Integrations2 min read
Zapier vs a custom integration: when to switch
No-code automation is the right answer surprisingly often. Here are the specific signs that you have outgrown it, and what a custom integration actually changes.
[Service 005]
System integration & API development
Connecting the systems that should already talk: one canonical record, typed adapters for each platform, and syncs you can replay when something breaks.
- Typical timeline
- 3–8 weeks
- Engagement
- Project or retainer
- Where
- Los Angeles + remote
[You probably need this if]
- 01Inventory, pricing or customer data disagrees between tools
- 02Month-end reconciliation takes days
- 03You have a spreadsheet whose only job is translating between two systems
- 04A tool you depend on has an API but nobody has used it
[What you get]
- Data map across systems
- Integration layer
- Replayable sync and conflict log
- Monitoring and alerting
[What it looks like]
Before → after
Stock levels in six places, correct in none
One record per SKU, pushed to every channel within minutes
Wholesale orders emailed, then entered by hand
Orders land in the ERP with pricing and terms applied
CRM and billing each with their own customer list
One customer, linked across both, with history in either
[Common tools on these projects]
Integrates with
- Shopify
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- HubSpot
- Airtable
- Stripe
- PostgreSQL
[What happens after you email]
How it works
- 0130 min, free
Call
You describe what is slow. I ask where the time actually goes. If I am not the right fit, I say so on the call.
- 021–2 weeks
Audit
I map how the business runs, the tools and the manual steps between them, and put a time and dollar cost on each. You get a written plan whether or not we continue.
- 033–12 weeks
Build
Fixed scope, weekly updates, working software early. You see it running on your own data before it is finished.
- 04Ongoing, optional
Hand over
Documentation, a recorded walkthrough, and access to everything. Retainer support if you want it; not required.
[System integrations]
Questions
Isn’t an iPaaS tool cheaper?
For low volume and simple mappings, yes, and I will recommend one. Custom integrations win when you need conflict handling, high volume, complex transforms, or a sync you can audit and replay.
What if the tool has no API?
There is usually still a way in: scheduled exports, email parsing, webhooks from a neighbouring system, or a supported file drop. If the only option is fragile, I will say so before you pay for it.
Who hosts it?
You do, on accounts you own, typically Vercel, Cloudflare or Supabase at a low monthly cost. I set it up and hand over the keys.
[System integrations near you]
[Other services]
[Further reading]
Operations2 min read
Why Shopify and QuickBooks never quite reconcile
Payouts, fees, refunds and timing differences make Shopify-to-accounting reconciliation painful. Here is where the gaps come from and how to close them.
Tell me what is slow.
A 30-minute call, no charge. You will leave with a clearer picture of the problem whether or not we work together.
● Booking projects for Q4 2026