Modernise Aptean Merlin without replacing it

Modernise Aptean Merlin without replacing it. Connect to AI, customer portals, eCommerce, mobile apps, warehouse apps and APIs

The Problem

Most businesses using Aptean Merlin have relied on it for many years because it works. It manages products, stock, purchasing, sales, finance and the day-to-day operation of the business. Replacing it would be expensive, disruptive and unnecessary.

The challenge isn't Merlin itself. The challenge is that today's business software expects systems to be connected.

Customers expect to order online, warehouse staff want to use tablets instead of paper, management teams need live dashboards and reporting, and businesses are increasingly looking to AI to automate repetitive tasks and improve customer service.

Unfortunately, most legacy ERP systems were never designed with these requirements in mind. They often lack secure APIs, modern authentication, webhooks and the integration capabilities that modern applications rely on.

As a result, businesses frequently work around these limitations using spreadsheets, duplicate data entry, manual imports and exports, or disconnected software that quickly becomes difficult to maintain.

These workarounds waste time, introduce errors and make it difficult to grow.

Many businesses are told that the only solution is to replace their ERP.

In our experience, that usually isn't necessary.

The Solution

ModernisERP extends Merlin rather than replacing it.

Instead of changing the software your business already depends on, ModernisERP creates a secure integration layer that allows Merlin to communicate with modern applications while continuing to act as the central source of truth for your business.

Products, customers, pricing, stock, invoices and orders can be securely exposed through modern REST APIs, synchronised with websites and customer portals, connected to Power BI dashboards, integrated with AI assistants and shared with bespoke business applications.

Because ModernisERP is designed specifically for legacy ERP systems, it removes the need for duplicate databases and manual synchronisation while allowing your existing business processes to remain unchanged.

The result is a modern, connected business built around the ERP you already trust.

Capabilities

AI

Connect to AI

REST API

Custom REST API to connect to external systems

eCommerce

Connect to eCommerce websites

Internal Systems

Connect to internal systems

Mobile apps

Connect to mobile apps

Automation

Advanced automation workflows

Success Story

A leading distributor transformed its legacy ERP into a modern customer ordering platform with live product data, customer-specific pricing and fully automated order processing. The result was a significantly improved customer experience without replacing the existing ERP.

Read the full story

FAQ

Does Merlin have an API?

Merlin was developed before modern REST APIs became common. While data can often be accessed through various methods, ModernisERP provides a secure, modern API layer that allows websites, applications and cloud services to communicate with Merlin safely and efficiently.

Can Merlin connect to Shopify?

Yes. ModernisERP can synchronise products, customer pricing, stock levels and orders between Merlin and Shopify, allowing Merlin to remain the central source of truth while providing customers with a modern online shopping experience.

Can Merlin integrate with Magento?

Yes. ModernisERP has been used to connect Merlin with Magento, synchronising products, pricing, stock availability and customer orders in real time.

Can Merlin work with AI?

Yes. ModernisERP allows AI applications to securely access ERP information such as products, stock availability, customer accounts and order history. This enables intelligent customer support, product recommendations, natural language search and workflow automation.

Can I build a customer portal using Merlin?

Absolutely. ModernisERP makes it possible to create customer portals where customers can view products, account-specific pricing, invoices, order history and account information directly from Merlin.

Can ModernisERP replace spreadsheets?

Yes. Many Merlin customers continue to rely on spreadsheets for warehouse operations, customer pricing, planning and reporting. ModernisERP replaces these manual spreadsheets with secure web applications that synchronise directly with Merlin.

Do we need to replace Merlin?

No. ModernisERP is designed specifically for businesses that want to keep Merlin while extending its capabilities.

How long does an integration project take?

Every business is different, but projects are typically delivered significantly faster than ERP replacement programmes because your existing ERP remains unchanged.

Ready to modernise Merlin?