eCommerce integration with ERP, POS, or other local software

Are you looking for an eCommerce integration solution? Can’t find a way to connect and sync your local software with some cloud-based app, tool, marketplace, or platform? Do you need to sync products, orders, update prices, and keep the shipping process and inventory updated?

What you need is the Windows database connector.

If you are one of those who decided to move their businesses from brick-and-mortar stores to online space, you might face a widespread problem: How to connect your existing ERP (for example), hosted on your SLQ local servers with your new eCommerce shop?

The same situation goes for all of you starting a new online venture, a rising eCommerce business.

You all know that the modern market doesn’t function as it used to some 50 years ago. Today, we can use tons of sales channels, starting with the traditional brick-and-mortar stores, websites, online marketplaces, social media channels, etc.

And if we add to that marketing channels, which we have even more than sales channels, you have a bunch of software solutions, apps, platforms, plug-ins, and tools you have to joggle.

Most apps, platforms, or marketplaces offer integrations to make this joggling process more manageable. You can combine and synchronize two apps, tools, or whatever you use for your eCommerce business.

But sometimes, it’s just not enough. Sometimes, you will need deeper or more complex integrations, and the platform you use will not be able to provide that.

On the other hand, you might want to sync your local software or database with these apps, tools, marketplaces, and platforms you use, and it could be challenging, especially if you don’t have coding skills.

This integration process allows you to export and import data from various sources to various destinations. It means you can pull all information you need, store it in your local database (your local computer), or choose your website (cloud space) to be the primary destination where you will keep all data.

Most integrations are conducted through API connections, but it won’t be possible in some cases, for example, if your software product doesn’t have an API.

And that’s where SyncSpider jumps in.

If you are not quite sure how it looks in real-life situations, here’s the first-hand experience from one of our users.

So, the user was an agency with more than 20 years of experience and 150 clients. They used three local-based software, built especially for their needs.

And everything was functioning perfectly till the moment the clients decided to move to the eCommerce sphere and started opening online shops.

They couldn’t use the three software solutions in their local database because they couldn’t connect them to any online marketplaces and websites their clients started to use.

Furthermore, the clients started to use cloud-based marketing and CRM solutions that the agency couldn’t connect with.

This triggered the agency to start looking for the most reasonable solution, which would not require them to throw into the basket the software they used and paid a lot for.

On the other hand, creating or buying a license for some other software that they can use was also unacceptable.

It would require the agency to re-invest in a new software solution, and it would need too much time to train the agency’s employees to learn how to use another one. Not to mention the data within, which they would have to migrate to another place.

So, after many months of researching and experimenting with various options, they’ve decided to opt for SyncSpider.

They’ve connected the local software with SyncSpider and created 150 accounts, one for each of their clients.

Every client had a specific workflow that corresponded to their particular needs. Some needed to connect their online platforms with CRM solutions, some required to sync their online shops with brick and mortar, and some required to pull leads from their social media accounts to their database.

That means that each client had an eCommerce integration solution they needed, and according to the agency, it saved a lot of time and money.

So, now that we have cleared out what eCommerce integrations are, let’s get back to the Windows database connector.

What is it and when do you need it?

We use the windows database connector whenever we want to connect a software product located on our local database server with some other application located on the cloud.

Suppose you want to connect a software product on our local database server with some other software located on the cloud, for example, with some app. Still, your local database doesn’t have an API.

Sounds like a dead-end street?

No, it’s just a narrow alley. In that case, SyncSpider creates custom integration, especially for you, to complete the eCommerce integration process.

One of the two conditions is that the database has a Windows system, for now. But we are working to extend to Linux as well.

Now, besides this, your database needs to be in some of these formats:

• Active Directory
• Firebird
• Microsoft Access 200-2007 (mdb)
• Microsoft Access ab 2010 (accdb)
• Microsoft SQL Server
• MySQL 3.51
• MySQL 5.2
• MySQL 8.0
• Oracle

We’re constantly expanding the list of databases we support, so if you can’t find your database on the list, feel free to reach out, and we will add it to the list.

Here’s what SyncSpider does.

1. SyncSpider creates an ODBC connection to any database with a Windows system, thus enabling connection to all data you need within the local software.
2. Once connected to local or any other database without API via ODBC, we’re able to create a custom integration and provide API to the local system. We can send data from your local software and write data to your software, like create invoices, send orders, update stock, etc.
3. Then the local system creates the schema and is able to send or receive the data.

For those who want to go more in-depth about how it’s done, I did a boring job of writing step-by-step instructions. If that’s something that interests you, keep on reading.

If troubles with connecting and integrating sound familiar, and you find this solution helpful and applicable in your case, we’ve prepared a step-by-step guide on how to install and start using SyncSpider when you don’t have the API connection.

Before we start, we need to mention that if you don’t have any coding experience, you will probably need our support to set the SyncSpider software on your destination or source without the API connection.

• Type windows.syncspider.com in a search bar or HTML bar, and you’ll automatically be transferred to the local SyncSpider page for downloading software.
• You have two options for downloading, MSI file or ZIP file.
• Extract and install after downloading. You will be warned that it’s unknown software, but disregard that and proceed with the installation.

Once installed, SyncSpider acts like a typical software.

• You have the icon of SyncSpider on your desktop.
• Once you click on it, it will open the program.
• You will see the red stripe on the top and the button for activating SyncSpider.
• Once you activate it by clicking on the Activate button, the red bar will become green.

If you need some help with settings, you can click on the Remote Software button at the top right corner of the screen and choose Anydesk.

If you want to set integrations on your own, without the help of our support, check the two buttons on the top right, Profile, and Properties.

You will start your integration process by clicking the Properties button.

If you click on Properties, the pop-up screen will open, and you will see three tabs:

• SyncSpider API
• SyncSpider sFTP
• App Update

On the SyncSpider API tab, there are two fields:

1. API-Token – enables you to add the user’s API in the API-Token field. The API Token will be provided to you by SyncSpider.
2. Module/Template ID – for filling this field, you will have to go to your SyncSpider app and create integration.

After filling the two fields, tick the box Active, and test your connection by clicking the button Test Connection.

If everything is done right, you will get a notification that the connection is working correctly.

You can then save it by clicking the Save button.

1. Go to Settings,
2. Click the Custom Integrations on the side menu,
3. Click on the Add custom integration,
4. Once you click on the Add custom integration button, a page opens,
5. The page has 4 fields: Name, Description, Visibility (dropdown menu), and Integration type (dropdown menu),
6. In the Name field, you write the name of the integration (e.g., inventory updates),
7. In the Description field, you can write the description of the integration (e.g., Inventory updates from Shopify and WooCommerce stores),
8. Fill in the Visibility field,
9. On the Integration type, choose the API option,
10. You have the option to upload your logo as well (not mandatory),
11. Click the Done button at the bottom left corner of the screen,
12. Once you do that, find your integration on the list (on the same page where you are at that moment), and click on three dots. You will have the option to Edit, Delete, or Configure. Choose the Edit option, and it will open the integration page,
13. Look at the HTML bar, where the digit after the last bracket is your Template ID,
14. Copy your Template ID and paste it into the Module/Template ID field.

Now, the previous case was when you need to connect your database, but what if you work only with files? And you want your files to be updated constantly? What to do then?

In that case, you will use the SyncSpider sFTP tab (from the beginning of the text).

This tab has three input fields:

1. sFTP Host – which is SyncSpider, by default
2. sFTP User
3. sFTP Password

After you fill in the three input fields, you need to click on the Browse button and choose the directory from your system, which will be synced with the app.

After doing that, you just need to tick the Auto Sync box, and the data in your folder will be auto-synced with the chosen app, tool, platform, or marketplace.

That means SyncSpider will connect to the source and automatically fill in, change, or overwrite data in your folder whenever the change happens at the source or vice versa.

IIt functions as a miniature dropbox version, and it is convenient for all those who cannot connect to out-of-box solutions and where they can exchange data from the particular directory but cannot connect to the systems.

SyncSpider is automatically updated, but you can always change that in the App Update tab (disable automatic update) if you want to update SyncSpider manually.

After setting everything in the Properties section, you can create a Profile.

The profile is actually a database connection.

You can have multiple connections with one profile or create a new profile by clicking the New button.

Once you click the New button, the page opens, and you choose from a dropdown menu what kind of database it is.

Once everything is set in your Properties and Profile segment, you can carry on with building entities.

You will see the button Entities in the top left corner of the screen. It will take you to the page with Entities.

And here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create Entities.

1. Click on the Create a new Entity button,
2. Select the server,
3. Click OK, and all data from that source will be displayed on the page. You have to select the one you want to be synced or search by the file name,
4. Click the Plus button, and the selected folder will be displayed,
5. You can also choose multiple folders by adding them with the Plus button, but you need to determine their dependence to be synced properly,
6. Write Entity name,
7. Use Timestamp if you want, and determine the Timestamp value,
8. Choose the Sync interval,
9. You can set the time frame for synchronization actions, meaning the synchronization will occur in the selected time frame,
10. You can also choose the Template or create a template based on your Entities,
11. Once everything is set, all you have to do is set a direction: (a) Local to SyncSpider, (b) Local to CSV, or (c) SyncSpider to Local.

And you are all set! Windows database connector, your eCommerce integration solution, is ready for use!

If you experience any issues with using SyncSpider, don’t forget you have our support team 24/7.

Don’t believe it, try it!

Aleksandar Stanišić

Chief Operation Officer at SyncSpider

Aleksandar shares his knowledge gained through more than 15 years of working experience in C-level executive positions