Using SmartConnect for Integration with ERP & CRM

Integration has become a hot topic recently. With so many applications that specialize in one thing and do it really well, it becomes important to pull all of that data together. For example; there are web-based applications for ticketing systems, expense tracking, travel booking and many other types of systems. You may have data stored in SharePoint that is needed in your ERP or CRM system, but now you need a way to pull it all together without having to manually enter it into another system. If this sounds like you, then integration is the answer.

There are several tools that can help to accomplish this, ranging from SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) applications like SmartConnect and Scribe, or writing code to accomplish what is required. Each option has their pros and cons in relation to how easy it is to create, maintain or make changes.

My favorite tool to get this done is SmartConnect by eOne because it is flexible, easy to use and can connect to just about anything. There are built-in connectors for Dynamics CRM, SalesForce, Dynamics GP, Web service connectors and REST connectors. You can read data from a text file, an Excel file or use an ODBC connector to read from a database, and you can even read XML that is stored in a file.

SmartConnect Features:

• Easy to use
• Easy to maintain
• Connects to almost anything
• Scheduling for automation
• Logging
• Email notification

You can connect different data source types such as Real Time, Changes only or Bulk Data. Example Data Sources:

With so many options for sources and destinations of your data it is actually quite easy to create your integration with very little code.

It is also quite easy to use when changes are required. If an additional field is required, you just have to add it to the source and map it in the destination, no code changes or recompiling required.

Maps can be scheduled to automate the process, you may want to sync your data in a nightly batch or pull new data over more often, schedules can be setup to whatever frequency suits you.

Logging is another built-in feature that is great if you need to troubleshoot any errors. There are logs that keep track of when the map was run, count of records and any errors encountered. This works well with the email notification feature; the results of the run can be sent by email to users or groups that need to know when there is new data or to track down any errors that may have occurred.

Simple integrations may not need any coding at all, but there are places to add code to deal with more complex situations. SmartConnect is a flexible tool with a lot of built-in features, helping to ensure success on your next integration project.

Contact us to learn more about using SmartConnect and get your next integration project started.