Systems
Which business systems can be connected? Accounts, CRMs, Microsoft 365, shops and websites
Almost any modern business system can be connected to another, because the main accounts packages, CRMs, shop platforms and website systems publish APIs for exactly that. Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage Accounting, HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Microsoft 365, Shopify, WordPress and Webflow all do. The real questions are which system owns each piece of information, and whether an existing connector already does the job.
With us, a single integration starts from £650 and a connected system of two or three tools from £1,950.
Which systems do UK businesses most often connect?
These are the platforms we are asked about most, grouped by what they do. Every one publishes developer documentation for connecting it to other systems:
| Platform | What it does | How it is usually connected |
|---|---|---|
| Xero | Accounts | Xero's app store first, then its API (limits documented) |
| QuickBooks Online | Accounts | Intuit's app marketplace, then the QuickBooks Online API (Intuit Developer) |
| FreeAgent | Accounts for small firms and sole traders | Its published API (FreeAgent developer docs) |
| Sage Accounting, Sage 50, Sage Intacct | Accounts | Different route for each product; see our Sage guide |
| HubSpot | CRM and marketing | HubSpot's marketplace, including its own Xero sync, then its API |
| Salesforce | CRM for larger sales teams | AppExchange connectors, then Salesforce's APIs |
| Pipedrive | CRM for small sales teams | Pipedrive's marketplace, then its API |
| Microsoft 365 | Email, calendars, files, Teams | Microsoft Graph (Microsoft's overview), or Power Automate for simple flows |
| Shopify | Online shop | Shopify's app store, then its Admin API (Shopify developer docs) |
| WordPress | Website | Form plugins, then the WordPress REST API (WordPress handbook) |
| Webflow | Website | Native form handling and integrations, then its Data API (Webflow developers) |
If yours is not on the list, it can probably still be connected. Ask whether it has an API, a webhook, or at least a reliable export. Those three, in that order, decide how hard the job is.
What are the three ways to connect two systems?
From cheapest to most flexible:
- A native connector or marketplace app. Built and maintained by one of the vendors. Cheapest and most reliable when it does what you need.
- A no-code tool such as Zapier, Make or n8n. Good for simple flows between two systems. It can get expensive and fragile as the number of steps grows. Our comparison of Zapier, Make and n8n covers how each charges.
- A custom integration. Code that calls each system's API directly, on your own accounts. Worth it when several systems must agree, when the rules are specific to your business, or when the no-code bill has grown past the cost of building it properly.
Which system should own each piece of information?
This matters more than the tool. When two systems both think they own a customer's address, they overwrite each other and nobody trusts either. Before anything is connected, write down which system is the source for customers, prices, invoices, payments and jobs, and which systems only read from it.
For most service businesses the CRM owns prospects and deals, the accounts package owns billing, invoices and payments, and the job or booking system owns the work itself. Our Xero integration guide has a worked example of that split.
What usually goes wrong with integrations?
- Failures happen silently, and nobody notices until the month-end figures are wrong.
- Duplicates appear because two systems match customers differently, by name in one and email in the other.
- A vendor changes its API or retires a connector, and nothing warns you.
- The person who set up the no-code flows leaves, and nobody knows what they did.
Each of these is avoidable. A good integration logs every failure where a person will see it, matches records on a reliable key, is documented, and has someone watching it after launch.
What does it cost to connect business systems?
With us, a single integration, such as website enquiries into HubSpot or won deals into Xero, starts from £650. A connected system joining two or three tools starts from £1,950. Larger integrations with four or more systems, or data that has to be reconciled, start from £3,500. Monitoring and small changes start from £49 a month. Every price is on the price list.
A free systems audit (normally £495, free for a limited time) maps what you have, what already connects and what is worth building first. Our integration service page explains how we work.
Questions about connecting business systems
Can our CRM be connected to our accounts software?
Almost certainly. Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Sage Accounting all publish APIs, as do HubSpot, Salesforce and Pipedrive, and many pairs already have a marketplace connector. Check for an existing connector first, then build only for the gaps.
Is Zapier enough, or do we need a custom integration?
Zapier, Make or n8n are often enough for simple flows between two systems. A custom integration is worth it when several systems must agree, the rules are specific to your business, or the monthly no-code bill has grown past the cost of building it properly.
Can Microsoft 365 be connected to a CRM?
Yes. Microsoft Graph gives access to email, calendars, contacts and files, and Power Automate handles simple flows. Many CRMs also have their own Microsoft 365 connectors for email and calendar sync.
How much does it cost to integrate business systems?
With Werehouse Media, a single integration starts from £650, a connected system joining two or three tools from £1,950, and larger integrations from £3,500. Monitoring starts from £49 a month. Prices are published on the price list.