Data entered twice
The order is recorded in the shop and then copied by hand into the invoicing or logistics program.
Integrations and APIs that connect your systems: data moving from one side to the other
Connections between your website, your shop and the software you already use, so information only has to be entered once.
Who integrations and APIs are for
Integrations and APIs put two systems talking to each other with nobody in between. An API is the door through which one program asks another for information and gets an answer back: the website asks the warehouse how many units are left, the shop tells invoicing a sale happened, the form creates a customer record in the sales platform.
This service is for companies that already have tools working and don't want to replace them. The problem isn't a lack of software, it's software that doesn't talk to each other. When that happens, the missing connection gets made by people, by hand, with all the cost and errors that brings.
If, instead of connecting what already exists, you need to build the tool from scratch, see the web applications service.
Problems this service solves
Requests for integration usually come from one of these symptoms.
Stock that doesn't match reality
The website shows availability that no longer exists, because inventory is only updated at the end of the day.
Contacts lost between tools
Enquiries arrive by email and sit in an inbox instead of entering the sales process.
Reports built from exports
Every month someone pulls together files from three different systems just to see the whole business.
External services waiting to be connected
Payments, couriers, certified invoicing or partner platforms that are available but nobody has connected to the website.
Every piece of data entered twice is a chance for the two copies to end up different.
How we work
A badly built integration is worse than none at all, because it spreads bad data fast. So we work slowly at the start, and only automate afterwards.
Mapping the systems
We map out what tools exist, what data they hold, which is the source of truth for each piece of information, and what API documentation they provide. Not every management program allows connections, and that's discovered before there's a quote.
Designing the flow
We define what data moves, in which direction, how often, and what happens when the two sides disagree. This is where it's decided, for example, who has the final say on price: the shop or the management program.
Build and staging environment
The connection is built and tested against staging environments, with fake data, until every bad case (network failure, unexpected response, duplicate record) is handled.
Controlled go-live
We move into production in stages, often with the manual process running in parallel for the first few days, to compare results before switching off the old method.
Monitoring
You get a log of everything that passes through and an alert when something fails. A silent integration that stops working can cost weeks of lost data.
What you get
Beyond a working connection, you get what's needed to understand and maintain what's been built.
The integration, in production
Active, scheduled or real time as agreed, with the credentials in your company's name.
Flow documentation
What data moves, in which direction and under what rules, in a document any developer can read.
Operations log
A history of what was sent and received, so you can investigate any discrepancy without guessing.
Error handling
Automatic retries for temporary failures, and an alert when a failure persists.
Your own API, when that's the case
If it's your company providing data to others, we deliver the API documented and with authentication in place.
Code and access
The repository and the keys stay with you, so another team can take over the work.
Common questions about integrations
What we're asked most often before connecting systems.
Does my management software allow integrations?
It depends on the software and, often, on the module you've licensed. Some have open, documented APIs, others only with an extra licence, and some still require workarounds, like files exchanged in a shared folder. We check this before putting together a quote.
Does the integration work in real time?
It can be real time, on every change, or periodic synchronisation every few minutes or once a day. The choice depends on what the system on the other side can handle, and on how much difference immediate updates actually make to your business.
What happens if one of the systems changes?
If the provider changes their API, the connection can stop working. That's why we set up alerts: instead of finding out weeks later, you know the same day, and the fix is made while the problem is still small.
Is the data secure?
Connections use encrypted channels and dedicated access keys, with permissions limited to what's strictly necessary. We don't keep copies of data that aren't needed for the connection to work, and the credentials are registered in your company's name.
Can you connect the website to a platform only we use?
Yes, as long as there's some way in, whether that's an API, a database or file exchange. When none of that exists, we assess whether it's worth building that door, or whether it's better to rethink the tool.
Projects from this service
Credimax website, calculators, in-house CRM and integrations
Credimax
Suvicar name, brand, website, integrations and communication
Suvicar
Assets Capital name, brand, website, integrations, print and space decoration
Assets Capital
nomenu.digital name, brand, platform, website and communications
nomenu.digital
smartdeal name, brand, platform, website, integrations, print and communication
smartdeal
Tell us which systems you want to connect
Tell us the tools you use and the manual work you want to stop doing. We'll assess whether the connection is possible and, if it is, what it costs.
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