Custom 4PS integration development
Appfront develops custom integrations with 4PS Construct, the industry-specific ERP package for construction built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Using the standard Business Central APIs, we connect your projects, work orders, hours and purchasing with planning tools, customer portals and your own applications, so data stays automatically in sync between the office and the site.
What is a 4PS integration?
4PS Construct is an industry-specific ERP package for construction, civil engineering and installation technology. It supports the entire project process, from estimating and purchasing to work orders, time recording, equipment management and financial administration. 4PS Construct is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft's modern ERP platform.
A 4PS integration automatically connects that ERP system to your planning tool, customer portal, time registration or your own application. Data flows from one system to another without manual work: a work order completed on site ends up in 4PS, hours worked return to the project, and the status in the office stays up to date.
Because 4PS runs on Business Central, Appfront builds these integrations on the standard 4PS Construct and Business Central APIs (OData/REST and, where needed, AL extensions). We align the scope, synchronisation frequency and error handling with your actual construction processes, rather than a standard connector that only solves part of the problem.
Office and site connected
Work orders, hours and project statuses flow automatically between 4PS and the tools on site. No duplicate entry, just data that remains current in both directions.
One up-to-date view of the project
Projects, estimates, purchasing and hours come together in 4PS. An integration keeps that picture in sync with planning, customer portal and reporting, so everyone works from the same figures.
Built on the standard Business Central APIs
We build on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central's official OData/REST APIs and on AL extensions, which are upgrade-proof and feature clear error handling and logging. No reverse engineering or scraping.
Our development process for 4PS integrations
We work to a proven methodology that removes uncertainty early and delivers a stable integration. From an initial analysis of your 4PS processes and the relevant Business Central APIs through to go-live and ongoing management, every step is aimed at an integration your team can understand and trust.
We map out which 4PS entities are relevant to you (projects, work orders, hours, purchasing), which direction the data needs to flow, and which business rules apply.
We design the integration on the Business Central APIs, choose between OData/REST and AL extensions, arrange authentication via Azure AD, and set out an error-handling strategy.
Implementation with automated tests, structured logging and monitoring. You see working builds along the way.
Controlled go-live with data validation and a safety net, followed by ongoing management and further development.
What a 4PS integration delivers in practice
Every integration is developed specifically for your construction processes. Below are the features we most often build for construction, civil engineering and installation companies that want to connect 4PS Construct with the rest of their software landscape.
Connecting to the Business Central APIs
4PS runs on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, so we integrate via the standard OData and REST endpoints. Where specific 4PS functionality is needed, we expose data through AL extensions: controlled, upgrade-safe, and without reverse engineering.
Project and order synchronisation
Projects, project phases and (purchase) orders are synchronised between 4PS and your planning tool, CRM or client portal. Everyone works from the same project structure and statuses, from estimating through to handover.
Work orders and hours
Work orders and hours logged on site, via an app, tablet or mobile portal, are written straight back to the correct project in 4PS. That means less duplicate entry, up-to-date time administration and faster invoicing.
Estimating and financials
Calculations, quotes and financial transactions from 4PS are connected to reporting tools, data warehouses or your own dashboard. Budget versus actual per project stays visible, with financial data coming directly from Business Central.
Purchasing and plant
Purchase orders, supplier data and plant and equipment (cranes, machines, tools) are synchronised between 4PS and your equipment or warehouse system. Deployment, planning and equipment costs remain linked to the right project.
2BA and material data
For installation and construction firms, we connect item and price data via industry standards such as 2BA and Ketenstandaard. This keeps material data in 4PS up to date and aligns estimating and purchasing with the supply chain.
Typical use cases in practice
Depending on your type of organisation, an integration with 4PS Construct can look very different. We often see a number of patterns recurring across construction, civil engineering/infrastructure and building services, and for each of these we have developed a working model.
Construction companies and contractors
A construction company working on several projects at once wants the same project structure in the office and on site. We connect 4PS to a planning tool or client portal, so project statuses, work orders and hours stay up to date without double entry. Also read about our Metacom integration for construction.
Civil engineering and infrastructure
Groundworks, road construction and hydraulic engineering run on equipment, raw materials and tightly scheduled logistics. An integration synchronises purchasing, equipment deployment and hours worked between 4PS and your planning or equipment system, so the cost per job stays visible in real time.
Installation technology (M&E)
Installation companies handle large volumes of materials and items. We connect 4PS to industry standards such as 2BA and to your own fitter or service app, so materials, work orders and hours match per project and invoicing runs smoothly.
Maintenance and service
Service and maintenance organisations schedule call-outs, maintenance contracts and engineer visits. An integration links 4PS to a service scheduling tool or client portal, so call-outs, work orders and hours worked flow automatically into the right contract and project.
Technology we use
We build 4PS integrations on the standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central APIs, complemented by modern, easily maintainable stacks. The exact choice depends on your situation and preferences, so your own team can manage or further develop the integration. We are happy to work alongside your 4PS partner and deliver clear documentation.
Why choose Appfront for your 4PS integration?
Appfront has extensive experience building API integrations for a wide range of organisations in the Netherlands. We always start with a thorough analysis of your existing systems and processes. An integration should not only work technically, but also add practical value to the way you work.
For every integration, we write clear documentation and make sure your own team, or any future supplier, can understand and manage it. No black box, just transparent code and clear agreements on monitoring, alerting and maintenance.
You work with a dedicated point of contact who understands both the technical and the functional side. This keeps communication short, prevents misunderstandings and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during development.
See also our wider services around API integrations, middleware, custom software development and web app development.
- Experience with ERP integrations on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Integrations via OData/REST and AL extensions
- Knowledge of construction processes: projects, work orders, hours and plant equipment
- Structured error handling and retry mechanisms
- Comprehensive logging and monitoring from day one
- Clear documentation your team can read and manage
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- A way of working tailored to your existing IT landscape and 4PS partner
Security and privacy in 4PS integrations
Project, staff and relationship data in 4PS is largely subject to the GDPR and contains commercially sensitive information such as cost calculations and margins. Appfront treats every integration with this in mind: we avoid storing unnecessary data, encrypt sensitive information in transit and at rest, and document the data flows so your register of processing activities stays up to date.
Because 4PS runs on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, authentication runs via Azure AD and OAuth 2.0 with limited permissions, with no loose passwords in the integration. We agree upfront which data actually needs to be exchanged and keep the scope of the integration to a minimum in line with the data minimisation principle.
More on our security approach: information security policy and CVD policy.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Authentication via Azure AD / OAuth 2.0 with limited permissions
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- Automatic retries and dead-letter queues
- Monitoring and alerting for anomalies
- Secrets management in line with best practice
- Documentation for your record of processing activities
Frequently asked questions about 4PS integrations
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about custom integrations with 4PS Construct.
A 4PS integration is a technical integration that lets 4PS Construct, the industry-specific ERP package for construction, exchange data with other software. 4PS Construct is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, so the integration runs through the standard Business Central APIs (OData/REST) and, where needed, through AL extensions. This way, projects, work orders, hours, purchase orders or financial data, for example, are automatically synchronised with a planning tool, customer portal or custom application.
A custom integration makes sense when no standard connector is available for your combination of systems, or when an existing integration does not fit your construction or project processes well enough. Organisations with specific work order flows, deviating project structures or complex synchronisation logic between the office and the construction site often opt for a solution built on the Business Central APIs.
Because 4PS Construct runs on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, we use Business Central's standard APIs: the OData and REST endpoints and, where specific 4PS functionality is required, AL extensions that expose data in a controlled way. Authentication runs via Azure AD / OAuth 2.0. For exchanging item and material data, we can also connect to standards such as 2BA and Ketenstandaard.
Depending on your processes, we integrate projects, cost calculations, work orders, hours worked, purchase orders, equipment and item data, and financial transactions, among others. We tailor the direction and frequency of synchronisation to how you work, from a one-way export to a bidirectional integration between 4PS and the systems in the office and on site.
The lead time depends on the complexity of the integration you need and the availability of the systems on both sides. A simple one-way integration can go live relatively quickly, whereas a bidirectional synchronisation involving several entities typically takes longer. After an intake meeting, in which we review the scope and the Business Central APIs, we provide a realistic estimate.
Yes. All integrations are developed in line with Dutch privacy legislation and security best practices. Authentication runs via Azure AD and OAuth 2.0 with limited permissions, data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and we minimise the scope of the data exchanged in line with the data minimisation principle. Data flows are documented so that your record of processing activities remains complete.
Yes. Appfront regularly takes over existing integrations, even those originally built by another party. We first carry out a code and architecture review, document the integration and draw up a maintenance plan. From that point on, we can handle adjustments, extensions and monitoring.
4PS Construct is used by construction companies and contractors, civil engineering and infrastructure firms, installation companies (mechanical and electrical) and service and maintenance organisations. Any organisation that uses 4PS Construct alongside additional software, for planning, time registration, equipment management, a customer portal or reporting, can benefit from an automated integration built on the Business Central APIs.
Ready to build your 4PS integration?
Tell us which systems you want to connect to 4PS Construct and what you would like to automate. We are happy to help design the architecture on the Business Central APIs and deliver a working integration that suits your construction processes. A no-obligation first conversation will quickly give you a clear picture of what is possible.