APIs are here to help you knock down barriers and stay ahead of the competition – and Unit4 has some good ones!
2 min read
In the early 1920s, the world was experiencing a significant change due to the Industrial Revolution. New technologies and advancements were rapidly being introduced, and it was becoming increasingly important for businesses to connect and communicate with each other. In the world of software, REST API* architecture emerged as a new way of connecting different systems and allowing them to share information. It was a bit like the Shelby family in Peaky Blinders – they had their own system of communication that allowed them to work together and stay ahead of their competition.
And, in the same way the Shelby family had a network of trusted allies and connections to help them achieve their goals, REST API architecture enables different software systems to connect and work together towards a common goal, whether it’s exchanging data or integrating different applications.
In summary, REST API architecture is like a new way of communication that emerged during the Industrial Revolution, just like the Shelby family. It allows different software systems to connect and share information, while adhering to a set of rules and protocols that ensure everything runs smoothly and securely. So, it’s like the Peaky Blinders of the software world!
So, why wouldn’t you want to be part of the Shelby tribe, and benefit from using your family’s system? Just like using APIs, you’ll be better placed to knock down barriers and stay ahead of the competition with every move.
However, if you’re not part of ‘the family’, you could end up on the wrong side of the fence since poor integrations lead to bad data, which leads to wrong decisions being made, letting the competition get back in the game… Thomas Shelby won’t like it: “Why are we spending hundreds of pounds if we always end up betting on the wrong horse?! There’s no point knowing which horse won AFTER the race, is there?!”
If you’re a Unit4 user, you’re in luck – there are lots of REST APIs provided on Unit4 ERP that can integrate and exchange data on all the modules from Finance, Project, Logistics, etc. You can get started by using a free tool like Postman to interact with them, pulling and pushing data – I’m sure Thomas Shelby will be pleased to welcome you to the family!
After that, you are good to implement your preferred integration tool:
- Extension Kit from the Unit4 Cloud family
- PowerAutomate from Microsoft
or build one… With your bare hands… and you can find out more by joining one of our API training workshops.
But if you can’t do it yourself, call us and we’ll save you. By order of the Peaky Blinders.
*REST API (also known as RESTful API) is an application programming interface (API or web API) that conforms to the design principles of REST architectural style. REST stands for representational state transfer