SIMLEA - Data integration, child's play thanks to interfaces

Integrate the SIMLEA Lead App into your natural IT infrastructure Interfaces to your systems make your work even easier!

Nowadays, there is a suitable software solution for almost every data management challenge that can help - and that for all company sizes. Companies often no longer rely on cost-intensive in-house developments, but make use of existing software solutions on the broad market. Especially in medium-sized and large companies, dozens if not hundreds of systems for all possible purposes can be combined over time. Then, at the latest, companies are faced with the next problem: How do I get the data from a third-party system into my own (main) system in a smart and easy way? The solution: An interface to ensure communication and data exchange between two systems.

This challenge also exists in the process of data acquisition on trade fair stands, when information is acquired smart, digitally and in a modern way via trade fair lead apps on tablets or smartphones. But how do you get a continuous process of data acquisition at the trade fair stand to your own systems?

In the following we would like to explain the differences in possibilities and give you an overview of the possibilities we offer you to connect the SIMLEA Lead App to your system.

Variant 1 - "Export-Import

The classic and mostly free of charge way is "Export-Import". The data is exported from the backend of SIMLEA in the desired format and the export file is imported via upload into the own system (CRM system, marketing automation, ERP etc.). However, it causes manual work and takes up time resources.

With SIMLEA you also have the possibility to export the collected lead data free of charge and as often as you like. The lead reports can be exported in Excel, CSV or XML format. Pictures of business cards, sketches, signatures of visitors for the declaration of consent of the data use or photos are exported in JPG format. The exported files are labelled with the corresponding lead ID, so that the data records can be easily allocated.

Option 2 - Fixed interface

Many companies are interested in making their processes almost fully automated. For this purpose, a fixed interface from the third-party system to the own system is a good solution. An IT project is set up that is worked on jointly by both parties. A detailed function manual must be created, in which it is exactly defined what is to be done with which data and information. The effort for the creation of an interface takes about 3-7 development days, depending on the requirements. Advantage: The investment only has to be borne once and there are no follow-up costs. Disadvantage: The interface is inflexible and has to be reprogrammed in case of changed conditions, e.g. changed processes or field adjustments. In addition, there is a certain commitment to the third-party system, because the investment costs should be amortised over the period of use.

Option 3 - Flexible interface

In the meantime, there are various platforms that offer a large part of the necessary requirements for interfaces between two systems. Here a distinction is made between:

•     iPaaS: Integration Platform as a Service
•     PaaS: Platform as a Service
•     SaaS: Software as a Service

The larger the applications become and the faster business acceptance increases, the more the boundaries between platform and software become blurred.

They are all "as-a-service" offerings, hosted services from a third-party provider that are delivered over the Internet and accessed via a web browser. Servers, storage and other infrastructure components are managed by the service provider, so users typically avoid local hardware and software investments.

The key benefits of iPaaS, PaaS and SaaS are more flexible business applications and cost savings over local, homegrown and managed platforms and software with associated tools.

 

• SaaS: "Software-as-a-Service" offerings are solutions on end devices. Companies typically run many SaaS offerings for different purposes. For example, SAP Concur is a SaaS employee expense management tool, Outlook is used for email management, and WebEx enables remote presentations. There are countless products offered as a service, but SaaS offerings are often close to the people in business processes.
• PaaS: In the back of the business workflow you will find "Platform-as-a-Service" offerings. Examples of PaaS are software development platforms like Apprenda that take input from software repository platforms like Git and then deliver builds to other tools or platforms for testing before users can work with the result.
• iPaaS: In practice, "integrated-Platform-as-a-Service" is basically a subset or specific form of PaaS. iPaaS describes a general class of cloud integration services. These iPaaS offerings all work together to seamlessly connect workloads and data sets from different solutions and platforms delivered locally or in the cloud.

iPaaS & SIMLEA:

We provide our users of the SIMLEA Lead App with an iPaaS platform, which enables them to create interfaces to customer systems via standard connectors quickly, easily and without extensive programming knowledge. Examples for standard connectors are: Salesforce CRM, Microsoft Dynamic, SAP, SugarCRM, Magento, Shopware, Datev, Amazon Marketplace, Dropbox, Mailchimp, Google Drive etc.

The advantage lies in the enormous flexibility of the connectors. Existing interfaces can be easily adapted during operation and are ready for use with minimal setup effort.

With SIMLEA you have the possibility to use the iPaaS platform on a monthly rental basis. Up to three data flows can be created and operated in parallel. The standard connectors are included. This means that you can, for example, transfer lead data simultaneously into three different areas (e.g. leads, accounts and activities) of your CRM system or you can use three flows to feed different systems with the recorded lead information (e.g. 1st flow CRM connection, 2nd flow marketing automation system and 3rd flow into an existing newsletter system).

Please contact us! We will be happy to advise you on the various possibilities and together we will find the right solution for you.