Automation · Deep dive 05
System Integration & APIs
Your existing stack already does most of what you need — we connect the dots. ERP, CRM, payments, analytics, external partners: wired into one coherent system of record.
The scope
Integration work that stops data drifting between systems. REST, webhooks, event buses, scheduled syncs, ERP/CRM bridges. Designed to be debugged at 3am by someone who didn't build it.
Does this sound familiar?
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The same customer exists 4 times across 4 systems with 4 different names.
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Data keeps drifting — the answer depends on which report you pull.
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Integrations were built by whoever was closest and now nobody knows how they work.
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A webhook failed silently two years ago and you still don't know what's missing.
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You need to add System Y but the team estimates 'three months' because of System X.
The customer payoff
What changes for you
What you feel once it’s running.
One canonical flow diagram — who writes what, who reads what, what's source of truth.
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Reliable sync — retries, idempotency, error surfacing handled.
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Observable — every integration reports success/failure, with alerts.
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Maintainable — new integrations slot in to a shared pattern, not a new one-off.
Phases
⏱ 4–10 weeks typicalHow System Integration & APIs actually runs.
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01
Map
Draw every current integration. Who writes, who reads, what's duplicated. The map alone is half the value."
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02
Canonicalise
Pick the system of record per entity (customers, orders, transactions). Every integration routes through it or agrees to."
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03
Build
Integrations rewritten or added against the canonical model. Idempotent, retryable, observable by default."
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04
Cut over
Shadow-mode first, then cut. Old integration stays read- only for 30 days as safety net."
The hand-off
You'll have
What lands in your hands — every artefact, nothing hidden.
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Canonical data flow diagram
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Production integrations with retry + idempotency
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Alerting routed to a shared channel
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API gateway or middleware layer, if warranted
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Runbook per integration
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Onboarding guide for future integrations
Before we start
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Q·01 Do we need new tooling or can we use what we have?
Depends on scale. For many clients, n8n or custom Node workers are enough. For complex event-driven needs we'll recommend a proper event bus (NATS, Kafka) only when it earns its place."
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Q·02 What about API gateways?
Useful when you're exposing multiple internal services to partners or when rate-limiting/auth needs centralising. Overkill for most internal-only work."
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Q·03 Can you work with our ERP/CRM vendors?
Yes — we've integrated with SAP, Salesforce, Dynamics, HubSpot, NetSuite, and a long tail of vertical platforms. We'll manage vendor conversations if wanted."
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Q·04 How do you handle vendor API changes?
Contract tests that run nightly. Any breaking change surfaces before it hits production."
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Q·05 Is this different from an automation engagement?
Overlapping. Workflow automation focuses on business process flow. Integration focuses on data consistency across systems. Often combined in one scope."
Ready to start
Connect the systems. Kill the drift.
Two-day integration map, honest pick of the top three rewrites, clear plan. Let's draw what you've got today.
Start an integrationThe wider map
Every service page at a glance.
Each link below opens a dedicated page on that specific piece of one of our four service pillars. Jump sideways — different service, same way of working.
Digital Product Strategy
Service overview →Web & Mobile Development
Service overview →Business Automation
Service overview →- 01 Workflow Automation
- 02 AI-Assisted Operations
- 03 Process Digitisation
- 04 Custom Internal Tools
- 05 System Integration & APIs — you’re here
- 06 Data Pipelines & ETL