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if your application is not listed in Magento connect or you need to build a custom integration process, here are some options that you may find helpful:

Magento API

You can access the majority of the modules using the Magento Core API. It supports both SOAP and XML RPC protocols.  In addtion you can also create your own API.

Magento Database (Mysql)

If you are connecting to Magento via the database, it’s important to study the relational diagram in advance and understand the dependencies. This approach will be vulnerable if the database schema changes during future upgrades, requiring you to update your integration as well.

Integration Platform

In addition to the approaches described above, you can also integrate to Magento using an integration platform such as Boomi Atomsphere. Boomi uses an XML format to interchange data between applications. This approach results in a robust and easily maintained integration.

Any form of use-case with Magento can be integrated. Here are some use-case scenarios that we have implemented to date:

• Integrate Mangento with GreatPlains (CRM/ERP)
• Integrate Mangento with SmartTurn (Inventory Management Software)
• Integrate Magento with Netsuite (CRM/ERP)
• Integrate Magento with Salesforce (CRM)

If you need any more details on how to integrate with Magento feel free to contact us.

Well, it depends…

Ok, I realise that isn’t helpful, so here’s an example.

First some assumptions/caveats on Salesforce and Netsuite integration:

1. Your implementations of Salesforce and Netsuite are in reasonable order, customization is ok, we’re just assuming that you haven’t used duplicate field names in Netsuite and if so, that you understand your data and can identify these.
2. We also assume that you will play a large part in the identifying the fields to be mapped in each system.
3. Systems will be locked down during development.
4. Data migration is not part of the exercise.
5. We’re using an integration tool that has connectors/adapters for each system.

So, assuming the above, here’s an idea of how long we would take to integrate 3 common objects between Netsuite & Salesforce, ie Account-Customer, Contact-Contact and Opportunity-Opportunity or Opportunity-Invoice.  Our approach is rapid not reckless:

Can we do it quicker?

• It depends on the assumptions above and how quickly you can work with us to complete the job.

What typically impacts the time-line?

• Field mapping detail and complexity
• A clearly defined and well understood business process
• System availability, People availability (sign-off, testing)
• Data cleanliness (see this blog on the impact of data quality)

Want to know more, just ping us and we can quickly give you a scope of how long it would take.  You can also check out our We Did section on our website for some examples of recent integrations we have built.

TIM here again with another tip - don’t tell the boss, he thinks I’m working.

Need to sync or integrate Salesforce data with your other systems?

Maybe you want to sync:

• Accounts/Contacts, Invoice/Sales Order data, payment information, Products and inventory.

So, what are your options?

It depends on what type of  data sync or integration you need and the applications involved, ie:

1. Do you need real-time or near real-time sync of your data?
2. Does the data go one way in or out of Salesforce or are you wanting bi-directional updates?
3. Do you want the whole process automated or are you ok with some manual data loading?
4. Do you have the budget to integrate?
5. Does your Salesforce license allow access to the force.com Web Services API?
6. Is there an existing integration tool that has Connectors/Adapters to your other applications?
7. How customised are your applications?
8. Are there any pre-built integration solutions that solve your problems?

Whew, I’m tired just thinking about it.

Let’s take a look at a couple of scenarios:

Some manual work is ok

A good option here is to use one of the Data Loader tools:

1. http://wiki.developerforce.com/index.php/Apex_Data_Loader
2. http://sites.force.com/appexchange/listingDetail?listingId=a0330000005kRLFAA2

• Export your data from your application and use the Data Loader to map this data and upload it into Salesforce.

• You can also use the tool to export from Salesforce objects into a database or CSV files, you can then manipulate the data and upload into your target applications.

You need the whole process automated

This is where you will need to plan a bit further before you invest in automating the solution.

Do you know your use-cases?

• You will need to be clear on the process or processes involved and what should be done in the event of failure.  An example of this would be:

• You want Closed/Won Salesforce Opportunities to generate Invoices in your Accounting system automatically.

You also need to consider any limitations of your Accounting system and if your Products are inventoried

• ie what will happen if there is no inventory
• how should the integration process handle such a failure

A good first step here is to take a look at our integration planning guide.

Ok, so you’ve gone through the planning stage and now you want to automate your solution, what tool to choose?

You have a lot of options and the Appexchange is a good place to start.

Some of the key vendors represented include Boomi, Informatica, Pervasive, Cast Iron, Jitterbit and the list goes on.  If you’ve read any of our We Dids you’ll know we are big fans of Boomi and Talend to migrate, manipulate and integrate data.

I’ll cover some of these tools in another blog, but for now, I need a Pina Colada.

TIM here again - with another Tip, hope it’s helpful.

In my experience integrating various SaaS applications such as Salesforce, Netsuite, Parature, RightNow, JIRA, etc,  bi-directional integration is a popular requirement.

So, why use bi-directional integration? Consider a bi-directional update between the Salesforce and RightNow Account Objects as an example:

• When the record in Salesforce is updated, the linked record in RightNow will also be updated  ie it works both ways.

Now, this isn’t ideal for all systems and mostly suitable for real-time integration. There are a few things to be aware of:

• You need a mechanism to stop an endless update loop. ie:

1. A Record updated in Salesforce triggers the integration to update the record in RightNow.
2. RightNow’s updated record will trigger the integration to update Salesforce’s Record and on and on - you get the idea.

• In this scenario you should define which fields/data is the Master.
• Make sure you are checking for timestamps to avoid the scenario where out of date data will update what was the correct data.

Time for a Pina Colada now I think.

In our attempt to rival Universal Studios, we’ve been at it again, creating videos of some of our ReadyMade integration solutions.  Check out our latest video on how easy it is to integrate Salesforce & MYOB.

Want to know more about how to get Salesforce & MYOB talking? contact us or check out our other MYOB demos and information on our website.

Enviren implements the WDCi ReadyMade Salesforce-Saasu integration solution, built on the Boomi platform. For more details check out the case study.

Sure, they are not going to win any Oscars, but if you’re interested in Salesforce integration to 2 of the most popular accounting packages around, take a look at our Salesforce to Saasu and Salesforce to MYOB ReadyMade integration solutions.  Oh and yeh, you won’t need a big bowl of popcorn cos they only last a few minutes each.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that you can productize specific business processes into a packaged integration solution.

This is something that regularly perplexes die-hard integration architects and at the opposite end of the spectrum regularly astounds SMEs when they find out there aren’t pre-built integrations between every application.

Who needs it?

SMEs now have access to tools and products at a fraction of the price they were years ago.  They can have best of breed solutions to run their business, BUT, who can afford to pay for a custom integration solution to integrate their data?  The applications are bleeding edge, but it doesn’t save you time and money if they aren’t in sync.

How to do it?

Our approach to this is ReadyMade, pre-built integration solutions that solve standard integration requirements between common applications.

Some history

We thought that there has to be some common business processes between applications.  So we spent some time looking at applications we know well, like salesforce.com.  We then looked at what accounting packages people use to connect to Salesforce and discovered that MYOB and Saasu were very popular in the Salesforce community in this part of the world.

So, we then took a look at how customers use MYOB on-premise and how they use Saasu in the cloud and used these observations to determine if there were common functions and processes that could be automated to save time and money.

And of course there are common processes that if integrated would provide the biggest bang for buck.

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t easy to first work out the common integration processes, identify the right tool, develop the solution, price it right, market it, sell it and then back it up with support.

Well why do it?

Because we like to solve problems in the simplest way possible and we see the potential of SaaS but we also understand the role of existing applications to a company.  Let’s not fix something that isn’t broken.

The end result

Our ReadyMade solutions allow an SME to run the best of breed applications without the need to re-key data or deal with data inconsistencies and errors.

They don’t solve every integration process, they’re not meant to, that’s what custom integration solutions are for, they simply provide a productized integration for standard business processes between 2 defined applications and they do it at a low-cost.