Integration Evolved: Mandant’s MATRIX, Coupa, and the Future of ERP
Today's post is written by guest author Mark Newman. As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Mandant, Mark works on numerous integration projects and has been key to designing and building Mandant’s MATRIX Coupa solution. Mandant is a certified CoupaLink Technology Partner whose product MATRIX enables accelerated and seamless integration of your ERP to Coupa.
Integration. I’m sure you’ve seen this word everywhere recently, and there’s a good reason for it. Integration is at the heart of business success today. In our fast-paced world, every department must be fully integrated to hit business goals, and to do that, your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Business Spend Management (BSM) tools need to be in sync. But with ever-changing business needs and new solutions being added to the mix routinely, you need not only effective integration but continuous integration. Mandant’s MATRIX ERP Accelerator for Coupa can help. Here’s how.
Improving integration: skip the middleman
Many organizations now leverage one (or more) on-premise and cloud-based ERP systems to help navigate increasing operational and regulatory complexity. However, when it comes to integrating a BSM platform such as Coupa, companies must integrate multiple systems (e.g. ERP), both current and legacy, with new solutions.
To achieve this, middleware is often used. As the name implies, it sits between two solutions and helps facilitate a smooth integration. However, a traditional middleware solution is naturally limited in its scope and lacks business functionality. Consider a company connecting a legacy ERP to a new spend management platform. Finding the right solution can facilitate this transition and get finance teams up and running quickly.
But what happens when they need to connect multiple cloud-based systems or newer, hybrid tools leveraged both in-house and via the cloud? The integration complexities become a significant challenge as each integration requirement relies on a separate middleware source.
Mandant’s MATRIX ERP Accelerator for Coupa helps companies skip the messy middleman. Mandant gets involved at the start of the Coupa implementation project to take ownership of these complexities. Integrations for multiple systems are "on the shelf," empowering companies to select the integration business scenarios they need while being fully managed through MATRIX. Not only does this substantially reduce the cost of integration, but it minimizes the time required for the complete implementation.
Connecting the dots: beyond point-to-point connections
As ERP connections become more diverse, there's a growing need for tools to integrate additional solutions. For example, customers using the Coupa BSM Platform may benefit from using SAP tools that help them pull in other data to enrich current processes. If integration tools can only do point-to-point connections — one system to another — then additional context may be lost. This means every time a new point-to-point connection is added, new configurations must be made to the previous connections in order for all systems to work properly. You end up with a complex spider web of surface-level integrations that are not only time-consuming but costly.
With MATRIX, full context integration comes standard. Companies can connect multiple tools to enhance existing business spend operations and set the stage for procurement process evolution. This provides progression beyond point-to-point connections. Instead, multiple systems can be connected and integrated, so they provide maximum value.
By managing and mapping multiple connections across business networks, Coupa customers and prospective customers can leverage the benefits of enhanced integration without the complexity of rapidly expanding point-to-point frameworks.
Bridging the gap: getting IT on board
One of the biggest challenges for companies looking to integrate new systems with current ERP tools is IT. This is because solution purchases are made from a business perspective: costs and benefits are analyzed, options are considered, and if the math all makes sense, C-suites go ahead with new investments.
But this process often leaves out IT teams. These are the same teams that are often tasked with taking this new tool, understanding it, and using it to fully implement new solutions without causing undue stress on systems or users. Put simply — this is no easy task. With MATRIX, getting up and running takes just a few days, after which the burden of integration shifts from in-house teams to the proven MATRIX solution, in turn giving IT both peace of mind and time to focus on strategic work.
Making the move with Mandant & Coupa
When it comes to integration, success isn't static. Instead, it requires the steady introduction and application of new connections to facilitate both streamlined processes and data analysis. True integration requires continuous support, and with MATRIX, businesses have the tools and expertise to make that happen. As Coupa updates, so does the MATRIX solution — ensuring new features and existing interfaces work in sync.
Discover how Coupa and Mandant deliver evolved, ongoing integration with MATRIX. Find Mandant on the Coupa App Marketplace and start seamlessly integrating your ERPs.
