Every $30M+ retailer eventually hits the same breaking point. You grow, add stores, expand channels, upgrade your ERP, layer in new apps, and wake up one day realizing that the systems meant to support you are now creating friction. This is exactly where retail systems integration becomes a growth superpower. When systems actually talk to each other and share real time data, retailers gain higher margins, more accurate inventory, faster forecasting, and smoother experiences for both customers and internal teams.
Before we go deeper, here is a simple definition:
Retail systems integration is the practice of connecting core retail systems so product data, inventory levels, orders, and financials sync automatically across the entire business.
Retail systems integration connects ERP, ecommerce, POS, and inventory systems so they operate from one shared source of truth. Unified Commerce systems improve accuracy, reduce operational costs, and make scaling easier for retailers in the $30M to $300M range.
This single concept is the foundation of modern retail performance.
A recent EY report on unified commerce provides detailed insight into how mid-market and enterprise retailers are managing fragmented systems, shifting customer expectations, and rising operational complexity. The findings validate what operators have felt for years.
Key Takeaway:
Unified systems outperform disconnected systems in forecasting accuracy, inventory visibility, financial clarity, and customer experience.
EY’s data shows:
• Fragmentation creates revenue leakage and manual rework
• Integration creates speed, efficiency, and operational confidence
• Retailers who centralize data gain stronger financial and customer outcomes
At All Your Ducks, we see this daily. When retailers organize their ecommerce and store operations around Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as the ERP backbone, performance improves across every operational metric that matters.
Retailers often talk about store strategy, ecommerce strategy, marketplace strategy, and wholesale strategy as if they are separate universes. Customers do not experience them that way. Customers behave in paths, not channels.
According to EY:
• 57 percent of consumers want to see, touch, or feel items before buying
• 38 percent buy online and pick up in store
• 55 percent avoid online shopping when they feel they have less control over the process
This is a shopper who expects:
• Consistent pricing
• Real time availability
• Flexible fulfillment options
• Smooth transitions between online and store journeys
• Loyalty recognition everywhere
Key Takeaway:
Customers want unified journeys. To deliver them, retailers need unified systems.
When inventory exists in multiple versions across different systems, or when POS cannot talk to ERP, those customer journeys break. Integration eliminates the gaps so shoppers finally experience the brand as one cohesive operation.
At first glance, retail systems integration sounds technical. In practice, it is operational and financial.
EY’s research highlights several advantages that appear consistently among retailers with unified systems:
Unified commerce environments deploy faster, with fewer disruptions. This shortens time to value and reduces the operational drag of go live cycles.
EY found that unified environments reduce total cost of ownership by an average of 22 percent. Savings come from fewer custom integrations, less middleware, simpler support pathways, and reduced training requirements.
Retailers with unified inventory and order orchestration report better conversion rates and higher omnichannel sales. Features such as real time stock levels, store based fulfillment, and unified customer identity depend on clean system connections.
When data streams into one place, merchants gain clearer product performance insights, more accurate demand signals, and better customer segmentation.
Business Central becomes the operational backbone that holds product data, pricing logic, financial rules, and inventory truth. Everything else plugs into it, not around it.
Retail leaders face simultaneous pressure from customers and operations.
EY found that:
• Half of consumers say brand loyalty no longer guides their purchase decisions
• Thirty three percent are trying new brands to save money
• Fifty percent say personalized offers significantly enhance their experience
Key Takeaway:
Personalization requires unified data. Without retail systems integration, personalization is guesswork and loyalty programs underperform.
Rising operating costs, unpredictable supply chains, and leaner teams require more accurate forecasting and cleaner financial reporting. EY notes that retailers must evaluate technology through long term business value rather than short term cost.
Retailers are moving away from patchwork systems and toward intentional architecture centered on ERP.
Integrated systems do not just look better on paper. They function better in real life.
EY’s research shows meaningful day to day improvements:
Key Takeaway:
Unified systems reduce manual work, improve forecasting, streamline fulfillment, and strengthen financial accuracy.
This is not about any single platform. It is about making Business Central the authoritative source of truth so every system operates from accurate, real time data.
Most retailers attempt integration in fragments. A connector here. A custom job there. A spreadsheet filling the gap somewhere else. True scale requires retailers to treat integration as a strategic initiative.
For retailers between $30M and $300M, the highest impact integration priorities include:
Business Central becomes the foundation for product data, pricing, availability, and financials.
Ensures clean order flow, consistent promotions, and unified customer profiles.
Reduces operational guesswork and improves purchasing accuracy.
Gives leadership one version of the truth across finance, supply chain, and sales.
APIs and modular tools support additional stores, new channels, and growth without chaos.
This is where retail systems integration becomes a competitive advantage rather than a technical task.
EY’s report illustrates a simple reality. Retailers with unified systems gain efficiency, clarity, and momentum. Those who postpone integration eventually face more expensive and urgent replacements.
The good news is that the tools to unify your systems have never been more accessible. With Business Central as your operational backbone and a clean integration strategy across ecommerce and POS, you can build a retail engine that is predictable, scalable, and ready for innovation.
If your team is feeling the friction of disconnected systems, now is the moment to solve it. And if you want someone who can help line up the ducks and build a future ready retail stack, well, that is what we do every day. Let’s talk.
Manual entries. Inventory mismatches. Orders slipping through the cracks. If your
storefront and ERP feel like two different worlds, you’re likely wasting hours and losing
revenue. Most growing ecommerce businesses hit a wall when their backend systems
can’t keep up with the front-end pace. That’s where ecommerce integration makes all the difference.
Let’s show you how to get all your ducks in a row by syncing your Shopify (or other)
storefront with Microsoft Dynamics 365 for faster, cleaner operations—without the
chaos.
When your storefront and ERP talk in real-time, you eliminate silos. Products, orders,
inventory, tax, and customer data flow as one, not as a patchwork of spreadsheets and
error-prone processes.
Ideal for businesses running one or a few stores with straightforward needs. Fastest to implement, lowest overhead.
Great for orchestrating multiple systems (WMS, 3PL, CRM). Visual dashboards, built-in monitoring, and faster iteration.
Perfect when you need total control—complex catalogs, multi-brand support, or strict B2B requirements.
When sales, marketing, and service teams see ecommerce data in Dynamics 365 CRM, every interaction improves. Orders, preferences, warranties—all in one place.
We’ve seen too many brands try to “just connect the systems” and end up swimming upstream. We map the integration, build it to scale, and deliver it with rigor. From UAT to go-live, we help your ducks stay in a row—and stay there.
Done right, Dynamics 365 ecommerce integration becomes a business capability—not a brittle project you dread revisiting.
Need to stop the post-it note chaos and start scaling? Book a 45-minute diagnostic with All Your Ducks today.
If you are a business that sells, omni-channel selling through a unified commerce experience is crucial for growth and scalability. A pivotal strategy in getting there is through the integration of your eCommerce platform with your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This unified commerce approach not only streamlines internal processes but also provides a seamless and personalized experience for customers.
At its core, ERP and eCommerce integration involves the seamless connection between a company's online storefront and its back-end ERP system. This integration facilitates the automatic exchange of data, ensuring that information such as orders, inventory levels, customer details, and financials are consistently updated across both platforms. By eliminating the need for manual data entry, businesses can reduce errors, save time, and enhance overall efficiency.
Integrating ERP with eCommerce platforms enables businesses to provide real-time updates on product availability, order status, and shipping information. This transparency fosters trust and enhances the overall customer experience, leading to increased loyalty and repeat business.
Real-time synchronization between eCommerce and ERP systems ensures accurate inventory tracking. Businesses can avoid overselling or stockouts, leading to better inventory control and optimized stock levels.
Automated data flow between systems accelerates order fulfillment processes. Orders placed online are immediately reflected in the ERP system, reducing processing times and minimizing the risk of errors associated with manual data entry.
An integrated system consolidates financial data, facilitating the generation of comprehensive reports such as trial balances, cash flow statements, and profit and loss accounts. This accuracy supports informed decision-making and financial planning.
By automating routine tasks and reducing redundancy, integration allows employees to focus on strategic initiatives. This boost in productivity can lead to cost savings and a more agile business operation.
As businesses grow, an integrated system can effortlessly handle increased transactions, product lines, and customer data, supporting expansion without necessitating a proportional increase in resources.
With a unified system, data consistency is maintained across all departments. This accuracy is crucial for reliable reporting, forecasting, and strategic planning.
Integrated systems can assist in adhering to industry regulations by providing accurate records and facilitating compliance-related reporting. This feature is particularly beneficial in sectors with stringent regulatory requirements.
While the benefits are substantial, integrating eCommerce with ERP systems presents certain challenges:
To navigate these challenges effectively, businesses should consider the following best practices:
There are a number of platforms to work with for both eCommerce and ERP solutions. At All Your Ducks, we recommend Shopify as your eCommerce Platform and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as your ERP. Both tools are backed by best-in-class security and reliability, and the integration between them is one of the most powerful connections on the market. Shopify and Business Central work together to create a unified commerce experience for your customers, insuring accurate inventory, dynamic pricing, and unparalleled personalization.
Integrating eCommerce platforms with ERP systems is a strategic move that can significantly enhance business operations and customer satisfaction. By creating a unified commerce experience, companies can achieve greater efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. While the integration process may involve challenges, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment, positioning businesses for sustained growth in the competitive digital marketplace. At All Your Ducks, we work with businesses of all sizes to create a unified commerce experience. Contact us today to see how we can help your business grow!