If staying afloat in rough economic waters were not enough, small-midsized businesses (SMBs) are experiencing frustration and inefficiency when it comes to integrating data management and business software (i.e. ERP, CRM) that have been intended to help them manage costs and grow revenues. With the hefty chunk of change those solutions command, at a time where every dollar spent must have the maximum value extracted, these need to start pulling their weight.

A new white paper sponsored by Sage and published on TMCnet reveals that customizing applications for particular needs ranks the top--63 percent--of common software problems. This is followed way behind by duplicate data entry points and coordinating software updates each at 32 percent.

"Many SMBs are utilizing contact management and accounting software but most don't have a solution that provides visibility and insights from data," says the paper. "And they're finding that customization and data management across different systems can be very challenging."

The paper also found that an overwhelming majority of SMBs use ERP software--79 percent--to manage sales, manufacturing, distribution, and HR. A sizable minority--38 percent--use CRM applications.

Yet while ERP and CRM solutions complement each other, fewer than 1 in 10 SMBs believe they are seamlessly integrated. Most feel that they have some room for improvements when it comes to data sharing.

The Sage white paper makes the case for integrating these solutions. It has very helpful recommendations to help SMBs obtain greater ROI from ERP and CRM.

"What can seamless CRM and ERP integration do for my business?" asks the paper.
SIMPLIFY EVERYTHING. Bridge your ERP and CRM software into one unified solution that can deliver a consistent user experience."

That experience, helping to ensure that every time when a customer interacts with your organization is consistent and successful, is what being successful in business is about.