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CRM vs ERP: Differences, Overlaps and Integration
CRM and ERP are often confused or treated as the same thing. In fact both systems have different priorities, and ideally they complement each other. We clarify the differences.
Quick comparison
| Criterion | CRM (customer relationship management) | ERP (enterprise resource planning) |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Customer relationships | Internal resources |
| Typical users | Sales, marketing, service | Finance, purchasing, production |
| Contact management | Extensive | Basic |
| Pipeline and deals | Core function | Often limited |
| Accounting | None, via integration | Core function |
| Inventory management | None, via integration | Core function |
| Implementation time | Weeks | Months to years |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Detailed ratings
Feature comparison
| Feature | CRM (customer relationship management) | ERP (enterprise resource planning) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact management | ERP: usually basic | ||
| Pipeline management | Core CRM function | ||
| Marketing automation | |||
| Sales forecasting | |||
| Email integration | |||
| Accounting | Core ERP function | ||
| Inventory management | Core ERP function | ||
| Production and manufacturing | |||
| Purchasing and procurement | |||
| Warehouse management | |||
| Human resources | |||
| Project management | Different focus | ||
| Customer service | |||
| Reporting |
Price comparison
| Plan | CRM (customer relationship management) | ERP (enterprise resource planning) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15-50/user/month | $50-100/user/month | |
| Professional | $50-100/user/month | $100-200/user/month | |
| Enterprise | $100-200/user/month | $200-500/user/month | |
| Implementation | $5,000-30,000 | $50,000-500,000+ |
Pros and cons
CRM (customer relationship management)
Pros- Focus on customer relationships and sales
- Pipeline management and forecasting
- Marketing automation
- Customer service features
- Fast implementation
- Usually more user friendly
- Ideal for customer facing processes
- No inventory management
- No accounting
- No production planning
- Limited warehouse management
- Not optimized for internal processes
ERP (enterprise resource planning)
Pros- Steering the entire company
- Inventory and warehousing
- Accounting and finance
- Production and manufacturing
- Purchasing and procurement
- One system for all internal processes
- Often weaker CRM features
- More complex and more expensive
- Longer implementation time
- Less focus on customer experience
- Limited marketing features
Our verdict
Choose CRM (customer relationship management) if:
Choose ERP (enterprise resource planning) if:
Frequently asked questions
Most ERP systems have CRM modules, but these are often less extensive than dedicated CRM systems. For sales driven companies we recommend a dedicated CRM.
Yes, especially when sales and order processing should be closely linked. The investment pays off through efficiency gains.
For sales oriented companies usually CRM first, for production oriented companies ERP. Service providers almost always start with CRM.
Yes, but they are usually compromises. Specialized systems with a good integration are often the better choice.
From simple API connections taking days to complex middleware projects taking months. It depends on the systems.
Need clarity on which system fits you?
We analyze your processes and recommend the best solution, whether that is CRM, ERP or an integration of both systems.