Welcome to Recruitday's Blog Series "Top 10 IT Jobs in the Philippines 2022," where we talk about the hot tech careers on the market. Last week, we discussed the sixth in-demand job, Security Operators Analyst. Today, we'll take you through the position of an ERP/CRM consultant.  

Let's get started!  

Gone are the days when businesses did their operations and customer services manually. In today's technological market, powerful software applications are businesses' lifelines in handling finances and dealing with customers in just a few clicks. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) programs are two software applications. Both benefit any company, but they differ in focus areas. CRM systems are for "front-end" employees who work on establishing strong relationships with customers through marketing, sales, and customer service. On the other hand, ERP systems are more for "back-end" work in finance and operations. Combining them gives an organization a more detailed and comprehensive view of its business processes.   

With the increasing popularity of such software applications, more companies need CRM/ERP consultants to oversee the programs' functionalities and implementation. The ERP market is seen to grow beyond $49.5 billion in three years, while 91% of companies with ten and more employees utilize CRM systems. The rapid increase means more opportunities for CRM/ERP professionals, particularly those with specialties in top CRM and ERP programs like Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, ServiceNow, and Salesforce. 
 

It's a given that CRM/ERP consultants should have a complete understanding of how these software programs work. If you're pursuing this career, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your organization can maximize the programs' potential and keep up with any updates. However, in what ways do CRM/ERP consultants truly help businesses through their skills, knowledge, and experience?  

Top Reasons CRM/ERP Consultants Are Vital to Business Growth  

A tool is only as good as the hands that wield it. It's true for CRM/ERP consultants whose primary role is to ensure that the company's software works efficiently. They contribute significantly to the business with their expertise and guidance over the programs' implementation and maintenance.  

1. Enhanced Customer Service  

   CRM/ERP consultants help enhance customer service and retention by making the purchasing journey easier with their expertise. The applications can record past purchases and communication, allowing employees to understand the client's needs and experiences without the customer repeatedly providing information. Thus, it increases customer satisfaction.  
    
   In addition, CRM and ERP consultants can integrate the two systems to boost efficiency and generate more valuable data. Through this, they can guide the creation of sales tactics based on the current marketing environment and customer preferences.   

2. Business Efficiency  

   A business's efficiency has a lot to do with optimized communication and monitoring systems, which ERP consultants can help with. They can create seamless communication lines between the business and its partners by utilizing the software to allow sharing of relevant data among authorized teams. Effective and optimized communication systems also avoid extra costs and waste of resources as operations are coordinated timely. 
    
   In terms of monitoring inventories, consultants can also build an intelligent automatic tracking system to keep the business updated on the supply of products.   

3. Effective Analytics 

   Analytics are integral in improving a business, and CRM/ERP consultants can assist in this. Data generated by the software can confuse untrained eyes. Still, consultants can analyze and interpret the data for decision-makers to understand and take proper action. Consultants may also build an optimized customer feedback system to conduct surveys and gather data related to customer preferences, market trends, and others.
   

4. Better Planning and Decision-Making  

   All the records and data generated and stored in the applications can help in business planning and decision-making. However, the key is to have skilled CRM/ERP consultants who can translate the numbers and information into valuable insights. From here, businesses will have a clearer understanding of the market and the direction to take to improve services.   

It's difficult for any business to survive in the digital market without CRM and ERP systems run by reliable consultants. Without fully understanding the programs' functions and how they should be implemented, companies will miss out on many opportunities and even lose customers.   

IT professionals interested in this career field should grasp the role of these programs in business growth and how they can apply their skills and knowledge to use them effectively. The road to mastering specific CRM/ERP programs might be challenging, but there are courses and job opportunities to take to improve your skills.   

Now that we've laid out how CRM/ERP consultants can contribute to businesses, how interested are you in pursuing this track? Next week, we'll discuss another in-demand IT job in the Philippines – Project Manager. Check this article for the complete list of Recruitday's top 10 IT jobs.   

Ready to join Recruitday's talent community of driven and motivated tech professionals? Check the available tech jobs in your chosen track, register in training courses to upskill, or refer your friends and earn today. 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

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