∙ Merchants across Europe will be able to better manage both complexity and scale thanks to seamlessly connecting their local ERP systems to their stores on Shopify
∙ Actindo, Afterbuy, JTL, Pickware, plentymarkets and Xentral in Germany; Itsperfect in the Netherlands; as well as EV4 and Holded in Spain, are the first local ERP systems to partner with Shopify – adding to the already existing global players: Microsoft Business Central, Oracle NetSuite, Infor, Acumatica, and Brightpearl
Dealing with disruption is a daily business for companies – especially retailers – with the macroeconomic headwinds they are facing. It is now more important than ever to proactively, rather than reactively, take action. To remain agile and prepare for the next big thing in commerce, business leaders need real-time insights from connected data to adapt faster, work smarter, and perform better. Most retail businesses turn to their ERP systems to enable continuous innovation and drive success but only when the ERP seamlessly integrates with all other business critical software, such as the commerce platform, can digital transformation happen.
This is why Shopify is expanding its global program, introduced a year ago, to enable local European Enterprise Resource Planning partners to join and build direct integrations to Shopify. Shopify is partnering with local ERP solutions, including Actindo, Afterbuy, JTL, Pickware, plentymarkets and Xentral in Germany; Itsperfect in the Netherlands; as well as EV4 and Holded in Spain, with more to come in the future.
Organisations need the assurance of having one connected back office across the business that surfaces the right insights to drive decision-making across their business. Millions of merchants worldwide use Shopify to manage both volume and complexity. These include companies that started and scaled on Shopify, such as Gymshark in the UK and Hannun in Spain, in addition to longstanding brands like Leonardo in Germany, Alessi in Italy, Lucas Bols in the Netherlands and CDLP in Sweden. Going forward, Shopify’s ERP Program will act as an organisation’s engine and give merchants a centralised system that connects their commerce platform to key business workflows like financials and inventory to help them optimise operations and processes.
Deann Evans, director of EMEA expansion & partnerships at Shopify said, “Compared to other parts of the world, merchants across Europe have different commerce needs and requirements to serve their customers in the most effective way. Thanks to the launch of the local ERP programme, merchants now have the power to reduce the complexity of their business by working with trusted partners which understand their regional needs. After all, the future of commerce is not Direct to Consumer, but Connect to Consumer. Businesses must think of retail as being more than just a transaction; it’s about understanding what consumers want and building a connection with them. With solutions now being specifically tailored to local market nuances, merchants can achieve this even more.”
Through the local ERP program, merchants now gain access to a variety of certified public apps directly integrated with Shopify. ERP partners interested in joining the Shopify ERP program can simply build a Shopify App that meets Shopify’s app development requirements and connect their ERP to Shopify – giving merchants confidence that their apps perform well and offer the best user experience. 87 percent* of Shopify merchants say they rely on apps to run their business and the Shopify App Store is where merchants go to find the apps their business needs to get started and perform at scale. It provides a range of localised back office apps so that merchants can truly help to optimise their business, saving time through workflow efficiency and automation.
Benefits for merchants that integrate via the local ERP Program include:
∙ Seamless connections between workflows, leading to data-informed decision-making. Apps within the local ERP Program connect merchant stores directly to their ERP accounts. By integrating their ERP systems with their commerce operations, merchants can gain accurate, up-to-date data on their inventory, products, orders, and customer information. This is vital when making business-critical decisions and to provide their customers with positive commerce experiences.
∙ The power to control their data. By installing apps that are recognised by the local ERP Program, merchants can ensure proprietary data will seamlessly and securely flow directly between their Shopify admin and their ERP, without the need to connect with a third party, and ensure merchant data is always accurate and up to date.
∙ Saving time and money. By integrating directly with ERP partners, merchants can avoid the time-consuming and expensive process of managing customised implementations. With less applications needed to run their businesses, merchants can introduce greater automation to make their operations more efficient.
The local ERP program is available as of today and merchants can connect their ERP solutions for Actindo, Afterbuy, JTL, Pickware, plentymarkets and Xentral in Germany; Itsperfect in the Netherlands; as well as EV4 and Holded in Spain. UK ERP providers interested in joining the programme can find more here.
