A tip of the hat to Mark Crall, founder of Charlotte Tech Care Team, a managed service provider. In his personal blog, Crall notes that Autotask plans to more closely integrate its software with Zenith Infotech. This is part of a bigger picture race between software companies to embrace so-called open APIs (application programming interfaces). Here are some perspectives.
The Autotask-Zenith integration information apparently comes directly from Autotask CEO Bob Godgart. Among the highlights shared by Godgart (and relayed by Crall):
- Together we [Autotask and Zenith Infotech] have defined a secure ticket transfer method which will work bidirectionally with Saaz.
- The coding is almost done. We [Autotask] have a full time resource working on this project until it is finished. Autotask and Zenith have started sending sample test data and should have something working by the end of the this month.
Still, Godgart conceded that the work won’t be done in time for a planned June 2009 release, and instead the Autotask-Zenith Integration work should debut in mid-summer 2009.
Autotask rival ConnectWise has also done some development/integration work with Zenith Infotech. Who’s working more closely with Zenith Infotech? Feel free to contact Autotask and ConnectWise independently to draw your own conclusions. (Translation: I’m wimping out and don’t have the time to get caught in an Autotask vs. ConnectWise debate this morning.)
One Dashboard for All?
No doubt, you’ve noticed that MSP software companies increasingly write to each other’s APIs. The goal, ultimately, is for MSPs to be able to manage multiple tools from a single dashboard.
It’s safe to expect that open API theme to continue at the Kaseya Connect User Conference 2009 (May 26-28, Las Vegas). Earlier this month, the Ingram Micro Seismic team announced a central portal — dubbed Epicenter — that allows all Seismic partners to manage multiple tools from a single dashboard.
Watch for similar announcements from MSP software providers later this year.
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Posted In: Master MSPs | Platforms | Professional Services Automation (PSA)
Tags: Autotask CEO Bob Godgart | Autotask Zenith Infotech Integration | Charlotte Tech Care Team | ConnectWise Zenith Infotech Integration | Ingram Micro Seismic | Ingram Micro Seismic Epicenter | Kaseya Connect User Conference 2009 | Managed Services APIs | Mark Crall | MSP APIs
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One quick clarification/correction: Autotask can’t deliver the Zenith Infotech support sooner (i.e, right now) because Autotask awaits Zenith’s final production APIs before QA and testing can be completed. But it sounds like the Autotask-Zenith Infotech work is on track for the planned mid-summer 2009 debut.
Joe, at Zenith we have completed an open API that allows third-party ISVs to exchange data around tickets, assets, patches, backup (pretty much all that our monitoring system does). Besides Autotask we are working with other ISVs too for them to use our API in order to integrate with our software. Considering that our API is fairly new we are in the process of working with the a select group of ISVs to validate it and make sure that we dont have loose ends in the system. We’ve had an integration with Connectwise since 2006 that has been done with Connectwise’s published API. We also do expect partners using home-grown systems being able to leverage this API.
Akash: I’m having flash backs to my years covering Windows, OS/2 and Mac OS APIs.
Seems like history is repeating itself in the managed services world. APIs are a great way to attract third-party ISVs to your platform. And may the best APIs/platforms win…
Best
-jp
It’s about time Zenith! I have been asking for this since I signed up a few _years_ ago.
Dan: Let us know if/when you snap your Autotask and Zenith systems together, and let us know the outcome.