Social Media in the B2B ERP Software Space?
Posted by David Silva on Thu, Aug 04, 2011 @ 07:00 AM
According to an article by Thomas Wailgum, many ERP providers are jumping on the social media bang-wagon by integrating social media sites directly into their application. While it is always important for software providers to stay up-to-date, this might be an unnecessary focus rather than a strategic advancement.
Don't get me wrong; social media is an extremely important part of the marketing puzzle and ERP software is no exception. Many businesses are utilizing social media to push out content and engage with prospective buyers. However, I fail to see the need for integration directly into an ERP system.
Firstly, a number of very cheap (or free) tools exist to help manage social media channels. Secondly, with the social web changing as quickly as it does, you may be making modifications to these functions on a daily basis. And lastly, there is just no need for integration between one's financial and inventory system and the "social-sphere". Unless your company takes a very liberal approach to social media and likes to post customer invoices publicly on Facebook, chances are these integrated tools will have little use.
We are exclusively B2B and use social media (Follow us on Twitter!) but we have found, so far, that we have no need for integration with our ERP system.
Do you agree? Would you like to see social media integration within your ERP system?