This article describes how customers can submit job bookings to the GoDesta system in an automated fashion. Normally these bookings may be automatically generated from the customer’s freight management software, accounts software or shopping cart.
There are three main options:
- sending a file via email or FTP;
- using an integration partner (eg Machship) as an intermediary; or
- directly integrating with the GoDesta platform via our API.
Each of these approaches should be considered, depending upon the customer’s needs and likely scale.
Using the client portal
The simplest approach for job bookings which are initiated manually or for low volume bookings is for the customer to be provided with access to the GoDesta customer portal.
This permits the customer’s representatives to login, book a job, check the status of work and review invoices.
Sending a file
This is probably the most flexible approach from a customer’s perspective to extend an existing system and may be suitable for customers whose system can output job bookings in an exportable format, such as XML, JSON, CSV etc.
Whilst this is simple and flexible for the customer, receiving this file requires GoDesta to develop and incorporate into the system a process to interpret the data format chosen by the customer.
The file can then be transmitted via FTP or a related file transfer protocol. There is also the option for GoDesta operations users to manually upload a file via the ‘Point Manager’ tool, which enables a transport operator to receive such files via email and potentially review the file before uploading it to the system.
To integrate in this fashion, please obtain sample(s) of the customer’s proposed data export format and provide them to integrations@godesta.com, along with the customer’s account details so that GoDesta can assess the likely scope of work required to receive and process such data.
Integrating through an intermediary
A number of established freight management integrators and freight management software systems have existing integrations with the GoDesta system.
These include:
- Machship (a freight system integrator)
- Consignmate (a freight software solution provider)
If the customer has the ability to connect their system to one of these services, the integration can be readily enabled. This is the fastest and one of the most cost-effective approaches, particularly where the volume and value of a customer’s freight bookings is not yet known.
In order to achieve an integration with one of these services:
1. An admin user from the transport operator can enable permission for the integration partner to transact on the customer’s account using the ‘Electronic Data Interchange’ option from within the customer’s account profile
2. The transport operator should provide the customer with:
(i) their account number; and
(ii) the transport operator’s ‘company’ and ‘division’ codes.
3. The customer should then pass this information along to the integration partner.
Because these integrations are already in place, GoDesta does not need to furnish any passwords or credentials to the integration partner.
If the customer uses an alternative solution provider, GoDesta is happy to discuss an integration with that provider. See ‘API integration’ below for further details on how to initiate an integration with a new intermediary.
API integration
An API integration involves the customer’s software developers integrating with the GoDesta system using its existing, industry standard, API. This is sometimes referred to as an “OpenAPI”.
In technical terms this involves the customer’s system making a series of REST based HTTP requests to exchange data with the GoDesta system.
Whilst the ability for customers to connect this way already exists on the GoDesta side, some customers may require the ability to receive system updates back into their system, which may require custom development work and configuration to be performed by GoDesta.
Because of the relative complexity of this approach, to achieve such an integration the following steps are recommended:
Step1
Have your customer who wishes to integrate contact their software / solution service provider to request that they integrate with GoDesta.
Step 2
That organisation should contact integrations@godesta.com, identifying the customer who wishes to integrate (and which Transport Operator they are associated with or plan to use).
Step 3
GoDesta developers will work with your customer's software / service provider to achieve the integration.