What does integration mean?

Integration is derived from the Latin word “integrare”, which means “to make whole”. In a web context, an integration refers to getting two or more processes, systems, or software solutions to work together—for example, by retrieving, sending, receiving, or processing information and data across systems.

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Why build integrations?

The purpose of integrations is to improve the user experience by making it easier for users to use multiple systems or tools at the same time. At the same time, integrations can also free up a lot of valuable time in your business because they enable automation of manual processes.

Save time with integration between systems

There are many benefits to using integrations. Integrations make it possible, for example, to add more functionality to your website. For instance, you can enable customers to sign a document online, so they avoid having to show up in person to sign documents—saving time for both parties.

Another benefit of integrations, as mentioned, is that they can automate manual processes and thereby also help reduce your costs.

Examples of processes you can automate:

Order data is automatically sent from your webshop to your accounting system, where it is posted. This way, you avoid having to create the order manually. By not having to do it manually, you save time, which can be used for more valuable tasks in your business, and you minimise errors.
Updating product information, where all data is pulled from a PIM system once every 24 hours. This way, product data only needs to be maintained in one place, and the webshop, the app, product catalogues, product feeds for marketing, etc. are updated automatically.
Inventory management where systems such as an app, customer portal, or webshop pull information such as stock status and price from an ERP system. For example, when an item is purchased, the stock status is updated across all systems at once.
People who sign up for your newsletter are automatically added to the newsletter list, where they enter a flow in which they receive X emails over a specific period of time.

Reduce errors in order handling

Building on the above, an integration can also help automatically keep your webshop updated with stock status, so both you and your customers can always see whether all products are in stock or not.

By automating some manual processes, the error margin will also automatically decrease, and consistency in task execution will increase, because the task is taken out of human hands, which will inevitably make mistakes. This will also improve quality.

Examples of integrations

There are many examples of website integrations. One example is payment systems, which can be integrated with your website to enable customers to buy products directly from the website.

Another example of an integration is connecting your CRM system, such as Pipedrive or HubSpot, with your website. Here, the integration helps you keep track of the leads and customer interactions you get through your website.

Finally, integrations can also be used in customer service contexts. One integration that has become very widespread is the use of live chat on websites. Here, live chat software is integrated into your website to be available at all times and answer your customers’ questions.

Systems	Advantages
ERP and webshop	One system runs the entire business (the ERP), while the webshop only displays the data and sends orders back to the ERP. Few errors, all business-critical data in one place, and ready to scale.
Website and CRM	Contact form submissions are sent directly to the CRM, where sales can handle them. Fewer leads fall through the cracks.
PIM vs. the rest of IT	All product data is stored in one place and only needs to be maintained in one place. This information can then be sent to apps, webshops, catalogues, product feeds, etc. = fewer errors and fewer manual processes.

What typical challenges can arise with integrations?

Often, it comes down to a lack of compatibility between systems, insufficient documentation, or unclear business processes. These challenges can be solved through thorough planning and a solid concept phase.

If you build a standalone application between two systems, almost any integration is possible. However, the implementation cost will naturally be higher, as this “middleman” has to be coded.

What do integrations typically cost?

Well, what does a car cost? Or perhaps more accurately: what does a means of transport cost?

It depends on whether it is a bicycle or a Boeing 777.

The figures below are indicative only and intended to provide an indication, based on what we most often see:

Accounting system integration: DKK 10,000–60,000
ERP integration: DKK 100,000–550,000
PIM integration: DKK 80,000–300,000
Intranet integration: DKK 25,000–250,000
Shipping system: DKK 10,000–20,000
PoS: DKK 10,000–35,000

The price depends on complexity: standard integrations can be relatively inexpensive, while custom-built integrations require more hours and therefore a higher budget. The most important thing is to weigh the price against the value the integration creates in terms of time and efficiency.

These are examples of factors that can be decisive in the pricing of an integration:

Which systems need to communicate with each other?
When and how often?
What data needs to flow, and in which formats?
Does the data need to be processed in any way between systems?
Where should the data be stored, maintained, etc.?
How much data does the integration need to handle?

Can your business benefit from integrations?

If you are unsure whether it would be beneficial for your business to have integrations developed, you should ask yourself whether there are any processes or tasks you spend a lot of time on—time that would be more valuable elsewhere in the business.

Also consider whether there are any systems or software programs you often use in the business where it would be beneficial for them to talk to each other—for example, to automatically transfer information from one system to another.

If you recognise some of the issues mentioned in this blog post, your business could likely benefit greatly from integrating some of your systems and automating some of your repetitive tasks.