Data Integration: Plain English Guide
We believe that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Below is a clear, non-technical explanation of exactly how our proprietary engine connects to your systems, whether you process ten transactions a month or ten million.
REST API “The Conversation”
Think of an API like a waiter in a restaurant. Your system (the customer) asks our system (the kitchen) for a specific piece of data. Our system instantly prepares the data and hands it back. It is real-time, highly secure, and perfect for connecting websites or live apps together one request at a time.
SQL-to-SQL Tunnel “The Direct Pipeline”
If the API is a waiter carrying one plate, the SQL Tunnel is an industrial water pipe. We securely connect your company’s core database directly to our atomic ledgers. This is for massive, multinational clients who need to sync millions of rows of data simultaneously without waiting. It is the fastest, most robust method available.
Webhooks “The Tap on the Shoulder”
Instead of your system constantly asking us, “Did the client pay yet?”, a Webhook is our system tapping yours on the shoulder the exact second the payment clears. It is an instant, automatic notification triggered by an event, ensuring your system is updated immediately without wasting computing power.
SFTP / Cloud Upload “The Secure Mailbox”
For systems that cannot connect live, we use a secure digital mailbox. At the end of every day, your system drops an Excel or CSV file into the mailbox. Our automated engine opens the mailbox, reads the file, processes the data into our ledger, and locks the box. Simple, effective, and extremely reliable for legacy accounting systems.
The 300-Field Universal Data Dictionary
To ensure perfect mathematical accuracy in our live AFS reporting, all incoming dataâwhether via API, SQL, or Excelâmust map to our strict internal language. We do not alter our database to fit legacy systems.