Why and How to Integrate Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with Shopify eCommerce

Why and How to Integrate Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with Shopify eCommerce

Over the last ten years, eCommerce business has grown exponentially in size and, luckily for merchants, so has the technology to support bigger and better products. However, the complexity can be a huge challenge for many businesses that leverage online sales or follow an omnichannel business model. But making sales is necessary to survive, and one way to support that effort is by adding more customer service. The problem with that strategy is that it can increase overhead. Is there another way to achieve the same end? Yes…by integrating your ERP system with your eCommerce platform(s), automating the process of creating new customers. Integrated eCommerce/ERP solutions like Shopify and Dynamics 365 Business Central do that and more:

  • Integrating multiple eCommerce platforms
  • Seamless, real-time inventory
  • Customer synchronization
  • Automation of new customer accounts
  • Automating sales orders
  • Product synchronization

How do you integrate your Shopify eCommerce platform with Dynamics 365 Business Central?

If you are using Dynamics Business Central as your ERP solution and Shopify as your eCommerce platform, you have two great options for integrating your eCommerce processes: the Channel Sales Manager (CSM) for Shopify add-on and the Microsoft Business Central Shopify Connector.

Channel Sales Manager (CSM) connects multiple eCommerce platforms, including Shopify, to ERP functions. CSM’s core technology is built inside of Business Central and can produce automated order retrieval, send order and invoice information to eCommerce platforms in real-time, deliver real-time product inventory quantities, and more. CSM also delivers a two-way exchange of customer data between Shopify and Business Central. It can produce customer synchronization for both systems, retrieve sales orders and credit orders automatically, and manage each step of the customer order or automatically create a sales order from a web purchase.

Recently released, Microsoft’s Business Central Shopify Connector provides a connection between the two systems to synchronize orders, stock, and customer information to ensure merchants can fulfill orders faster and better serve their customers.

If it sounds like these two offerings are similar, they are. So, how do you decide which is right for your company? We’ve provided a feature-by-feature comparison to help you determine which features you require.

CSM for Shopify vs. Microsoft Business Central Shopify Connector

CSM
for Shopify
FeatureBusiness Central
Shopify Connector
Blue check
Currently being developed
Get Shopify locationsBlue check
Automatically populates location ID from Shopify
Blue check
Called “CSM shipping methods;” carriers correspond to BC agent codes
Retrieve Shopify shipment methodsRed cross icon
Currently being developed
Blue check
Maps the Payment Methods provided by Shopify
at checkout to BC Payment Methods for each sales channel defined
Retrieve Shopify payment methodsRed cross icon
Currently being developed
Blue checkImport countries and counties to populate tax areasBlue check
Blue check
Uses the Order Status Matrix data to determine Channel Order Status based on information received from Shopify; data is pre-loaded
Retrieve order informationBlue check
Blue checkAutomatically validate and build BC/NAV sales orders from order data receivedRed cross icon
Currently, a manual process; select “Create New Customer” and “Create Sales Document” on each synchronized Shopify order
Blue check
Shipment Status – Summary of what has been shipped so far
Send shipment tracking informationBlue check
Blue check
Indicates whether CSM should send invoice information to the channel; for POS, value must be set as ‘FALSE’
Send Invoice and/or payment capture instructionsBlue check
Blue checkOptionally create BC/NAV customers & contacts when a new customer is detected in the order information received from the external systemBlue check
Blue check
Indicates how CSM determines a new customer; new Shopify accounts created by the customer at check-out and/or existing Shopify customers who have not been previously defined to CSM are considered new
Create customers on the eCommerce marketplace platform from customer/contact information in BC/NAVRed cross icon
Currently being developed
Red cross iconDetect fraud for different risk levels on the Shopify ordersBlue check
Blue checkOrders allowed with special characters in Ship-To fieldsBlue check
Blue checkSupport different levels of automationBlue check
Red cross iconLink to Shopify Order Status pageBlue check
Blue checkAutomatically create sales orders from Shopify ordersBlue check
Blue checkSupport refunded or partially refunded Shopify orders when creating credit memos automatically in BCRed cross icon
Currently being developed
Blue checkAdd item to Shopify and synchronize to Shopify in batchesBlue check
Blue checkSync items between Shopify and BCBlue check
Red cross iconSync configurable items with variants between Shopify and BCBlue check
Blue checkItem price sync/Item image sync/Item inventory syncBlue check
Red cross iconSEO support (i.e., SEO Title, SEO Description)Blue check
Blue check
Has common color and size variants
Support Shopify variantsBlue check
Blue check
Accepts long descriptions, including HTML tags
HTML descriptionBlue check
Red cross iconShopify site preview URLBlue check
Blue checkAllow multiple images for the listing itemRed cross icon
Currently being developed
Red cross icon
Information is not available
Add product tags and synchronize to ShopifyRed cross icon
Information is not available
Blue checkSupport gift cardsRed cross icon
Currently being developed
Red cross icon
Currently being developed
Shopify payoutsBlue check
Figure 1 – Feature-by-feature comparison of the Channel Sales Manager (CSM)
for Shopify add-on for Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft’s Business Central Shopify Connector

ArcherPoint can integrate the Shopify solution of your choice

Once you’ve understood what each product has to offer, contact ArcherPoint for help with the next steps. We have decades of experience with NAV and Business Central as well as experience with CSM and the Business Central Shopify Connector and can ensure your eCommerce is working in synch with Business Central. Can’t decide which is best for you? We’ll talk to you about your business model and help you make an informed decision.

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