Intacct Unveils New XML APIs

Everyone is talking about XML integration, but accounting ASP Intacct Corp. is doing something about it. The Los Gatos, Calif.-based service provider yesterday announced the release of Intacct XML2, which is designed to provide Intacct partners and clients with enhanced flexibility for integrating custom and third-party applications with its online accounting software.

Intacct XML2 adds new application programming interfaces (APIs) for the Intacct Purchase Order, Order Entry, Inventory Control and Cash Management applications. It also provides additions to the existing API set for its General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable applications.

According to Intacct, the new release offers support for real-time processing, enhanced transaction management and configurable communication policies. The goal is to allow developers to more efficiently integrate and automate business processes and synchronize data between the Intacct accounting system and third-party applications and legacy systems, according to the company. One of the benefits of Intacct XML2, the company says, is that customers can decrease the possibility of error by doing away with the need to re-enter data to and from unconnected systems.

“Early on, Intacct recognized that application integration would be key to its success,” said Aaron Harris, director of Integration Engineering for Intacct. “We architected our application from the ground up to support XML integration.” Intacct says it started to focus on Web services two years ago, when it posted its first XML transactions with a business partner.

Using Intacct XML2, the company says, more than 50 application partners are integrating Intacct’s accounting system with a wide range of vertical applications in the hospitality, property management, nonprofit, e-commerce, managed healthcare and insurance markets.
Intacct reports that its clients are also integrating their own custom applications with the online acccounting system.

To accelerate the application integration process, Intacct said it will provide an XML Developer Kit that includes system documentation as well as consulting time with Intacct’s XML development team.

The company points to two examples of partners implementing Intacct XML2: