200 bank accounts. 50 entities. One single ERP.

This was the challenge faced by the Simago Group following a rapid acquisition phase. Today, such a situation is increasingly common for growing businesses, which must navigate the complexity of multi-banking, interconnected ERP environments, and the growing demand for real-time financial management.

In this context, banking connectivity is no longer merely a technical issue; it has become a strategic factor for financial performance and cash data reliability.

Yet, it remains one of the blind spots in many ERP projects.

Here are three key recommendations, drawn from field experience and best practices observed with Agicap, for building a robust, scalable, and automated financial architecture.

1. Integrate Banking Connectivity from the ERP Design Phase

In many ERP implementations, bank flow management is addressed too late. The result:

manual imports of bank statements,

• imperfect data synchronization,
• scattered payment approvals,
• limited visibility over consolidated cash positions.

Yet, banking connectivity is a core component of the financial chain. It directly impacts:

• the reliability of cash data,
• automation of supplier payments,
• multi-entity consolidation,
• real-time cash management.

Addressing this issue from the scoping phase helps avoid costly custom developments and ensures better alignment between ERP systems, banks, and treasury tools.

2. Anticipate Banking Protocols and Formats from the Project Kick-Off

Bank connectivity goes far beyond a simple IBAN or online banking access.

Each bank and each country enforces its own technical standards, including:

Bank communication protocols

• EBICS
• SWIFT
• H2H (Host-to-Host)
• PSD2 / Bank APIs

Data exchange formats

• ISO 20022
• MT940
• XML files or proprietary formats

Connection methods

• Secure SFTP
• REST APIs
• Dedicated banking infrastructures

Without prior mapping, these constraints can delay an ERP project by several months.

The best approach is to document from the outset:

• the banks used by each entity,
• the required formats,
• validation workflows and security levels.

This step enables the design of a truly scalable architecture.

3. Separate Banking Connectivity from the ERP for Greater Flexibility

Many ERP systems offer native banking modules. However, in a multi-bank or international context, these solutions often become:

• rigid,
• costly to maintain,
• difficult to scale,
• dependent on ERP updates.

The approach increasingly favoured by finance teams is to outsource banking connectivity to a specialised solution.

A dedicated platform enables you to:

• automatically aggregate multi-bank flows,
• centralise and secure payment approvals,
• automate the transfer of data into the ERP,
• ensure traceability and regulatory compliance.

This way, the ERP remains standardised, while the connectivity layer absorbs banking complexity.

Why Agicap is Becoming a Catalyst for Financial Transformation

Projects carried out in complex environments demonstrate that a specialised solution like Agicap significantly facilitates communication between banks and the ERP.

By centralising financial flows, automating banking exchanges, and improving cash visibility, Agicap enables finance teams to:

• reduce manual tasks,
• secure payments,
• improve the reliability of cash forecasts,
• support multi-entity growth.

Banking connectivity thus becomes a genuine performance lever, rather than merely a technical constraint.

Practical Guide: Enhancing Banking Communication with Your ERP

The Agicap guide, “Enhancing Banking Communication with ERP”, helps you explore:

• the benefits and limitations of SWIFT, EBICS, and PSD2 protocols,
• real-world client cases (Simago, Enterpryze),
• an 8-step operational plan to modernise your financial architecture.