Software rollout in any organization is a hectic task, especially when it involves an ERP and POS. As integrating your POS with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central touches every corner of your business, everyone in your organization is affected by it. That’s why it’s important to have a comprehensive plan before you get started with the integration.
Integration ROI
The benefits of integrating your POS with Business Central are near immeasurable. Talk with any retailer who has successfully transitioned from disparate, siloed data to a frictionless retail environment and they will tell you that it has improved their entire business. Take a look at a few advantages:
· Better operational visibility
· Analytics and reporting
· Enhanced customer experience
· Boosts employee morale
· Better customer interactions
· Increased profit
· Better inventory management
· Efficient delivery and fulfillment
Four-Step Business Central-POS Integration Checklist
Step 1: Planning
It’s important to look back and evaluate your retail operations. Interview your customers and employees to find opportunities for improvement and identify gaps in that need to be rectified. Then, sit with your team and plan your ERP and POS integration. The important points to note are:
· Determine scope and duration
· Set project goals
· Backup your data
· Appoint a team for change management
· Document your business processes
Step 2: Testing
It’s important to test each area the integration will affect to understand how different elements will interact with each other. There may be hidden domino effects, where a change in a process changes the later processes. Follow the below processes:
· Prepare a test environment
· Text sample transactions
· Document failures and discrepancies
· Beta test a few stores
· Fix bugs and solve any issues
Step 3: Training
Many software implementations don’t realize their full ROI potential because the management does not spare any time and money into training the employees who have to work with the integrated system on a daily basis. Ensure that you have checked all the below points:
· Announce the changes
· Create a timeline for training
· Document the latest procedures
· Have a help center
· Outline the benefits of the new processes
· Identify the success indicators
Step 4: Maintenance
Continuous maintenance is integral to successful integration. Usually, the IT department handles the day-to-day needs but it’s recommended to have a software partner that provides excellent support. Points to take care of are:
· Ensure that IT support is accessible 24x7
· Assign an internal staff to handle post-launch issues
· Develop a support plan
· Schedule regular maintenance checks
Enlist Professional Help
Partner with a professional that has done several integrations before, is familiar with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and can guide you through the whole integration process. This will save you time and money by keeping the implementation within the scope and on track to hit your goal.
Are you facing issues integrating with Business Central? Relax, x2x eCommerce is always here to help you. Your business problems can be solved with stability, consistency, and affordability. Contact us at sales@x2xe-commerce.com or 888-929-3266 and get your 1 Hour FREE demo today!