How to Unify Data from ERP, CRM & Planning Tools

Why is unified data important for reporting and analysis?

Without unified data:

• Sales, operations, and finance use different reports and metrics
• It’s hard to spot performance gaps or forecast accurately
• Manual effort increases, and errors creep in

When your ERP, CRM, and planning tools work together, you gain:

• One version of the truth
• 360° visibility into customers, operations, and plans
• More accurate KPIs and actionable insights

Why is it so hard to combine data from ERP, CRM, and planning tools?

Each system is:

• Built for a specific purpose (e.g., ERP for transactions, CRM for customer interactions)
• Structured differently
• Maintained by different teams

That means:

• Data formats don’t match
• Terminology isn’t consistent
• Metrics like “customer,” “order,” or “inventory” may mean different things across systems

What’s needed to unify this data?

To effectively unify ERP, CRM, and planning data, you need:

• Data Integration
  • Connect systems through APIs, files, or direct links
  • Extract data on a recurring basis
• Data Harmonization
  • Map and align fields (e.g., customer names, product SKUs)
  • Translate business logic (e.g., sales rep assignments, forecast buckets)
• Data Storage
  • Use a central repository or data hub to stage, transform, and store aligned data
• Governance & Context
  • Define standard metrics and business rules
  • Apply security and access controls by role

How does Stratum unify ERP, CRM, and planning data?

Silvon’s Stratum platform was built for this exact purpose. It:

• Connects to ERP, CRM, spreadsheets, forecasting tools, and more
• Automatically cleans, maps, and aligns key fields and hierarchies
• Stores historical snapshots and time-aware metrics
• Presents unified data in dashboards, KPIs, and exception reports
• Makes trusted data accessible via Excel, Power BI, and Stratum’s own web UI

With Stratum, everyone — from the shop floor to the C-suite — works from the same version of the truth.

What kinds of insights can you get with unified data?

• Once unified, you can answer questions like:
• What’s the sales forecast vs. actual by customer segment?
• Are my top customers getting shipments on time?
• Do planned production volumes align with current demand trends?
• How does CRM opportunity data translate to expected revenue by product line?

What’s the difference between a data hub and a data lake?

Stratum acts as a business-ready data hub — not just a storage layer.

How long does it take to get up and running?

Unlike building a solution from scratch, Stratum accelerates the process with:

• Prebuilt data connectors
• Industry-aligned KPIs
• A proven onboarding framework
• Dedicated support for data mapping and validation

Typical Stratum clients are live within weeks — not months.

What’s the first step?

Start by identifying:

• Your top 2-3 data sources (ERP, CRM, Planning)
• The KPIs and reports you want to improve
• Where manual work or inconsistencies are happening

Then connect with Silvon to:

• Assess your data landscape
• Get a tailored demo
• Explore how Stratum can unify your data environment