Tired of juggling multiple software tools and applications just to get your work done? Do you suffer from Tool Accumulation Syndrome, which leaves you with dozens of subscriptions but little time to make the most of them?
Maybe it’s time to work smarter, not harder.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your processes could be more efficient and effective, then you’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced business world, software integrations have become an essential tool for companies of all sizes. Integrations can perform a wide range of functions – help you gain better insights into your business data, automate repetitive tasks, or improve collaboration among team members.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why software integrations are so valuable for employers, and how they can help you optimise your technology stack for maximum impact.
So, whether you need to declutter your tools, streamline your processes or find some integration inspiration, let’s dive in and discover how integrations can transform the way you work.
What is software integration?
Software integration is the process of connecting different software applications and tools to work together seamlessly as a system.
Often the software applications used in business are created by different developers and serve different purposes, but may rely on data or information collected by a different application. In order for them to be able to speak to one another, or integrate, you need a way to connect them. Integration allows for different pieces of software to share and exchange data without the need for manual input or intervention, streamlining your workflow and increasing productivity.
For example, say that your company uses a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool to manage customer data, but you also use a marketing automation tool to send emails and track campaigns. With software integration, you can connect your CRM tool and marketing automation tool, allowing you to automatically synchronise customer data between the two applications, and automate email campaigns based on specific customer behaviours or actions.
How do software integrations work?
The integration process typically involves establishing a communication channel between two or more applications and defining the rules for data exchange and processing. Software integrations can be achieved through a variety of methods, most commonly Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), but also middleware and custom development.
However, before you consider software integrations, you need to know what systems need to be integrated. Easier said than done – there are endless possibilities and hundreds of vendors, app developers and software companies vying for your business.
But resist the temptation to try and cobble it together yourself. Integrating disjointed software solutions is one of the most common challenges that businesses are facing today. Most applications aren’t connected with each other and were not built to be connected, resulting in lots of little disparate ‘islands of data’.
Even when you know what apps, platforms or software you want to connect, you also need to consider the frequency of data exchange, the integration workflow, and any security or compliance requirements.
In setting up the integration, communication protocols between the software applications will be created which define how data is mapped between the systems and which govern the integration workflow.
After that, it should be plain sailing with your integration! And spare a thought for our dear integration specialists out there – a lot of testing goes into the development of integrations prior to deployment, and a great deal of monitoring and maintenance goes into managing the integration itself.
That’s why if you’re shopping around for integrations or looking for systems which are compatible with what you have, it pays to do your research.
The importance of software integration in modern businesses
Software integration is an essential tool for businesses looking to optimise their technology stack and increase efficiency and productivity. Smart integrations will save you time and money, paving the way for slick, streamlined processes which will hugely benefit you and your team.
Without integrations, you’re left doing everything manually. This is especially difficult if different people or teams rely on different applications and tools. It’s a frustrating situation that can result in a lot of time and resources being wasted importing and exporting files which a different division is unable to open. We’ve all been there…
Here’s looking at you, CSV files. 
And if your software integrations are clunky, then your tech stack might be creating more problems for you instead of solving them. This can leave you vulnerable to lost data, data duplication or data mismanagement, not to mention human error. These are headaches that have no place in businesses today.
So with that behind us, let’s look at some of the incredible capabilities that software integrations are making possible today.
What are some common system integrations used in businesses?
Some of our favourite integrations streamline complex tasks and make light work of processing large amounts of data.
HR integrations
Not that we’re biassed of course, but one of the best examples for streamlining business operations is integrated HR and payroll software. Integrating your HRIS with payroll tools can help you manage employee information, track time and attendance, and automate payroll processing. Connecting these platforms allows you to keep all of your employment operations under one roof, such as from the Employment Hero app.
Marketing integrations
Earlier we mentioned marketing automations, which are another common combination. Integrating a customer relationship management (CRM) system with a marketing automation tool can help businesses manage customer data more effectively, automate marketing campaigns, and track customer interactions across different channels. Integrations like this can be used to provide your marketing and sales teams with the same data to streamline sales processes, nurture leads, and share data transparently.
Inventory management
Integrations also prove very useful for accounting and inventory management. Integrating accounting software with inventory management tools can help businesses manage finances and inventory more effectively, track orders and shipments, and generate invoices and purchase orders.
Ecommerce
Of course, integrations are practically essential for e-commerce businesses. Integrating e-commerce platforms with payment processing tools can help businesses streamline the checkout process, reduce fraud, and manage transactions more effectively. Integrating with marketing systems allows e-commerce businesses to make the most of tools to nurture leads and customers.
What are the benefits of software integrations?
Streamline business processes
One of the top benefits of software integrations is how efficiently they streamline business processes. Gone are the days of having to manually keep track of data across customers, projects, teams or even individual employees.
These days, software integrations manage data more effectively by automatically synchronising data between different applications, reducing the need for manual data entry, and minimising the risk of errors. This can speed up processes, increase efficiency and reduce errors, resulting in a streamlined workflow and increased productivity.
Time savings
Because software integrations can communicate data between platforms instantly, saving time is a top benefit.
Data entry is a notoriously dull and time-consuming task that many professionals do their best to avoid. It can take up hours in the day that could be dedicated to other more strategic tasks. It can also require additional headcount within your team, with many businesses needing to hire someone to manage large amounts of data moving between programs.
With integrations, this is no longer a concern! By integrating different software applications, businesses can gain a competitive advantage by enabling their teams to move faster, make smarter decisions, and deliver better employee and customer experiences.
Client satisfaction
Integrations can help businesses provide better customer experiences by enabling them to manage customer data more effectively, automate marketing campaigns, and track customer interactions across different channels. That also increases your competitive advantage – the easier your software stack works together, the more you can offer your clients. You can pick up new systems that enable new services, expanding your capabilities.
With a full-service offering that has a low risk of error, you can deliver a great experience for your customers – every time.
Increased revenue and ROI
Investing in new software is always a big decision. When your software stack really works for you, integrations can help you increase revenue by automating billing and invoicing processes, improving inventory management, and enabling faster, more accurate decision-making.
If you find software with great integrations, you can be guaranteed that your money is going further. You can not only save time on things like data entry, but you can also intelligently trigger actions from one program to another – meaning that you’re using your tools in a smarter way and exploring the full potential of their capabilities.
3 signs your business systems need an upgrade
- Clunky systems?
- Wasting time going back and forth between different applications and platforms?
- Paying for expensive tools you don’t actually need?
These are the three big signs that you need new systems in place. If you’re considering an upgrade to find the right tools and integrations for your business, we’ve got you covered.
What are Employment Hero’s new integrations, and how can they help you streamline employment admin?
Employment Hero has a number of integrations that make life easier for employers and employees alike, helping you streamline employment admin and make life easy.
Payroll software integrations
Keypay
Combine KeyPay and Employment Hero for seamless payroll integration. KeyPay is an easy-to-use, feature-rich payroll system for small to medium businesses. Powered with rostering, online timesheets, time and attendance and fully managed award interpretation, you can empower your employees to self-manage aspects of their employee files while keeping KeyPay up-to-date.
One-click payroll integration means that in a few minutes, information is directly synced with your KeyPay account. Once connected, Employment Hero will automate administrative, transactional HR tasks and free up valuable time for businesses.
Xero
Xero is an easy-to-use, cloud-based accounting software for small businesses. Available anywhere, at any time and on mobile devices, Xero has all you need to run your business – including invoicing, paying bills, sales tax returns, reporting and much more.
Using one-click payroll integration, you’ll be set up in no time, with information directly synced with your Xero account.
“The Xero integration was literally the click of a button; we turned it on and it just works.”
Hayley French, Corporate Services Manager
Quickbooks
Employment Hero comes with native QuickBooks integration. Intuit QuickBooks Online software gives you the things you need most to run your small business, all in one place. Secure access anytime, on any device. Easily track cash flow with reports and insights and more.
MYOB
MYOB AccountRight provides tax, accounting, and other services to small and medium businesses. One-click payroll integration means that in a few minutes, information is directly synced with your MYOB AccountRight account. Once connected, Employment Hero automates HR admin, freeing up your team to focus on more strategic tasks.
HR Integrations
JobAdder
JobAdder is an easy-to-use recruitment software for recruitment and staffing agencies and in-house recruiters. By using the JobAdder integration, you can speed up the recruitment process.
Candidate information can be synced directly into Employment Hero when creating a ‘new employee’. That means all basic information you’ve already got stored on the candidate in JobAdder can sync right across to their new employee file in Employment Hero with one single click, allowing you to onboard successful hires with ease.
Go1
Go1 is the largest curated eLearning library from the world’s top training providers. If you have an existing subscription, you can integrate it with Employment Hero. Go1 is packed with features, enabling you to:
- Assign your existing learning content to employees directly from your Employment Hero account.
- Track employee progress as they work through their assigned learning content and use certifications to track completions.
- Create your own learning content Use Go1’s functionality to create induction and learning content specific to your business.
- Access premium learning content for your employees to access 24/7 and upskill in the areas that interests them most.
Empowering your employees and growing your business has never been easier thanks to Employment Hero’s integrations.
Say goodbye to manual data entry
There are heaps of benefits waiting to be discovered when you take HR digital. From streamlining admin to reducing errors and saving money, we know you won’t be looking back.
Are you ready to learn more about how your business can benefit from Employment Hero and our intuitive range of integrations? If you’re curious about splitting up with spreadsheets and moving on from manual data entry, talk to one of our business specialists today!
