Did you know that businesses using integrated ERP systems report up to 35% higher customer satisfaction rates and 22% faster order fulfillment times? Yet surprisingly, nearly 60% of distribution companies still operate their ERP and eCommerce platforms as separate silos. This disconnect isn’t just inefficient—it’s costing distributors millions in lost opportunities and operational waste.
In today’s hyper-competitive distribution landscape, your Infor ERP system might be powerful on its own, but without proper integration to your customer-facing channels, you’re only accessing a fraction of its potential. Think of it this way: your Infor ERP is like a high-performance engine, but without connecting it to your digital commerce platforms, you’re still shifting gears manually while your competitors are cruising with automatic transmission.
In this article, we’ll explore how strategic Magento ERP integrations can transform your Infor investment from a back-office tool into a complete business acceleration platform. As experts in Magento ERP integration (Adobe Commerce), we’ll share our proven approach to connecting these powerful systems. We’ll highlight real results from companies like Graphic Solutions Group (GSG) and provide a clear roadmap for your own integration success.
1. The True Value of Infor ERP Systems for Distribution
Distribution businesses face unique challenges: managing complex inventories across multiple locations, implementing sophisticated pricing structures, coordinating warehouse operations, and maintaining tight financial controls—all while meeting rising customer expectations.
Infor’s specialized ERP solutions (including A+, FACTS, SX.e, CloudSuite Distribution, and CSDE/M3) are purpose-built to address these challenges. They provide the operational backbone that keeps inventory accurate, pricing consistent, and orders flowing.
Consider GSG, managing “tens of thousands of SKUs” across locations from Texas to Minnesota. Their Infor CSD system handles this complexity with precision, supporting their promise to deliver “The Right Products, Right Away.” But even the most powerful ERP systems have limitations when operating in isolation.
2. Why ERP Integrations Transform Business Performance
Integration bridges the gap between your ERP system and other critical business applications, creating a unified ecosystem where data flows seamlessly. Here’s how this transformation unfolds:
Real-Time Inventory Across All Channels
Without integration, inventory updates occur on separate systems with significant lag time. When a customer places an order online, your eCommerce platform may show availability based on outdated information.
“Our customers are everything to us and we respect their time,” explains George Temple, Director of Customer Experience at GSG. “A lot of them are small business owners, so we need our site to move as fast as they need it to.“
Proper integration ensures inventory levels update instantly across all platforms when a product is sold through any channel. This helps prevent overselling, reduce backorders, and build customer trust.
Automated Order Processing with Fewer Errors
Manual order entry is both inefficient and error-prone. When your website, sales team, and counter staff all enter orders into different systems that eventually require manual transfer to your ERP, you’re creating unnecessary work and risk.
Integrated systems automatically transfer order data between platforms, ensuring information accuracy while reducing processing costs by up to 80%. Your team spends less time on data entry and more time on high-value customer activities.
Customer-Specific Pricing That Works
B2B distribution often involves complex pricing structures. Your best customers might receive volume discounts, special contract pricing, or negotiated rates on certain product lines.
Without integration, maintaining these structures across platforms is nearly impossible. Your website might display standard pricing, forcing customers to call for their actual rates—creating friction in what should be a smooth ordering process.
Integration ensures B2B customers see their specific negotiated prices the moment they log into your eCommerce platform—the same prices stored in your ERP system. This consistency builds trust and encourages online ordering.
Operational Efficiency That Drives Profitability
The cumulative effect of these improvements is dramatically enhanced operational efficiency. As the GSG case illustrates, we “reduced requests to the ERP system, saving costs and boosting the site’s performance” while preventing “system overload and unnecessary calls, which also lowered infrastructure costs.”
These efficiency gains translate directly to your bottom line through:
- Reduced order processing costs
- Lower inventory carrying costs through better visibility
- Decreased error correction expenses
- More efficient use of staff time
- Improved customer satisfaction and retention
3. Key Advantages of Magento ERP Integration with Infor
Magento (Adobe Commerce) has established itself as a leading eCommerce platform, particularly for complex B2B scenarios. When implemented as a Magento ERP integration with Infor, this powerful duo creates a comprehensive solution that excels in both back-office operations and digital commerce.
Real-Time Inventory Visibility
The integration between Infor and Adobe Commerce ensures constant inventory synchronization, giving customers accurate availability information while preventing overselling.
In GSG’s implementation, “Real-time inventory updates connected GSG’s multiple warehouses, to let customers know if their ink cartridges or heat transfer vinyls are available.” This transparency builds customer confidence and reduces service burdens.
Dynamic Pricing Synchronization
Distribution pricing is rarely static, with supplier cost changes, promotions, volume discounts, and customer-specific arrangements all creating a complex pricing environment.
Integration ensures that prices shown on your Adobe Commerce storefront reflect the current pricing logic in your Infor ERP, maintaining margin integrity while giving customers accurate information regardless of ordering channel.
Personalized B2B Experiences
Modern B2B buyers expect the convenience of consumer experiences combined with business-specific features:
- Customer-specific catalogs and pricing
- Company account hierarchies with varying permissions
- Approval workflows
- Purchase order payment methods
- Custom quotes and reorder capabilities
Adobe Commerce provides sophisticated B2B functionality that, when integrated with Infor ERP, creates a seamless purchasing experience tailored to each business customer’s relationship with your company.
Unified Analytics for Better Decisions
When your ERP and eCommerce systems are integrated, you gain unprecedented visibility into the complete customer journey. This unified view enables more sophisticated analytics to identify:
- Products frequently browsed but rarely purchased
- Differences in ordering patterns between channels
- Customers shifting toward self-service ordering
- Inventory items driving the most website traffic
These insights allow for more targeted marketing, strategic inventory positioning, and improved product offerings based on actual customer behavior.
4. Our Magento ERP Integration Solution for Infor: The Fast Path to Success
While Magento ERP integration benefits are clear, implementation can be challenging. Many distribution companies have attempted Magento-Infor integration projects only to face delays, budget overruns, and disappointing results.
Our Magento ERP Integration Solution for Infor provides a proven pathway to successful implementation with several key advantages:
Optimized System Performance
Poorly designed integrations can overload your ERP system with constant API calls, degrading performance. Our solution addresses this through intelligent architecture that minimizes impact on core ERP functions.
We “reduced requests to the ERP system, saving costs and boosting the site’s performance” by optimizing API calls and implementing intelligent caching strategies.
Minimal Business Disruption
Traditional integration projects often require significant modifications to existing systems, creating risk. Our Pre-Integrated Solution is designed to work with your Infor ERP in its current state, minimizing changes to core business systems.
This approach dramatically reduces risk, as evidenced by the GSG implementation: “There was zero downtime and no negative impact on sales. ‘If you looked at the numbers and growth in our first month and compared them to other months, you wouldn’t know we replatformed. That’s exactly what we wanted,’” Temple reports.
Sophisticated Middleware Approach
Rather than creating direct connections between systems, our solution utilizes sophisticated middleware. This creates a buffer that allows each system to operate optimally while maintaining data synchronization.
“Our solution was to seamlessly integrate the whole eCommerce site with Kodaris in such a way that it never needs to call Infor CSD’s APIs directly. Then we optimized the API calls to only call Kodaris APIs when necessary.”
Faster Time-to-Value
Custom integration projects often stretch on for 18-24 months before delivering value. Our Pre-Integrated Solution accelerates this timeline dramatically, allowing distributors to realize benefits sooner.
For GSG, “We completed the entire project in 13 months. ‘We finished right on time,’” says Temple – an impressive timeline for a project of this complexity.
Expanding Integration Options: Shopware ERP Integration with Infor
While Adobe Commerce (Magento) remains our primary eCommerce integration platform for Infor ERP systems, we’re excited to announce our expanding capabilities with Shopware integrations—a development we’ll be showcasing at TUG CONNECT.
Why Consider Shopware for Your Infor ERP Integration
Shopware has emerged as a compelling alternative in the eCommerce ecosystem, offering several distinct advantages:
Flexibility with Lower Total Cost of Ownership
For distribution businesses seeking powerful eCommerce capabilities without the enterprise-level investment, Shopware provides an exceptional balance of functionality and affordability. The platform’s core features support sophisticated B2B requirements while typically requiring less implementation investment than enterprise alternatives.
Modern Architecture for Rapid Innovation
Built on a modern technology stack, Shopware’s API-first approach and modular architecture enable faster implementation of new features and integrations. This flexibility is particularly valuable for distributors looking to adapt quickly to changing market conditions or customer expectations.
Intuitive Content Management Capabilities
Shopware’s “Shopping Experiences” feature allows non-technical team members to create rich, content-driven shopping experiences without developer assistance. This empowers marketing teams to build product storytelling directly into the shopping experience—crucial for distributors showcasing technical products that benefit from enhanced content.
Our Approach to Shopware-Infor Integration
Our Shopware integration solution for Infor ERP systems follows the same proven methodology that has made our Magento integrations so successful:
- Performance-Optimized Architecture
We’ve engineered our Shopware-Infor integration to minimize impact on your ERP system while maintaining data accuracy across platforms. - Specialized Middleware
Our integration utilizes the same sophisticated middleware approach that powers our Magento integrations, creating a buffer between systems that optimizes performance while ensuring data integrity. - Distribution-Specific Functionality
We’ve extended Shopware’s native capabilities to address distribution-specific requirements:- Multi-warehouse inventory allocation
- Complex pricing rules support
- Customer-specific catalogs and pricing
- Purchase order workflows
- Advanced reordering functionality
Ideal Use Cases for Shopware-Infor Integration
While our Magento integration solution is ideal for larger distribution operations with complex requirements, our Shopware offering is particularly well-suited for:
Specialized Catalog Management
Companies with frequently changing product offerings or those requiring rich product storytelling benefit from Shopware’s content management capabilities
Mid-Market Distributors
Organizations seeking enterprise-grade functionality with more moderate implementation investment find Shopware’s balance of features and cost especially attractive.
Digital Transformation Initiatives
Distributors transitioning from legacy platforms or launching their first integrated eCommerce experience often appreciate Shopware’s more straightforward implementation path.
6. Real-Life Success: Graphic Solutions Group (GSG)
The most compelling evidence for the value of Infor ERP integration comes from real-world implementations like the GSG case. As one of America’s largest wholesale distributors to the graphic markets industry, GSG faced common distribution challenges:
- Managing tens of thousands of SKUs across multiple locations
- Meeting high customer expectations for accuracy and speed
- Competing with giants like Amazon that set the bar for online experiences
GSG’s previous eCommerce platform was struggling to keep pace with growing demand. “We realized we needed a faster and more consistent site,” explains Temple. “Our customers are everything to us and we respect their time.”
Working with our team, GSG successfully implemented a Magento ERP integration with their Infor CSD system, achieving remarkable results:
Zero Downtime Implementation
The transition occurred without disruption to business operations. “There was zero downtime and no negative impact on sales,” Temple reports – notable given the project’s complexity.
Significant Performance Improvements
The integration delivered immediate performance gains: “We significantly improved page load times and response times, and boosted the overall site performance. ‘The speed has been tremendous,’ says Temple.”
Search functionality also saw dramatic improvements: “The second best thing is search. It’s blowing people away.”
Enhanced Customer Experience
GSG’s customers quickly noticed the improvements: “I’ve heard customers talk about how it’s just easier to navigate around. Those are the things you want to hear. That tells us they’re less likely to abandon our site.”
7. Starting Your Integration Journey
Ready to unlock the full potential of your Infor ERP investment? Here’s how to begin:
1. Evaluate Your Needs and Goals
Document what you hope to achieve through integration, such as:
- Reducing manual data entry and associated errors
- Providing customers with real-time inventory visibility
- Enabling customer-specific pricing online
- Accelerating order processing and fulfillment
Prioritize these objectives based on potential business impact and strategic alignment.
2. Identify Key Integration Areas
Consider starting with these high-impact areas:
- Product information synchronization
- Real-time inventory visibility
- Customer data consistency
- Pricing rule implementation
- Bidirectional order flow
3. Choose the Right Partner
Your integration success depends heavily on selecting the right partner with:
- Specific experience with your Infor ERP system
- Adobe Commerce expertise and certification
- Proven integration track record
- Understanding of distribution industry requirements
As a Gold solution partner for Adobe Commerce with specialized knowledge of Infor ERP systems and Magento ERP integration best practices, we’re uniquely positioned to help distribution businesses achieve integration success.
4. Implement with Minimal Disruption
Develop a detailed implementation plan that includes:
- Data migration strategy
- Comprehensive testing protocols
- Staff training programs
- Phased rollout approach
- Contingency plans
Throughout implementation, we maintain open communication and involve key stakeholders from all departments to ensure smooth adoption.
8. Meet Us at TUG CONNECT
For distribution businesses using Infor ERP systems, the upcoming TUG CONNECT conference presents an ideal opportunity to explore Magento ERP integration possibilities with our experts who understand your specific challenges.
We’ll be present at TUG CONNECT, offering personalized consultations on how to maximize your Infor ERP investment through strategic Magento ERP integration solutions. Our team can provide insights tailored to your business requirements and answer detailed technical questions about the integration process.
In addition, we’re excited to showcase our new Shopware capabilities alongside our proven Magento ERP integration expertise. This expanded offering enables us to provide the right solution for your specific business needs, whether you require the enterprise-level capabilities of Magento or the flexible, cost-effective approach of Shopware.
Stop by our booth to discuss how our Magento ERP integration solutions have transformed distribution businesses like GSG, and preview our newest integration options that continue to build on that success.
Unleash the Full Power of Your Infor Investment
Your Infor ERP system represents a significant investment in your distribution business’s operational backbone. Without proper integration to your customer-facing digital channels, you’re capturing only a fraction of its potential value.
Integration transforms isolated systems into a cohesive ecosystem where data flows seamlessly, processes execute automatically, and customers experience the consistency they expect. As GSG’s success shows, the right approach delivers improvements without the risks many businesses fear.
In today’s marketplace, distributors can’t afford disconnected systems. Your customers expect Amazon-like experiences combined with specialized expertise. Integration is the key to delivering both.
What’s one integration strategy from this article that could transform your business this quarter? Is it real-time inventory visibility, personalized B2B experiences, or unified analytics? We’d love to hear which approach resonates most with your current challenges—share your thoughts in the comments or meet us at TUG CONNECT to discuss your specific integration needs.
Ready to maximize your Infor ERP investment with Magento? Connect with us today to explore how our Magento ERP integration solution can transform your distribution business. Your journey starts with a conversation.