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Integration ties data and workflows together between software systems. TOTECS integrates to business systems through the Connector, Core API, Payment Services APIs and the integrated freight API. Much development has occurred in this arena and we are thrilled to bring you up to speed.

At the source of integration lies data. The TOTECS Admin Centre offers many facilities to manage data but it can become an onerous process for large product catalogues. For data not available in accounting systems, it’s often managed and imported from Spreadsheets using the Data Import tool. That said, vanilla CSV file structures are cumbersome to work with and manage.

We now have a much easier solution for data management called our Excel Master Data File that works with the Connector to ease the data management burden. But first, let’s look at the Connector to see how we make this possible.

Connector v1 The Connector v1 is now out and contains a full implementation of the Generic Adapter. The Connector software is installed on the server where the accounting/ERP system software resides. Up until now, the Adapters have been accounting/ERP specific and configured to do the following tasks:

• Export data from accounting/ERP system into TOTECS
• Extract real-time data from the accounting/ERP system (such as Account Enquiry or Backorder Requests)
• Post electronic documents back into the accounting/ERP software (such as online orders)

The Generic Adapter can be configured to work with any database, CSV file or Excel file. Better still, it offers a Web Services API based on our new Ecommerce Standards Documents released on GITHUB. This makes the Connector a much more powerful tool because any IT company in the world can integrate their systems into TOTECS and SQUIZZ.com using the Generic Adapter.

For the dev minded, checkout the ESD on GITHUB https://github.com/squizzdotcom/ecommerce-standards-documents-dotnet-library

Excel Master Data File

The Excel Master Data File is connected to the Generic Adapter. It has been designed to import new products from an Accounting/ERP system, provide easy to use worksheets to setup product data and then includes macros that generate the export data sent to TOTECS/SQUIZZ.com via the Generic Adapter. The Excel file contains worksheets to setup and manage every product data structure that TOTECS offers. Better still, data exports can be scheduled so you never forget an import again.

The Master Data File costs $1000 Ex GST and is a great investment for companies managing complex data structures for 1000s of products.

Smartfreight Integration

In March, Q-Imaging went live with their new B2B eCommerce Website that harnesses the newly released (IFS) Smartfreight integration. It was a fabulous team effort working with the guys at Smartfreight and both companies are thrilled with the outcome and look forward to expanding the technology further.

Will Gawler from Q-Imaging said the company is delighted with the platform stating that ‘Customers and staff are using TOTECS to process sales orders and the Smartfreight integration is taking out a heap of manual data entry’.

TOTECS offers both a partial import (sender and recipient header details only) and full import (generates a consignment).

Phew! We made it. So integration is a vital aspect of doing business online. The rewards speak for themselves. Better browsing, less confusion, correct pricing, customers accountable for orders they place, reduced backorders, less mistakes, ease of burden on customer service staff, overdue accounts paid up and an overall efficiency in warehouse & logistics operations.

Until next time. Happy ordering

Kind Regards,
Glenn Drew
CEO