Integration and automation
The systems of an organisation and its partners exchange data on their own, through APIs and events, with every integration monitored.
Overview
In large organisations, data moves between ERP, WMS, CRM, sales platforms and partner systems in a way that still requires manual work: export, corrections in a spreadsheet, import. Each of these steps costs time, is a source of errors and is hard to defend in an audit.
We design integrations that move data automatically, with validation and error notifications. Where a process requires a decision, we automate the preparation of the data and leave the approval to a person.
Every integration has monitoring and an event log. It is always clear what was sent, when, and with what result.
Scope of work
- Map of data flows between systems
- Integrations via API, queues or files
- Data validation and error handling
- Automation of repetitive process steps
- Monitoring and event log
- Technical documentation of the integrations
Project flow
- 01
Flow map
We document what data goes where, from where, who moves it today and how long it takes. This is the basis for setting priorities.
- 02
Integration design
We choose the connection method for each system: API, queue or file exchange. We define the validation and error handling rules.
- 03
Phased rollout
We launch integrations one by one, starting with the flow that takes the most work. Each phase includes a period of running in parallel with the old process.
- 04
Monitoring and maintenance
Integrations have alerts and an event log. We maintain them and update them when the source systems change.
When it makes sense
- Orders, invoices or stock levels are re-typed by hand between systems.
- Reports are built from spreadsheet exports and differ depending on who prepared them.
- Introducing a new system requires connecting it to several existing ones.
- Cooperation with partners relies on files sent by e-mail.
Technologies
Technologies are selected to suit the project and the client's environment. The ones we most often work with:
- REST and GraphQL
- Webhooks
- Kafka
- RabbitMQ
- Python
- Node.js
- AWS
- Azure
Frequently asked questions
With any system that offers an API, database access or file exchange. In practice these are most often ERP, WMS and CRM systems, e-commerce platforms and courier systems.