Excel is a great tool. It is a terrible company system.
From Excel to an integrated system: ERP or CRM first?
Most companies in Syria and the region run on spreadsheets longer than they should. Moving to an integrated system is less about technology and more about order: what to move first, how to clean the data and how to keep the business running during the change.
Digital transformation 6 min read
By Nour Aldein Tleti. Updated .
Should a company start with ERP or CRM?
Start where the biggest loss is. If you lose money in stock, purchasing, costing or invoicing, start with ERP. If you lose customers because enquiries aren’t followed up, start with CRM. Platforms like Odoo include both, so you can start with one and add the other without a second system.
Moving from spreadsheets safely
- 01
Freeze the structure
Agree product codes, customer lists and account names before importing.
- 02
Clean the data
Remove duplicates, fix prices and confirm opening balances.
- 03
Run in parallel briefly
Use both for a short, defined period, then stop the spreadsheet.
- 04
Train by role
Each person learns only the screens they use.
- 05
Review after 30 days
Fix what people work around, before it becomes a habit.
Keep exploring
- ERP system and business management software in SyriaIf your manager needs three people and two days to know this month’s profit, you need an ERP.
- CRM system and sales management in SyriaYour best customers are not lost to competitors. They are lost in a WhatsApp chat nobody answered.
- ERP vs accounting software: which does your business need?Buying an ERP too early is expensive. Buying it too late is more expensive.
- Replace spreadsheets with an ERPSpreadsheets are free until the day two of them disagree about your stock.
Planning the move off spreadsheets?
We’ll help you decide what to move first and how.
WhatsApp Dr. Alaa KhouryCall +971 50 682 5189
Discuss your project with ONE DIGITAL
