ERP
An ERP (enterprise resource planning) is the system in which a company keeps orders, stock, purchasing, planning and finance, such as Microsoft Dynamics, Exact or AFAS.
The ERP is usually the source of truth for what was ordered, delivered and invoiced. That is why it is the first system to connect: a web store that takes its stock from the ERP, an agent that puts an order straight into the ERP, a dashboard that shows real revenue.
Many SMEs have no separate ERP but an accounting package plus loose tools. Then the integration, or an own hub, fills that role: one place where everything comes together.
Other terms
CRM
A CRM (customer relationship management) is the system in which you keep customers, contacts, agreements and sales opportunities, such as HubSpot, Pipedrive or Teamleader.
System integration
System integration is connecting separate systems, such as web store, ERP, accounting and CRM, so data flows between them automatically and is the same everywhere.
Middleware
Middleware is the intermediate layer that sits between your systems and manages the traffic: translating formats, queueing, retrying and keeping track of what was exchanged.
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