Instead of manually coding payroll of features in Business Central through large extensions, users could rely on an integration to more robust external solutions (e.g., ADP). Optimization, cost, and sustainability describe integration benefits against heavily customized ERP as a one-stop shop.Īutomation and accuracy are benefits for when separate systems already exist and would otherwise be manually transcribed to/from the ERP. They allow less technical users to choose incoming data, transform the data, and map it to outputs in the other system however, more complex transformations and configuration of the endpoints may still require a developer. Third-Party SolutionsĮxtract, Transfer, Load (ETL) Tools often provide a simpler mapping between destination and source. A translation would handle the conversion of department or employee to General Ledger Account. The General Ledger Account for salaries expense or state unemployment tax may not be explicitly defined in the payroll system but may be driven by department or employee coming payroll into Business Central. For instance, one system may have a date that reads YYYY-MM-DD, while another system reads MM/DD/YY. Sometimes data require transformation to appropriately transfer between systems.
Data Transformation and Translation: From Apples to Oranges Sometimes the medium is a text file, CSV, or Excel file when working with exports/imports, and the heading describes what is exported/imported. These packets transmit through web services or queries to servers. Data Packagesĭata is often packaged in a specific format (XML or JSON) identify what is transmitted (G/L Account, Amount) as well as their values (Salary Expense, $104.32). Microsoft lists their APIs, and users can also call Business Central Web Services to read and write data to and from Business Central.
#COMPLETE DYNAMICS HOW TO#
APIs are generally created by those who developed the system, and documentation is often published by these developers to describe how to interact with the API. EndpointsĪpplication Programming Interfaces (APIs) are the nodes on both systems through which integrations transfer data. What is an Integration?Īn integration is the flow of data between two systems. Business Central and Payroll functionality will be the primary example throughout this blog. This blog reviews the integration in contrast to customization.