Alternatives to Intuit Sync Manager - Part 2

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Vendor Corner

Intuit Sync Manager - What Other Options Are There?

The demise of the Intuit Sync Manager will mean a potentially serious inconvenience for a lot of small businesses using QuickBooks desktop products connected to cloud based applications.  In my recent article titled: “Product Alert: Discontinuation of Intuit Sync Manager” we published Intuit’s table reflecting 81 Apps that had used Sync Manager. Of those 81 Apps, forty (40) were listed by Intuit as ‘Contact Developer’. Twelve (12) Apps were labeled as no longer going to work with QuickBooks (desktop). Of the 81 Apps, only Twenty-nine (29) have reported to Intuit that they have developed alternatives to retain connectivity. At present it appears that a majority of the twenty-nine appear to be basing their future connectivity (at least on the short term) upon the QuickBooks Web Connector. A limited number of these companies have developed their own ‘sync engines’, and some may even be using products we will discuss in this article.

In part one of this mini-series we asked the question, “So what can you do if your 3rd party app developer doesn’t provide a method to connect to your QuickBooks desktop product?”  In Part 1 we also looked at various tools that enable you to ‘import’ data into QuickBooks, and some applications that permit you to ‘export’ QuickBooks data. You might very well find that your 3rd party application, even if they do not intend to directly connect to QuickBooks desktop any longer may be able to export an Excel, CSV or even an iiF formatted file that you could import from with the proper tool(s). For years, 3rd party products routinely exported iiF files so that QuickBooks users could easily import that data.  

As I mentioned in Part 1, many of the ‘Contact Developer’ listings in the Intuit chart may indicate that the products' developers have not yet have figured out what they are going to do, others may still be developing alternatives, and others maybe intending on advising clients that file downloads (and perhaps even uploads) are a possibility. I do believe that for many of these applications you are more likely to be able to import data into QuickBooks from your 3rd party using iiF or via an importer tool, than exporting data to your 3rd party application, but some 3rd party applications might very well accept iiF exports of list changes and/or exports of data in csv or Excel format.

In this article we want to look at some potential solutions you might be able to use, many with the assistance of a ‘programming professional’, if you want to go beyond the import/export route even if your 3rd party developer hasn’t chosen to give you any other option on their part. So let’s look at these 'very sophisticated' solution alternatives:

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QIntegrator

Somewhere in between the ‘manual’ importer tool options presented in Part 1 of this mini-series, and some of the more sophisticated (and expensive) sync engines presented later in this article, is a product called QIntegrator. This tool is closely akin, and in fact can serve as, a ‘shopping cart’ integrator; however, it can also import data directly from Excel, Access and even MSSQL, as well as several shopping carts and similar applications. They advertise that they can pull data from just about any data source (or file) and that if they don’t have a direct link with your data source that they can often develop one. This company’s support staff will install QIntegrator and configure one solution template for you. Then importing is as easy as running QIntegrator and pressing the import button.  We are not going to discuss actual ‘prices’ in this article, due to the extreme range of costs; however, I will say that this is a relatively economical product, even inclusive of their annual service agreement.

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OpenSync by Synergration

Forget about import and export tools, OpenSync provides near real time database synchronization with QuickBooks. This is a server based bi-directional QuickBooks integration application designed to perform a QuickBooks sync to and from an external database including Microsoft Access, MS SQL Server, MySQL, Microsoft Azure, or Oracle.  So if your 3rd party application makes use of one of these popular databases, this maybe the replacement ‘sync engine’ for you.

With the OpenSync QuickBooks sync solution, you can avoid the QuickBooks API and use standard database tools to read and update QuickBooks data directly. Performance bottlenecks inherent to the QuickBooks QODBC driver and the QuickBooks Web Connector are eliminated since OpenSync technology enables you to run your application against a true database server.

Features include:  

  • QuickBooks Desktop Support
  • Bi-directional QuickBooks Synchronization
  • Automated Memorized Report Extraction to Database Tables
  • Synchronize with MS Access, Microsoft SQLServer, MySQL, and Oracle and Microsoft Azure
  • Sync multiple QuickBooks files to individual databases
  • Automated background operation
  • Robust diagnostics and support services
  • Easy to use wizard interface for configuration
  • Integrated database browser
  • An effortless QODBC alternative
  • Import transactions into QuickBooks with ease

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QuickBooks Integrator by NSoftware

QuickBooks Integrator by NSoftware provides everything needed to add QuickBooks Connectivity to any application, on any platform or development technology, including remote access to QuickBooks using their own proprietary ‘QB Connector’.  This application provides easy-to-use components for facilitating tasks such as adding, updating, or retrieving QuickBooks data.

QuickBooks Integrator components provide access to QuickBooks objects and provides connectivity with major platforms & IDE’s including .NET, Java, ActiveX, ASP, Delphi and C++. Can support multiple solutions as well as multiple QuickBooks files at the same time. One of the things I liked best in reviewing this application was the number of demonstrations included that take you through the steps for connectivity with specific QuickBooks objects.

Features include:

  • Internet-Enabled QuickBooks. Access QuickBooks remotely using the included /n software QBConnector and QBConnector Component
  • Secure connection to the QB Connector using SSL and Digital Certificates
  • Easy-to-use components greatly reduce the code required to work with common QuickBooks constructs 
  • Handles all QBXML parsing, COM communications, error handling, etc. allowing you to focus on your specific business requirements.
  • Integrates with Online shopping carts providing seamless integration between sales and accounting.
  • Easily export QuickBooks information to a database of choice or directly to XML.
  • Native development components for all supported platforms and component technologies.
  • Unlimited free Email technical support backed by an experienced & professional staff.
  • Extensive documentation, sample applications, fully-integrated help, and much more!

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Autofy & Autofy Enterprise by Propelware

Autofy and Autofy Enterprise by Propelware are cloud based applications that can connect QuickBooks Desktop (using their proprietary ‘Autofy Agent’ that acts as the go-between) to a variety of other applications.  They currently interface with a number of cloud-based 3rd party products, and can customize an integration.  As a cloud (SAAS) service, Autofy delivers real-time data syncing and seamless integration for a ‘monthly’ fee.

Once configured Autofy connects to your data source automatically, you don’t need to ‘sync’ manually, if you enter a transaction that should sync in one place, it appears in the other application(s) moments thereafter. Autofy is also designed to be tailored to the specific needs of the users, including their specific applications. Autofy can seamlessly sync with almost any data source, database table, custom objects or even uniquely created custom fields.

While we were not able to get a complete list of all the 3rd party products with which Autofy connects, we did see that they support some very popular products like:

  • Knowify
  • =EXACT
  • InvoiceASAP
  • SalesForce
  • Fishbowl
  • Authorize.Net
  • Amazon.com
  • PayPal
  • Microsoft SQL Databases
  • (Note we were not able to obtain a ‘complete’ list in time for publication, but those listed above are some of the major ones)

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AccessBooks by Synergration

Synergration is also the makers of AccessBooks which provides a QuickBooks export and sync solution. Using advanced database replication technology, AccessBooks natively synchronizes your QuickBooks company file to an external Microsoft Access database, or to a Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL or Oracle database in the Plus edition.  There are three (3) different versions (editions) of this product and we will not take up the ‘print space’ to elaborate on each of them. You may find the following features in one or several of the versions:

  • Dynamic Synchronization
  • Built-in Scheduler
  • Database Independent
  • Increased processing speed over QODBC connections
  • Ability to export raw report data and build custom reports
  • Ideal for use with Crystal Reports
  • Enhanced table support: Transaction, Billing Rate, Unit of Measure, Inventory Site, Transfer Inventory
  • Integrated database browser
  • Support for enhanced custom fields
  • Support for large item tables
  • MS Access, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle database support
  • An easy to use interface
  • A comprehensive help file
  • Enhanced transaction and list item support
  • Custom fields in Estimates, Sales Orders, Purchase Orders are fully supported
  • Support for Inventory Sites on transactions
  • Currency support for Customers and Vendors
  • Enhanced table support: Transaction, Billing Rate, Unit of Measure, Inventory Site, Transfer Inventory
  • International sales tax support

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QXchange by CellarStone, Inc.

QXchange by CellarStone is a powerful data integration tool to access, integrate and manage large volumes of data from various systems. Extraction, transformation and loading of data are powered by QXchange with source and target database support.  QXchange is flexible, easy to use, data integration software. It can quickly and easily transfer data between many standard data formats and applications, including MS Access, Excel, Comma delimited flat file, MS SQL Server, QuickBooks, Salesforce.com, ODBC, MySQL and others. It allows simple and clear setup of extraction, transformation and loading instructions to exchange data between different formats. The instructions are stored and managed as profiles.  QXchange, unlike some of the other products in this article, makes use of the QuickBooks SDK which ensures that the connecting application has allowed access and appropriate permissions. SDK based integration also provides strong error recovery and data logging to make sure QuickBooks data is protected, it also provides for standardization across the various versions of QuickBooks supported.

The QuickBooks SDK exposes most (but not all) of the data objects available in the QuickBooks data file; however, chances are if your 3rd party connected to QuickBooks via the Intuit SyncManager they were using the exact same SDK to actually exchange data with QuickBooks, so SDK limitations should not pose any real connectivity issues if you select this route.

The QXchange integration engine uses Data Access Plug-ins (DAPs) for individual application and data format integration. All the DAPs are called using a standard Application Program Interface (API). The QuickBooks SDK is wrapped inside one of these DAPs. This allows for a smooth and standard operation across all the various DAPs. Communication between QXchange and QuickBooks is based on a client/server model. All communication messages are in a special form XML called QBXML as required by the SDK. QXchange sends a message request to QuickBooks and QuickBooks sends back a response message; the communication managed synchronously.

Some of the QXchange DAPs that permit integration with QuickBooks include:

  • Text files
  • Excel
  • XML
  • Microsoft Access
  • MySQL
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • SalesForce
  • SAP Business One
  • OCBC
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM
  • ConnectWise CRM
  • SugarCRM
  • Oracle Fusion CRM
  • Magento
  • Sharepoint
  • (Note we were not able to obtain a ‘complete’ list in time for publication, but those listed above are some of the major ones)

Editor’s Notes:

A word of warning, all of the products identified within this article, are not ‘simple’ applications despite what they may advertise. They all require a considerable ‘learning curve’ to implement and configure. In many cases you will want to retain the services of the product’s developer to assist you with integrating QuickBooks to your 3rd party application using one of these products.  At the very least you should identify a qualified ‘information technologist’ and/or programmer to assist you in the process if you decide to ‘do it on your own.’

We also acknowledge that we may NOT have included all such products, only those with which we had familiarity and/or a working knowledge of either the product, or of the product's developer.

This article does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation regarding any product, developer or methodology presented.