Most companies spend $500K on ERP and then waste $300K on bad integrations.
Why? Because they connect everything instead of connecting what matters.
This checklist shows you the 15 essential integrations, integration methods, and testing strategies.
15 Essential ERP Integrations
1. CRM System - Customer data, sales opportunities, quotes
2. E-commerce Platform - Orders, inventory, customer data
3. Accounting Software - GL transactions, AP/AR, bank reconciliation
4. Warehouse Management - Inventory locations, pick/pack/ship, receiving
5. Tax Compliance - Sales tax calculation, filing, compliance
6. Payment Processing - Credit cards, ACH, payment reconciliation
7. Shipping Carriers - Rate calculation, label printing, tracking
8. Manufacturing Execution - Shop floor data, work orders, production tracking
9. Quality Management - Inspections, non-conformance, corrective actions
10. Human Resources - Employee data, payroll, time tracking
11. Business Intelligence - Data warehouse, reporting, analytics
12. Document Management - Invoices, POs, contracts, attachments
13. Customer Portal - Self-service ordering, order status, invoices
14. Supplier Portal - PO acknowledgment, ASNs, invoicing
15. Banking Systems - Automated clearing, reconciliation, cash positioning
Integration Methods
API Integration - Real-time, bidirectional, most expensive
File-based Integration - Batch processing, CSV/XML, cheaper but delayed
iPaaS Platforms - Pre-built connectors, faster implementation, ongoing costs
Native Connectors - Vendor-provided, easiest but limited to supported systems