5 Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Epicor Eclipse and Ecommerce Integration
3 min read ● Silk Team
As the demand for digital commerce increases, businesses are constantly looking for ways to streamline operations and improve the customer experience. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by integrating your eCommerce platform with your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
And when it comes to ERP systems, Epicor Eclipse is a popular choice among wholesalers and distributors.
However, as with any integration project, there are potential pitfalls that can derail progress and lead to costly problems. In this blog, we’ll explore the five most common pitfalls of Epicor Eclipse and eCommerce integration—and how to avoid them.
1. Insufficient Planning
Proper planning is essential for successful integration. One of the most common mistakes businesses make is diving into the integration process without a clearly defined roadmap.
This can lead to:
- Project delays
- Data errors
- Unanticipated costs
Solution:
Before beginning any integration, define your goals and requirements. Create a comprehensive project plan that includes timelines, resources, responsibilities, and success metrics.
2. Lack of Compatibility
Choosing an eCommerce platform that doesn’t work well with Epicor Eclipse can lead to serious integration challenges. Compatibility issues often result in poor data syncing, system crashes, or limited functionality.
Solution:
Select an eCommerce platform that either includes built-in Epicor Eclipse integration or supports custom development. Ensuring compatibility from the outset will prevent major headaches later.
3. Inadequate Data Mapping
Data mapping is the process of defining how information flows between Epicor Eclipse and your eCommerce platform. Poor or unclear data mapping often results in mismatched fields, missing values, and inconsistent customer or order data.
Solution:
Understand what data needs to be shared between systems—such as product SKUs, pricing, inventory levels, customer records, and orders. Work with your technical team or integration partner to correctly map every data point.
4. Poor Communication
Integration is rarely just an IT project—it’s a cross-functional initiative involving sales, customer service, inventory teams, and sometimes third-party vendors. Poor communication between stakeholders can lead to misaligned goals, duplicated efforts, and integration delays.
Solution:
Set up regular meetings and communication channels between all stakeholders. Ensure each department understands their role in the integration and stays informed throughout the process.
5. Lack of Testing
Testing is a critical but often overlooked phase in ERP and eCommerce integration. Skipping or rushing through testing can result in overlooked bugs and performance issues once the system goes live.
Solution:
Invest time in thorough testing. This should include:
- Unit testing (individual data flows)
- End-to-end testing (orders, inventory, pricing, etc.)
- User acceptance testing (UAT) by real users to validate the process
Only move forward when you’re confident the integration works as intended.
Final Thoughts
Integrating Epicor Eclipse with your eCommerce platform offers tremendous benefits—from real-time data visibility to improved operational efficiency. But like any major system implementation, success depends on preparation and process.
By avoiding these five common pitfalls—insufficient planning, incompatibility, poor data mapping, communication gaps, and lack of testing—you’ll set your business up for a smooth, cost-effective, and future-proof integration.