Field Sales Automation Integration with Mikro ERP

S-Leader is a mobile field sales automation system that integrates with Mikro ERP. Orders and collections approved in the field are posted automatically to Mikro as records, while the field team has live access to customer balances, past orders and sales history from a mobile device. The data accounting sees and the data the field sees therefore stay identical.

Mikro is one of the two widely used Turkish ERP solutions. Even so, most field sales applications either offer no integration at all or limit it to a one-way transfer that runs at the end of the day. This article covers what the integration does, which data flows in which direction, and what to watch out for in an integration project.

The real cost of working without integration

When a field sales application runs independently of the ERP, the picture is the same in most companies:

• The representative sells against stock figures that went stale during the day; unavailable products get ordered
• Customer-specific prices and campaigns are incomplete on the mobile side, and manual discount errors begin
• Order slips are re-entered into the ERP at the office; the same data is keyed twice, by two different people
• Collections taken in the field reach the customer account late, so the representative sees the wrong balance on the next visit
• At month end the accounting and field reports do not match, and reconciliation stretches over days

None of these costs appear on an invoice; they spread out as lost time, incorrect orders and customer dissatisfaction.

Which data flows in which direction?

A healthy Mikro integration works in both directions. The flows separate as follows:

From Mikro ERP to the mobile device: customer account balances, the customer's past order and sales history, product and stock data, price lists and campaign definitions. The field team views all of this live while standing in front of the customer.

From the mobile device to Mikro ERP: orders created and approved in the field, along with collection records. In S-Leader, approved orders and collections are posted automatically to Mikro as records, so no second data entry is needed at the office.

Why the collections side matters separately

In every sector selling on credit terms, receivables management is as critical as the sale itself. With the integration set up correctly, the field team can see customer debt movements and overdue or upcoming collections while with the customer. In S-Leader, cheque and note due dates and amounts are calculated automatically so the right collection can be planned. Because the collection record reaches the customer account in Mikro as soon as it is entered, the balance the representative sees on the next visit is the real one.

The integration difference between van sales and pre-sales

In van sales the product is delivered at the moment the order is taken, so the stock movement and the document are created at the same time and any delay in the integration directly affects stock accuracy. In pre-sales the order is taken and delivery happens as a separate step, where the order reaching the ERP on time determines dispatch planning. Because S-Leader supports both models, companies running different selling methods within the same field organisation can work from a single system.

Documents in the field: barcode and mobile printing

The integration is completed by producing the document in the field as well. S-Leader allows fast order and invoice processing by scanning barcodes with handheld terminals or with Android tablets and phones. With Bluetooth printers, invoices can be printed wirelessly on site in narrow or wide paper format, so the customer receives the document while the representative is still there.

Technical stack and hosting

The S-Leader BackOffice is developed entirely with Microsoft technology on .NET Core and supports Windows Server, Linux Server, MS SQL and MySQL. The system can be hosted on your own server or in the cloud — an important choice for companies whose data has to stay in-house. The mobile application is developed natively and runs on Android, iOS, Windows Mobile and Windows Desktop, optimised to perform well on mid-range devices.

What to watch out for in a Mikro integration project

• Data cleaning comes first. Duplicate customer records, unused product cards and out-of-date price lists on the Mikro side should be corrected before the integration; otherwise the field team meets dirty data.
• Authorisations and discount limits should be defined up front. Which customer a representative may sell to at which price, and the manual discount limit, must be settled in the first phase of the project.
• Start with a pilot region. Rather than moving the whole field team at once, starting with a single region exposes process problems at low risk.
• The offline scenario must be tested. S-Leader's offline capability keeps transaction entry running in areas with no connection, with automatic synchronisation once the connection returns; testing that flow in the real field during the pilot matters.
• Do not underestimate user training. If the field team does not adopt the system, even the best integration will not prevent a return to paper.

If you do not use Mikro

S-Leader integrates with Logo ERP in exactly the same way and can also be used standalone where needed. Companies without an ERP, or those postponing an ERP migration, can run their order, collection, route and reporting processes through S-Leader and enable the integration when they move to an ERP.

If you run Mikro ERP and want to digitise your field sales process, we can assess an integration scenario suited to your existing setup together. You can review all S-Leader features or request a free demo tailored to your company.