What is the difference between ERP and CRM?

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software manages the sales process — leads, opportunities, contacts, and sales pipeline. ERP manages operations and accounting — orders, inventory, finance, and supply chain. They serve different departments but share customer data. Most ERPs include basic CRM, and many CRMs (Salesforce) integrate with ERPs for quote-to-cash workflows. Some businesses need both as separate specialized systems.