Umbraco integrations with best-of-breed systems

Should you integrate with external systems or extend the functionality of their existing platform?

When it comes to developing a website or application, companies often face a decision: should they integrate with external systems or extend the functionality of their existing platform? For those using Umbraco as their content management system, this decision is particularly important.

In this blog post, we'll explore the differences between integrating with external systems and extending Umbraco, and provide some guidance on how to make the right choice for your project.

Integrating with External Systems

Integrating with external systems involves connecting your website or application to another system or service. This could include a payment gateway, a marketing automation platform, or a customer relationship management (CRM) system.

The benefits of integration include:

• Access to additional functionality: Integrating with external systems can provide access to additional functionality that may not be available in your existing platform. For example, integrating with a CRM system can provide additional customer data and insights.
• Improved efficiency: Integrating with external systems can automate tasks and reduce manual data entry. For example, integrating with a payment gateway can streamline the checkout process and reduce the risk of errors.
• Access to data: Integrating with external systems can provide access to data that may be stored in a different system. This can help you create a more complete picture of your customers and their behavior.

Extending Umbraco

Extending Umbraco involves adding new functionality or customising the existing functionality of your Umbraco website or application. This could include adding new content types, creating custom workflows, or integrating with third-party plugins.

The benefits of extending Umbraco include:

• Customisation: Extending Umbraco allows you to customize the functionality of your website or application to meet your specific needs. This can help you create a more tailored user experience and improve the efficiency of your workflow.
• Flexibility: Extending Umbraco allows you to adapt to changing business requirements and stay ahead of the competition. This can help you stay agile and responsive to new challenges and opportunities.
• Increased value: Extending Umbraco can increase the value of your website or application by providing new functionality or improving existing functionality. This can help you attract and retain customers and drive business growth.

Making the Right Choice

When deciding whether to integrate with external systems or extend Umbraco, there are several factors to consider. These include:

• Business requirements: What are your business requirements? Do you need access to additional functionality, or do you need to customise the existing functionality of your website or application?
• Technical expertise: Do you have the technical expertise in-house to integrate with external systems or extend Umbraco? If not, do you have the budget to hire external developers?
• Timeframe: How quickly do you need to implement the new functionality? Integrating with external systems may require more time and resources than extending Umbraco.
• Scalability: Do you need the new functionality to be scalable? Integrating with external systems may be more scalable than extending Umbraco, depending on the system being integrated.

In general, integrating with external systems is best for organisations that need access to additional functionality and have the resources to integrate with external systems. Extending Umbraco is best for organisations that need to customise the existing functionality of their website or application and have the technical expertise to do so.

Conclusion

When it comes to developing a website or application, the decision to integrate with external systems or extend the functionality of your existing platform is an important one. By considering your business requirements, technical expertise, timeframe, and scalability, you can make the right choice for your project.

If you're using Umbraco as your content management system, extending Umbraco can provide a range of benefits, including customisation, flexibility, and increased value. However, integrating with external systems may be necessary to access additional functionality and improve efficiency.

In any case, it's important to work with a knowledgeable Umbraco agency to ensure that your website or application is developed to the highest standards and meets your business requirements.