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API or Communication Between Tools
Communication between our software is vital for automating processes.
Communication between our software is vital for automating processes.
We all know that everyone in our company must be able to communicate properly so that the work is done optimally and efficiently.
The same principle applies to our work tools.
We want our tools, such as our CRM, automated marketing tool, accounting tool, and all others, to interact for better efficiency.
This saves time and avoids many frustrations.
A company I know has an accounting software, an email marketing tool, and a CRM.
These three software operate independently and do not communicate with each other.
When a customer signs a new contract, the same information is required in the three separate systems.
These three entries could be reduced to one if the tools were correctly interconnected.
If that were the case, when a new customer arrives, an employee would only have to enter the contact information in the CRM, and it would then be automatically transferred to the other software.
This saves time and reduces the risk of errors.
Automation is the #1 investment you can make for your business.
It becomes profitable within months and can even avoid some hires.
To effectively automate your business, it is essential to make your tools interact, and this is possible thanks to APIs.
An API (Application Programming Interface) allows different applications to communicate with each other using the interfaces provided by the application developers.
Does an interface mean nothing to you?
Think of the TV remote.
It allows us to control our TV, pressing the right buttons to perform the desired actions.
When we press the "Power" button, it turns the TV on or off.
An API works as an interface for applications, allowing the exchange of commands and the execution of programmed actions.
It acts as an intermediary, connecting two applications like pieces of a puzzle.
To automate your business, communication between different applications is crucial.
It is necessary to interact with several tools simultaneously.
That's why APIs are so important.
When you have an API on your application, it's an open access.
So it's risky not to protect this access, as anyone could send commands and do whatever they want on your CRM, for example.
That's why there's an API key.
It's a character code unique to your application, like a house key.
The software provides your API key so you can use it in other applications you want to communicate with.
Each platform has its own API key.
For example, you have one key for your CRM, one for your payment platform, one for your accounting tool.
It's like a bunch of keys; you have one key per lock.
It's important not to share your API keys.
The Uber app uses Google Maps' API to calculate routes and estimate fares. Similarly, for sending SMS, Uber uses Twilio's API.
Netflix also uses it to adjust video quality automatically based on your internet connection quality to prevent you from losing the signal.
There are several ways to connect your tools. Here are the three existing means:
This involves using web developers who will read the API documentation of the tools you want to connect and program the desired actions.
The advantage is that it is the most flexible method; all possibilities are open to you. The disadvantages are that you have to manage the developers and ensure the communication works.
This means hosting the program responsible for communication on a server and being vigilant in case of updates.
There are wonderful tools to help you communicate between different tools. It's like an API manager that you can set up yourself, even if you're not a developer.
They can even save you money if you set up your automations yourself without resorting to external programming. No need to manage a server; it's included in the service offered. There are several on the market, but here are two examples:
Some tools have native integrations between them.
This means that application developers have already done the programming work.
No need for developers or tools like Make.
It's easily configurable directly in the tool you use.
Communication for software is as crucial as it is for humans.
When you choose your tools and platforms, always check if they have an API to communicate with the tools you already use.
It's frustrating to be limited by your tools, which is why it's recommended to be well-informed.
It's a good habit to check if the platform being evaluated can integrate with Integromat or if it has native integrations with other platforms.
A tool that doesn't communicate is like a colleague who doesn't share the necessary information for work.
A tool without an API or that can't be integrated via integration tools (Zapier or Integromat) is generally less advantageous.
Today, it's essential that software communicates with each other to properly automate your business and work efficiently.
If you have questions about these steps or if you want to know if a CRM would be truly beneficial for your business, we invite you to write to us or schedule your free consultation to discuss your project.
We are here to help you check compatibilities and connect your tools effectively.
