01
Sources, destinations & access
Identify systems, record owners, documentation, permission limits and third-party approval needs.
API & System Integration
Connect your business systems through API integration
Your tools may already do their jobs. The gap is often how records move between them. Map the source, destination and access before deciding how to connect the systems.
THE BUSINESS PROBLEM
Keep the systems. Address the disconnected workflow.
Repeated entry and mismatched records can point to a connection problem rather than a need to replace the whole setup. Start by defining which information should move, who owns it and which system remains the source of truth.
- Where does the record start?
- Which system owns each field?
- What should happen if the update fails?
Source
Field mapping
Destination
Reconcile
WHAT WE CAN PLAN
Map the connection before choosing the method
API integration services need a clear data contract and feasible access. The system names alone do not establish that a connection can be built.
02
Field mapping & synchronization
Define data types, transformations, direction, frequency and which system resolves a conflict.
03
Duplicates, failures & retries
Agree record identifiers, duplicate handling, retry conditions and reconciliation responsibilities.
04
Legacy & constrained systems
Assess supported access and alternatives where APIs are limited. Some systems may not offer a suitable connection method.
A PROPOSED PROJECT APPROACH
Follow the data from access to acceptance
- 01
Inspect the source
Review available access, documentation and representative record structures.
- 02
Define the mapping
Agree identifiers, fields, direction, timing and ownership.
- 03
Test the destination
Check representative updates, duplicates, failures and reconciliation.
- 04
Agree ongoing ownership
Define monitoring, access renewal and responsibility for upstream changes.
SCOPE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Agree the data contract and the responsibilities
Connection scope depends on access, data behavior and the people who will own the integration after launch.
- Access feasibility
- API availability, documentation, permissions and third-party restrictions.
- Data contract
- Fields, identifiers, transformations and authoritative sources.
- Synchronization
- One-way or two-way flow, timing and conflict decisions.
- Failure handling
- Duplicates, retries, reconciliation and escalation.
- Testing
- Test access, representative records and acceptance criteria.
- Operation
- Monitoring, access renewal and changes to connected systems.
Start the enquiry with system names and the intended flow. Do not put passwords, API credentials or customer records into the project brief. Access arrangements follow a separate project discussion.
Discuss the scopeCONTEXT FOR YOUR PROJECT
Read before you define the brief
BUYER QUESTIONS
Before we discuss the project
Can any existing system be connected?
Not necessarily. Feasibility depends on supported access, permissions, documentation and restrictions. A limited or closed legacy system may not have an appropriate connection method.
Should synchronization be one-way or two-way?
That depends on which system owns the data and where changes should be made. Two-way flow also needs explicit conflict, identifier and duplicate-handling rules.
What happens to failed updates?
Define how failures are detected, retried, reviewed and reconciled. The scope must identify who resolves an exception and how repeated updates avoid creating duplicates.
How should access be discussed?
Identify available documentation and the people responsible for authorizing access. Do not send passwords, API keys or customer data in the initial enquiry.
Is connecting a CRM the same as building one?
No. Integration connects records between systems already in use. A new sales pipeline and customer follow-up application belongs to the CRM development service.
LET’S DEFINE THE NEXT STEP
Start with the information that needs to move
Name the systems, describe the source and destination, and explain the desired exchange. A useful integration brief starts with the flow, not a replacement platform.