Circumstances thrust upon us all over the last couple of years meant we quickly learned our Teams from our Zoom, our Slack from our Trello, and not long after we learned to sift out our timesaver tech from our timewasters. The adoption of apps and software has been rapid, and while admittedly it took a global pandemic to revolutionise how we live and work, we’re here now and there’s no going back. So how can you harness the best bits for your business?

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The next step in this evolution is to curate and control the services you use, and get them to work as one to deliver tangible and timesaving benefits. The services you use need to play nicely together and need fewer clicks to make the good stuff happen. We think one of the most important aspects of any cloud platform is the ability to integrate with other apps in your tech arsenal. 

Not just jargon

When we talk about integration, it’s far from just another bit of jargon; it’s a simple idea with a big impact. Integration across our practice management software sees the best apps for running your business talk together on one platform. They draw and share information, so you can control all aspects of your business with the minimum of fuss. It means you improve productivity so there’s more time for increasing revenue. And it’s simple to set up too. 

Systems that don’t communicate with each other result in more clicking in and out, mind-numbing manual and time-consuming processes, and they’re prone to error. We’re over it, and reckon you are too. Allowing business apps to communicate and automating tasks will make life a whole lot easier – and who doesn’t want that?

Here’s the science

So how does it happen? An API (Application Programming Interface) lets multiple software programs communicate with each other. When two software programs are connected in this way by an API, they are said to be ‘integrated’. It allows specific requests to be sent by one application, producing a response by another.  

Senta integrations sees lots of different apps and software, including Xero – view the full list here – work together in perfect harmony. As well as the usual suspects like FreeAgent and Quickbooks, you might find some others you’re not familiar with. It’s worth checking out the likes of MELU (live chat for your website), PracticeWEB (websites for accountants) and Invoco (VoIP phone system).

In some cases, you may need to connect another tool that is not listed in the app ecosystem or may need to accomplish a specific task that is not available. Enter Zapier. Zapier essentially acts as a connector or translator between thousands of cloud-based applications. We love it, Senta customers love it, and use it for all sorts of interesting processes. And it’s not just established apps; Senta has an open API, which means anyone can connect to Senta (with our permission!). 

Integration in action

Let’s look at what integration looks like for a few everyday tasks and how they help at different parts of the journey. Our practice management software has easy-to-configure CRM, powerful workflow, integrations, and a user-friendly client portal. You can email clients for mass automated mailouts, or craft bespoke communications and SMS reminders. It allows you to move through your work in the right order, in a streamlined and logical fashion. You can even track your VoIP calls, create a client file, and then use GoProposal to bring the client onboard. 

Case Study: Root2Growth

We don’t just expect you to take our word for how well it all works (although you’re welcome to!). We’re proud to have customers that experience the benefits of integration with Senta day in, day out. For Root2Growth Accounting & Advisory, an Exeter-based cloud accounting firm, the call to use Senta was an easy one to make working life easier and improve client service. 

Rayanne Armand Managing Director of Root2Growth, who operate as a virtual finance department for the building and construction industry says:

“We have the Xero Dashboard as the driver for the business, with Receipt Bank doing the bookkeeping, GoProposal doing the initial proposals and Senta managing everything to do with the running of the practice. Senta is integral to the practice now. I don’t think there’s another solution out there that does the practice management in this way.

“We’ve used Senta and GoProposal right from the start of the business. There was no tracking of clients and engagements in Excel spreadsheets – we started with Senta… I knew what I needed Senta to do. So many practices have the app stack but don’t get the most from it. There’s nothing that can touch what Senta does and the potential that the customisation options give you.”

Embrace the best bits

As the world begins to shift back to normal, or the new normal at least, the digital progress we’ve all made has massive potential to help us evolve and run better businesses. Let’s take the good bits forward with us and leave the worst bits behind (Zoom parish council meetings, burpees with Joe Wicks, and the phrase “you’re on mute”… we’re looking at you). It’s time to get the best from the tech you rely on – and see the massive opportunity that integration offers.