1. An up-to-date customer file
Every customer must be unambiguously identifiable: company name, delivery addresses, buyers’ email addresses. Duplicate records are the leading cause of orders being assigned to the wrong customer.
2. A consistent item catalogue
Unique item codes, clear descriptions and, where possible, the references used by your main customers. These cross-references speed up matching considerably.
3. Reliable prices and units
Prices, discounts and customer-specific terms serve as the reference for checking each line. Also check sales units and pack sizes (unit, carton, pallet).
4. Technical access to the ERP
Depending on your software, integration is via an API or a file import. Plan for a dedicated account with rights over customers, items and orders. See the page for your ERP for details.
5. A sample of real orders
Gather a selection of representative orders: your main customers, the most common formats and a few difficult cases. It is the best basis for testing and measuring the automation rate.