to fit your organisation. We forge strong, long-term partnerships with our clients, continuing to support their evolving processes with MYOB Acumatica.

Watch the video to learn about how our client, The Jojoba Company, found efficiency improvement and supported their global expansion with an MYOB Acumatica implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

MYOB Acumatica is a complex and fully featured business management platform. Naturally, this leads to many frequently asked questions.

Is Shopify an ERP or CRM

Shopify is neither an ERP (Enterprise Resource Management) system nor a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. Shopify is an online eCommerce platform, closer to a Content Management System (CMS) than CRM. What this means is that it is a platform for digital content, and Shopify extends this by including stock information and payment capture – to turn your website into a fully functional eCommerce store.

An ERP system is your core business management platform, usually centred around finance and operations – everything your business needs to operate. For example, MYOB Acumatica.

A CRM system is your primary way of communicating with customers and prospects at scale, including marketing funnels, sales pipelines, and customer service capabilities. For example, HubSpot or MYOB Acumatica’s built-in CRM module.

A CMS system is your digital front of house presentation of your business, a one-stop shop to learn about your business and view your content. For many businesses, this is your main domain website. For example, www.kilimanjaro-consulting.com.

Shopify can integrate natively with ERP systems such as MYOB Acumatica and CRM systems such as HubSpot to create a completely connected ecosystem to manage your eCommerce business.

What is the difference between Shopify and MYOB Acumatica?

Shopify is your online eCommerce platform, managing your products, providing information about your services, and capturing payments for customer transactions.

MYOB Acumatica is an ERP platform. It is the core platform used by your back-office teams (finance, management, and operations) to capture and analyse data and manage the business.

Does MYOB work with Shopify?

Yes, MYOB Acumatica integrates directly with Shopify. This allows seamless data flow between the two systems, so you always have up-to-date stock and pricing information on your website, and an accurate Chart of Accounts and financial record in your ERP system.

Is MYOB ERP Software better than Xero for eCommerce?

MYOB Acumatica, MYOB’s cloud-based ERP solution, is a better-fit business management tool for larger, more complex eCommerce businesses compared to Xero. However, this does not mean that MYOB Acumatica is the best tool for every eCommerce business. Xero is built for small businesses with fewer complexities, financial requirements, and compliance obligations compared to larger, more complex organisations.

A small business using an ERP system is like owning a Ferrari to drive to the shops – fun and powerful, but unnecessary and expensive. ERP systems are more powerful and comprehensive compared to accounting systems like Xero, but they are built for larger, more complex organisations. For many small businesses, it is still appropriate to use simple accounting software for your financial processes.

An ERP system is required when your business has evolved to be larger and more complex. Once you meet the requirements for an ERP system, you can then take advantage of its scalability. Rushing into implementing an ERP system when it is not suitable can cause more harm to your organisation in the long run. You should partner with an ERP software expert like Kilimanjaro Consulting for a free evaluation of your business and whether you need the power of MYOB Acumatica for your organisation.

Does MYOB have Inventory Management?

MYOB Acumatica has a robust inventory management system in its Supply Chain capability. This includes Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) functionality that gets ahead of demand fluctuations and lets you move from stock shortages to smooth supply.

MYOB Acumatica’s Inventory Management module enables you to efficiently manage your distribution process with system-wide inventory control and effective inventory management software, including real-time access to inventory in transit, available inventory, and inventory costs. It supports multiple stock valuation methods, inventory sub-items, and matrix items to handle complex product configurations. Additionally, it automatically generates purchase orders with multi-level approvals, provides accurate cost management, and accommodates multiple warehouse locations and currencies. It features built-in sales order management, streamlining processes for your sales team and ensuring everyone has up-to-date stock and pricing information.

Next Steps

Contact us to organise a free, no-obligation assessment of your organisation and whether MYOB Advanced is the right fit for you. Kilimanjaro Consulting is experienced in successful implementation and business process improvement for eCommerce, wholesale, distribution, retail, and other inventory-based organisations.

To start a conversation about how MYOB Acumatica can improve efficiency in your organisation, email sales@kilimanjaro-consulting.com or call 1300 857 464 (AU) or 0800 436 774 (NZ).