Question
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Expert knowledge for digital decisions
Which Systems Can Be Integrated with a CRM?
Short answer
Basically, any system with an interface: accounting and DATEV, ERP systems, webshops, email and calendars, telephone systems, newsletter tools, and payment services. Where no interface exists, the only option is file exchange – functional, but slower and more error-prone.
Common Integrations
| System | What is exchanged |
|---|---|
| Accounting, DATEV | Customers, invoices, payment status |
| ERP | Items, stock, orders |
| Webshop | Orders, customer accounts |
| Email and Calendar | History, appointments, tasks |
| Telephone System | Call logs, notes on contact |
| Newsletter | Recipients, consents, unsubscribes |
How an Integration Looks Technically
- API – both systems communicate directly with each other. The cleanest solution, requires a documented interface.
- Webhook – the source system actively reports changes. Efficient and fast.
- Scheduled Synchronization – a service retrieves data at fixed intervals. Robust, but not in real-time.
- File Exchange (CSV, XML) – last resort for legacy systems without an interface.
The Question That Comes Before the Technology
Which System Takes Precedence? If a customer address can be changed in two places, you need a rule to determine which one wins. Without this specification, a data set emerges that no one trusts anymore – and that is harder to repair than any technical error.
What Is Often Underestimated
Error cases. What happens if the target system does not respond? An interface without retry logic and without logging loses data unnoticed.
Key facts
- Key Preliminary Question
- Which system takes precedence in case of conflicting data?
- Often Forgotten
- Error handling and logging