The Power of a Connected ERP: 5 Ways to Get More from DDI Inform

Disconnected tools waste time. If your team is toggling between systems, rekeying orders, or manually updating spreadsheets, your ERP is underperforming. DDI Inform helps wholesale distributors connect core operations—from ecommerce to tax compliance—using proven integrations and APIs.

With a wide array of integrations and APIs already available, Inform links directly to the tools you rely on most: ecommerce platforms, tax engines, BI dashboards, mobile apps, and EDI networks. These integrations allow you to scale smarter, eliminate repetitive tasks, and respond faster to changing customer expectations.

This isn’t about buying more software. It’s about unlocking more value from the system you already trust.

1. Connect Your Webstore for Real-Time Pricing and Orders

Integration Spotlight: eCommerce Pro API

Inform’s eCommerce Pro API, built on Magento Commerce Cloud, enables real-time access to customer-specific pricing and branch-level inventory on web and mobile storefronts.

Use Case:
A foodservice equipment distributor implemented eCommerce Pro and reduced cart abandonment by 25% by showing real-time availability and pricing, eliminating guesswork for customers.

You’ll Get:

Customer-specific pricing at login
Real-time availability per branch
Seamless order entry into Inform

Result:
Fewer support calls, faster order cycles, and more accurate online transactions. Ideal for B2B self-service environments that need to scale.

2. Power Live Dashboards with ERP Data—No More Spreadsheets

Integration Spotlight: ARW API

The ARW API lets you connect your Inform ERP directly to Power BI, Tableau, and other visualization tools. Instead of exporting and formatting data, you can access it live—driven by your existing ARW reports.

Use Case:
A janitorial and sanitation distributor integrated ARW with Power BI to automate margin analysis. What once took hours of spreadsheet work now updates in real time, enabling on-the-fly pricing adjustments and smarter purchasing decisions.

You’ll Get:

Live ERP data visualizations
Dashboards powered by real-time reports
Elimination of data lag and spreadsheet errors

Result:
Faster, more confident decisions across departments—from sales to finance.

3. Make Reordering Easy—From the Warehouse, Showroom, or Field

Integration Spotlight: QuickOrder Mobile App

QuickOrder turns any mobile device into a VMI-ready ordering system. With barcode scanning and mobile search, sales reps and customers can place orders on the spot—perfect for showrooms, field service, or replenishment.

Use Case:
A hardware showroom equipped staff with iPads and QuickOrder. Staff built customer orders directly from inventory, increased upsell opportunities by 20%, and reduced checkout time significantly.

You’ll Get:

Barcode and search-based ordering
Real-time connection to ERP
Optional e-signature and delivery confirmation

Result:
Streamlined ordering, improved customer service, and better order accuracy.

4. Simplify Sales Tax—Across All 13,000+ U.S. Jurisdictions

Integration Spotlight: Avalara

Inform integrates directly with Avalara AvaTax, a leading tax automation engine. It applies tax rates based on rooftop-level accuracy and automates compliance workflows, including economic nexus monitoring.

Use Case:
A regional distributor operating across five states integrated Avalara with Inform to streamline monthly filings. The team cut 85% of time spent on returns and reduced audit findings by over 90%.

You’ll Get:

Real-time tax calculations
Automated returns and remittance
Nexus tracking for compliance

Result:
Greater accuracy and reduced risk, freeing your finance team to focus on growth.

5. Streamline Transactions with Trading Partners

Integration Spotlight: EDI Gateway via SPS Commerce

Inform’s EDI Gateway uses SPS Commerce’s infrastructure to exchange critical documents like POs, ASNs, invoices, and acknowledgments using retailer-compliant formats.

Use Case:
An industrial supplier integrated Inform with SPS to automate PO and invoice exchange with major national accounts. Processing time dropped by 40%, and error rates nearly vanished.

You’ll Get:

Full EDI transaction compliance
Connections to big-box retailers
Automated inbound and outbound document flow

Result:
Reduced errors, faster order fulfillment, and smoother operations with high-volume partners.

And That’s Just the Beginning

These five integrations are just the start. Inform supports more than 50 native and partner-developed integrations across ecommerce, CRM, logistics, accounting, payment processing, and analytics.

With a connected ERP, you’re not just improving processes—you’re making your business more responsive, more efficient, and more scalable. Inform empowers you to meet customer expectations in real time, reduce your operational costs, and reclaim hours of manual effort across your team.

Ready to Unlock More?

Let’s connect your operations. Contact your account manager to explore available integrations and maximize ROI from DDI Inform. Don’t know where to start? Email [email protected]—we’ll guide you.

Mark Pickett

About the Author Latest Posts

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Distribution & 3PL review panel

Articles on wholesale ERP, 3PL operations, and warehouse management are reviewed by the DDI System (inFORM ERP), Distribution One (ERP-ONE+), and VeraCore teams — the platforms running specialty wholesale and fulfillment operations across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fasteners, JanSan, and 3PL verticals.