Using API’s to “say hello 👋” to an integrated innovative world
If you manage a credit or finance team, you know that keeping up with the latest technology can be a challenge. But what if there was a way to power up your existing tech-stack, with ease? In this blog post, we’ll show you how easy it is to add new features and functionality to your existing tools – integrating Trade Credit innovations with ease. Whether you’re looking for ways to automate tasks or simply want to improve efficiency, read on to see how easy it is to get started.
Implementing an enterprise system is the start of an innovation journey, not the end..
Many businesses are stuck in a technological quandary. Their current approach to technology is outdated or lacking features.
Experts have seen it time and time again – an organisation’s ability to accelerate digital transformation and be better equipped to seize new opportunities for growth is limited when working with an archaic tech-stack or ERP. This can prevent the business from taking advantage of the unique functionalities found in many innovative start-up SaaS platforms such as automation, AI, analytics, cloud computing, and machine learning.
To keep up with agility and efficiency within their operations, these companies must commit to expanding their tech-stack systems or implementing newer generations of existing solutions.
Your ERP doesn’t do trade-credit automation. But it does have an open door, so that you can easily have these smarts integrated.
What does this have to do with 1Centre?
1Centre is the only unified B2B trade relationship platform that lets you approve, engage, visualise and monetise SME customers. Our mission is to reinvent B2B trade relationships bringing innovation to our customers and, in turn, their customers beyond what they imagined. Features include:
- Applying: Credit Application, Cash Application, Lead Form, Direct Debit Form, Retail Card Application Form.
- Checking: Credit Checks, Guarantees, Trade Reference Checking, Doc Generation and Storage, Anti-Fraud ID Verification, AML Check Verification.
- Decisioning: Approval Hierarchy Delegated Lending Authority, Internal Use Fields configurations and Auto Decisioning.
- Empowering: Website button for online, QR for instore location experience and in person links for sales rep channels.
- Branding: Fully customisable including voice of customer
AND MORE!
Connecting your ERP system to trade-credit automation using API-led connectivity
API-led connectivity is a powerful and efficient solution for businesses to use their existing tech stack by adding an extra layer of intelligence.
Instead of having two or more systems running, APIs connect them.
Picture this:
Julie in Sales, uses 1Centre to see all trade-credit applications being approved but uses Dynamics 365 to report her sales results. This toggling between systems is a headache and allows for many errors.
Manual manipulations of data can be a cumbersome drain on both time and energy. By automating the process with an integration, efficiency and user-friendliness are greatly improved while mitigating potential human errors that could threaten data integrity.
Furthermore, integrations enable real-time flows between apps for companies who need to move quickly in their operations; using automation within these critical processes is essential for success!
API-led connectivity ensures an agile approach to increasing efficiency while providing access to valuable data; data which can be used to expand a business’s competitive edge and improve customer satisfaction. API technology allows for fast and convenient connections between systems that can be easily modified as required.
So, how do you bring all of these trade-credit customer onboarding smarts into your ERP, CRM or existing tech-stack?
Integrating a SaaS platform into an enterprise ERP system can greatly improve efficiency and streamline business processes. One way to do this is through the use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and webhooks.
- APIs allow different software systems to communicate with each other and exchange data. They essentially act as a mediator, allowing the SaaS platform to access and get data from the ERP system, or send data to the ERP to be processed.
- Webhooks, on the other hand, are used to send real-time notifications or updates between systems. They can be configured to trigger an action in the SaaS platform when certain events occur in the ERP system.
The process for integrating a SaaS platform using APIs and webhooks typically involves the following steps:
- Identify the specific data and actions that need to be exchanged between the systems.
- Determine the appropriate API endpoint (URL) for accessing the desired data or triggering the desired action.
- Use appropriate authentication methods to secure the data exchange.
- Test the integration to ensure it is functioning as expected.
There are several benefits to using APIs and webhooks for integration.
They allow for real-time data exchange, which means that information is immediately updated and available in both systems. They also allow for more flexibility and customisation, as specific data and actions can be targeted for exchange.
SAP and Azure Dynamics are two popular platforms that make it easy to set up and manage integrations using APIs and webhooks. Both offer a range of tools and resources for developers to build and maintain integrations with other systems.
Case study
Farmlands uses 1Centre’s smarts inside Microsoft Dynamics 365 to get ‘one view’ of their customer onboarding
As a case study, Farmlands provides a great example.
Farmlands Co-operative is a major player in New Zealand’s rural industry, with business units in retail, fuel, nutrition, and horticulture. In 2013, the co-operative’s two biggest regional operations merged into a single entity. However, two years later, the national company was still working in silos and used multiple systems.
To break down this highly fragmented approach, Farmlands set out on a three year project, using Microsoft Dynamics 365 to help the diverse business build a united digital culture. Aside from shifting to Dynamics 365, Farmlands also worked with Microsoft to migrate to the cloud. Their vision was to ‘unlock a future of change’.
Microsoft Dynamics come with an API Management Service which makes it super easy for 1Centre to integrate into.
After implementing the steps in our guide, Farmlands were able to take advantage of fast trade-credit customer onboarding. This gave them access to 1Centre’s feature rich environment along with greater automation, improved reporting and better scalability.
As well as increasing their overall efficiency, improving customer experience and increasing sales, the use of 1Centre also allowed Farmlands to ensure compliance with industry standards.
The end result was a smooth running customer onboarding process that was more successful than ever before. Thanks to the guidance provided by our guide, Farmlands were able to achieve virtually limitless success through tech-stack upgrades.
So, you have an enterprise system but also want innovative trade-credit onboarding? What’s next?
Many CFO’s believe that because they have set up an enterprise system, that “that’s that”!
However, that’s only the beginning.
At 1Centre, we understand this journey and that’s why we’re offering a free consultation service specifically designed to help Credit and Finance leaders figure out the best way to power up their tech-stacks. This comprehensive service will show you how you can use trade-credit automation smarts inside your enterprise system.
Contact us now for more information and start powering up your own tech-stack!
To book a consultation, get in touch here.
Read more articles related to this topic:
- Hidden Costs in Your Trade Customer Onboarding Process
- Five big benefits for automating your trade-credit processes.
- Making PPSRs a headache-free zone
- How AI and automation is solving Credit Management headaches
- SaaS automation applied to identity fraud in trade credit
- The importance of visibility in your sales pipeline
- 3 key ways to boost efficiency in your sales pipeline
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1Centre is a purpose-driven Fintech platform that makes it easier for businesses to trade effectively. By automating inefficient people processes, finance and sales teams have more time to focus on more strategic work like building growth.