What is Integration?

Integration is simply the process of making different systems work together. This is a powerful way of expanding a website - to offer more to customers, speed up processing and reduce costs.

Most projects we undertake involve integrating PHP based websites with other systems. The reasons for doing so are varied but most work has the intention of automating a process that would have to be done either offline or with a delay. The whole point of the Internet as an end-user is to allow users to perform tasks simply and as quickly as possible.

Integration is achieved by information exchange. There are various protocols for this - APIs use XML to talk to each other. Another acronym is SOAP - it's all roughly the same thing. Data is formatted into XML, sent to a service and a return is received. Or the project maybe to create an API of your own, to allow others to interact with your system.

The first step is to chat to us about the systems that need to be integrated - often they provide a manual or technical document, which can be used to gauge a project and its requirements

Examples of Integration

• Selling digital music online
• Taking payments without customers leaving your site
• Adding an order straight into a client's back-office system
• Validating bank accounts
• Sending and receiving SMS text messages

How do I integrate my website with a particular piece of technology?

With the right code, security and system access, integration between a website and other systems can be achieved. The first stage is usually a talk about the systems that need to be integrated - often they provide a manual or technical document, which can be used to gauge a project and its requirements

What systems have you integrated with?

The list is exhaustive, however is a sample of systems we have integrated with using Soap, API, XML and other code bases.

• 7Digital Music Downloads API
• Vebra & Rightmove Estate Agency System
• Commidea Payment Gateway
• Khaos Stock Control System
• SMS Gateways
• Postcode Anywhere
• Payment Gateways
• Multicom Travel Agency API