Can the Live Data Connector work with QuickBooks desktop, QuickBooksOnline or Xero.com?

We currently use SS for all of our project estimating. We love it. We are currently exploring using SS to also produce our job cost estimate versus actual reports. (construction company). I see a couple of options. First, we can pursue a "one way" push utilizing zapier.com to auto entry into a spredsheet that could be uploaded into the above mentioned accounting software. The second option, and more desireable, is to have a "two way" sync utilizing the ODBC approach that QB allows. (I am still trying to verify if Xero.com allows ODBC) We curently QB desktop, but would like to move it the cloud. I realize I would need to upgrade our SS account to Enterprize.

Is this possible? Is anyone doing this? Thanks!

Jef

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Comments

Alina Anderson

Hi Jef,

Our accounting department utilizes the ODBC connector to pull data out of Smartsheet and Xero. For Xero, it is a one way connection. Data can be pulled but not pushed back to the cloud accounting software.

If you want more details, I'd be happy to help!

Here is a link with some more infomation: http://smartsheet-platform.github.io/odbc-docs/#excel---data-connection-wizard

Joseph Miller

Hi Jef,

Just wanted to add some additional information onto Alina's response. She mentioned that For Xero it's a one way connection, which is correct, however this is also true for all ODBC connections made (not just Xero).

The Live Data Connector (ODBC Driver) is a read only tool, meaning you will only be able to extract data out of Smartsheet. Unfortunately you won't be able to write data into Smartsheet using the ODBC driver.

Now, you mentioned utilizing Zapier, which is a possibility. Zapier can perform a number of functions based on changes in Xero, or vice versa, data can be sent to Xero based on changes made to a Sheet in Smartsheet. That might be worth looking into as a potential solution.

Another solution (which would require a developer to help build) would be to utilize our API to interact directly with Smartsheet. You could potentially build a workflow using our API alongside Xero's API (looks like they have one: http://developer.xero.com/documentation/api/api-overview/) to sync information between the two systems. If you have a developer, you can forward them this link to our documentation to look over: http://smartsheet-platform.github.io/api-docs/

If you have any other questions about the ODBC driver I'd suggest reading through our documentation: https://www.smartsheet.com/developers/odbc

If you have any questions on ODBC or our API that the documentation doesn't cover, please shoot us an email at api@smartsheet.com.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Joseph

Jef Forward

Alina and Joseph,

Thank you very much! I see a light at the end of the tunnel! I will read through these posts and get back in touch with any questions. Thank you!

Jef

Jef Forward

Alina and Joseph,

Thank you very much! I see a light at the end of the tunnel! I will read through these posts and get back in touch with any questions. Thank you!

Jef

Jef Forward

Okay, thank you so much for your input. So, what I am understanding, I cannot pull information from xero and inport into smartsheet. I can only pull info out of SS with the live data connector.

I would need to pull info out of xero, or QB online and into a job costing sheet. The zapier option is less desirable due the number of zaps I would need to facilitate the actions.

I am comfortable with a one way push from xero to smartsheet. I currently have that set up with a quickbooks desktop and excel, but would prefer a cloud based approach with better collaboration than Exel offers. Can you reccomend a resource to find developers to develop this api conversation between xero or qbonline? SS would be my first priority.

My only other option for a cloud based approach would be Google Spreadsheets, working in between my smart sheet estimate and online accounting system.

Would appreciate whatever resources you could send my way, thank you very much!

Joseph Miller

Hi Jef,

There are a number of websites that help facilitate finding a developer. Here are a number of high ranking sites:

www.upwork.com
www.toptal.com
www.freelancer.com

These are just a few off the top of my head. I have personally used UpWork to find a developer for a project, and it was relatively easy to find someone with the proper skills.

Cheers,

Joseph

Jef Forward

Thank you! I jumped into upwork and so far so good! interviewing candidates right now! Thanks

Jef

Jason.Valleau

I too would love to sync specific numbers from qbonline to smartsheet. It looks like zapier triggers are mostly to do with new customers/new invoices rather than specific data.

Jef, have you had any progress with this? Did you decide on xero or qbonline?

Jef Forward

Jason, ultimately I decided to stick with Quickbooks. We are currently working on the set-up. We have been swamped with work, so this is dropped down on the priority list, but I do have a developer working on it for us.

Tim Chiles

Jef, thanks for the post & the push to integrate!

I've been using QB for 20 years+, like you am using SS to estimate, then work in QB. I'd like to be able to export the completed estimate info to QB for subsequent project management, issuing work orders and purchase orders, then invoices.

I'd appreciate a referral for a web developer, if your experience turns out to be a good one.

Jason.Valleau

I smell something good brewing here. There must be a way to have budgets in real time. SS & QB .... waiting.

JeremiahHorstick

Hey! We're working on a Quickbooks Smartsheet integration at On Time Solutions.

Let me know what kind of functionality you're looking for.