Case Study 1B - QuickBooks API Automation
A better way to obtain data from your systems
Project Summary
This project is an improvement on the prior QuickBooks project by further automating the process. Rather than relying on the reports generated from the system as inputs to the data cleaning script, the necessary data is acquired directly from the system using the QuickBooks API. Using the API allows us to access a wealth of data directly from the source. Referring to QuickBooks specifically, any report that the system generates can be accessed directly using the API which removes several steps in the process.
The same QuickBooks project is done using the API which allows us to bypass going into the system and downloading the reports. Rather, we simply need to provide the dates of interest directly in the program to generate the same files for the Power BI dashboard. Check it out below!
An API (Application Programming Interface) allows programs to interact with one another without being fully integrated. They are used by practically every application there is (Uber, Doordash, fantasy football applications, etc.) and can be used by your team to gather data for your processes.
Using APIs to gather data directly from the source is preferable for several reasons:
- It reduces steps in the process.
- It reduces the risk of human error entering the process by reducing the number of touchpoints a human is involved in.
- Results from APIs are more predictable, allowing for faster development of solutions and a reduced likelihood of errors down the road.
- Often, APIs allow for access to more data than is provided in system-generated reports.
Similar solutions can be built for any software platform that has an API. Most large ERPs (NetSuite, Oracle, SAP) as well as other large software programs, like Workday, have an API. Note that involvement of your organization’s IT involvement could be necessary for integrating a system’s API into a solution.
If you’re curious how using an API could improve your organization’s processes, then let’s get in touch!
