Custom Simplicate integration development
Simplicate is the CRM and project management platform with which more and more Dutch service providers run their entire business. But only when Simplicate works seamlessly with your accounting, development tools, telephony and marketing software do you get its full potential. We build custom API integrations that connect Simplicate to your complete software landscape.
If you use Yoobi alongside your own CRM or dashboard, take a look at our page on a Yoobi integration.
What is Simplicate?
Simplicate is a Dutch all-in-one platform for professional service providers. It combines CRM, project management, time tracking, invoicing and HRM in a single system. Thousands of consultancies, agencies, accountancy firms and IT companies in the Netherlands use Simplicate as their central business software.
CRM and sales
Relationship management, sales pipeline, deals, leads and quotes. The foundation of your client relationships and sales process.
Project management
Project planning, resource allocation, budget monitoring, milestones and progress reporting per project and client.
Time tracking and invoicing
Time registration, approval workflows, billable versus non-billable, invoicing from hours and fixed prices.
The problem: Simplicate offers standard integrations with a few accounting packages, but for many businesses that isn't enough. You work with Jira for development, Voys for telephony, Mailchimp for marketing and Power BI for reporting, and those systems also need to talk to Simplicate. That's where a custom integration comes in.
Standard integration, Zapier or custom build?
There are three ways to connect Simplicate with other systems. The right choice depends on your complexity, volume and specific requirements.
Standard integration
Simplicate's built-in integrations
- Quick to activate
- No additional costs
- Limited maintenance
- Exact Online and Twinfield only
- Limited field mapping
- No custom logic
- Basic error handling
Zapier / Make
No-code automation platforms
- Visual workflow builder
- Hundreds of apps available
- Limited Simplicate triggers
- Limited Simplicate support
- Monthly costs per zap
- No complex transformations
- Single point of failure
Custom integration
Custom-built by Appfront
- Bidirectional real-time sync
- Every system integrable
- Complex business logic
- Professional error handling
- Custom field mapping
- Monitoring and alerting
- Ownership of the code
- Scalable and extensible
Rule of thumb: use the standard integration if you only need to send invoices to Exact Online and that works well. Choose Zapier if you need simple, one-way automations. Choose a custom build once you need two-way sync, need to connect several systems, must implement specific business logic or want reliable monitoring.
Popular Simplicate integrations
These are the integrations Dutch service providers need most often. Each one is built to order using the Simplicate REST API and professional middleware.
Simplicate + Exact Online
The standard integration covers basic invoice sync, but many businesses run into limitations: missing field mapping, no project synchronisation, no feedback on payment status. Our custom Exact Online integration offers full bidirectional sync of contacts, invoices, projects and general ledger accounts, with custom field mapping.
Simplicate + Twinfield
Post invoices to Twinfield with the correct cost centres, VAT codes and ledger accounts. Sync debtors, feed back open items and process credit notes. Suited to multi-administration setups at larger accountancy firms.
Simplicate + Jira / Azure DevOps
The most requested integration for IT service providers. Link Simplicate projects to Jira boards or Azure DevOps projects. Automatically post hours logged in development tools back to Simplicate for invoicing. Sync tickets as tasks. Budget monitoring from a single source.
Simplicate + Microsoft 365
Link Outlook emails to Simplicate contacts and projects. Sync SharePoint documents with project files. Teams notifications for deal updates or timesheet approvals. Calendar integration with project deadlines. Full Microsoft 365 integration.
Simplicate + Voys / Aircall
Click-to-call from Simplicate CRM. Automatically match incoming calls with contacts and display them in a pop-up. Log call notes and duration as activities. Assign missed calls as tasks. Voys integration with a Dutch number and voicemail.
Simplicate + Power BI
Management dashboards that go beyond Simplicate's built-in reporting. Combine project data, time registration, invoicing and CRM data in real-time Power BI dashboards. Utilisation rates, project profitability, pipeline forecasting and benchmarks, all in one overview.
Simplicate + Nmbrs
Automatically transfer approved hours to Nmbrs payroll administration. Synchronise employee data. Keep leave records bidirectionally up to date.
Simplicate + Mailchimp
Segment CRM contacts by tags, deal status and custom fields. Automatically sync to Mailchimp lists. Feed campaign results back into Simplicate.
Simplicate + website
Leads from contact forms, chatbots or quote requests are automatically created as a CRM contact and deal in Simplicate. Includes lead assignment, follow-up tasks and notifications.
Integration scenarios by sector
Every industry has specific integration needs. These are the most common scenarios for each type of service provider.
| Sector | Typical Simplicate integrations | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| IT service provider | Jira/Azure DevOps, Microsoft 365, Exact Online, monitoring tools | Development hours automatically billable, project budget visible in real time |
| Consultancy | Exact Online/Twinfield, Power BI, Microsoft 365, Outlook | From advisory hour to invoice without manual steps |
| Marketing & communications agency | Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, social media tools, Google Analytics | Client campaign data linked to Simplicate projects and hours |
| Accountancy firm | Exact Online, Twinfield, Nmbrs, document management | Client files held centrally, hours per client automatically invoiced |
| Engineering firm | AutoCAD/BIM exports, SharePoint, Exact Online, time registration | Project documents linked, hours tracked per phase |
| Recruitment | LinkedIn, ATS system, workflow automation, Nmbrs | Candidates and clients in one pipeline, placement hours processed automatically |
Technical capabilities of the Simplicate API
Simplicate offers a REST API (v2) that gives access to virtually all business data. We build integrations on this API using a professional middleware architecture.
ERP · DevOps · Telephony
Queue · Transform · Route
REST API v2 · Webhooks
| API endpoint | Data | Operations |
|---|---|---|
| /crm/ | Organisations, persons, contact details, branches, teams | GET, POST, PUT, DELETE |
| /sales/ | Deals, quotes, revenue forecasts, services | GET, POST, PUT |
| /projects/ | Projects, services, assignments, statuses | GET, POST, PUT |
| /hours/ | Time registrations, hour types, approval status | GET, POST, PUT |
| /invoices/ | Invoices, invoice lines, payment status | GET, POST, PUT |
| /hrm/ | Employees, contracts, leave, absence | GET, POST, PUT |
| /documents/ | Documents, document types, linked entities | GET, POST |
| /custom-fields/ | Custom field definitions and values | GET, POST, PUT |
Authentication
The Simplicate API uses key-based authentication with an Authentication-Key and Authentication-Secret header. No OAuth flow is required, which simplifies implementation. API keys are generated in the Simplicate admin settings and require admin rights.
Webhooks & events
Simplicate supports webhooks for event-driven integrations. Triggers fire on events such as: new contact created, deal status changed, invoice sent, hours submitted. We build webhook handlers with idempotency checks, signature verification and automatic retries on failure.
Rate limit management
The Simplicate API applies rate limits per time window. Our middleware manages this with request queuing, intelligent batching and exponential backoff. Bulk operations (initial migrations, large imports) are spread over time. For daily synchronisation, this is rarely a bottleneck.
Custom fields & filtering
The API provides full access to custom fields, which is crucial for businesses that have adapted Simplicate to their working processes. Filtering via query parameters is available on virtually all fields. Offset-based pagination with configurable limits.
What does a Simplicate integration deliver?
A well-integrated Simplicate system is not a cost but an investment that pays for itself through time savings, fewer errors and better insights.
Hours returned to billable work
Consultants and project managers spend an average of 3–5 hours per week on manual data entry: retyping hours, checking invoice lines, updating contacts. An integration gives those hours back to billable work.
No more billing errors
Manually retyping hours into accounting leads to mistakes. One forgotten decimal or a wrong cost centre can make a difference of thousands of euros. Automated billing sync eliminates these risks.
Real-time management insight
Combine Simplicate project data with financial data in Power BI. Utilisation rates, project profitability and pipeline forecasting, always up to date, without anyone having to run reports.
Worked example: a consultancy with 20 consultants at €120/hour recovers an average of 3 hours per consultant per week through automated time and billing sync. That is 60 hours × €120 = €7,200 per week in potentially billable hours. Over a year, that is more than €350,000 in recovered capacity.
Our approach in 4 steps
From assessment to a working integration. We work in an agile way, so you see results quickly and can steer as you go.
Analysis
We map out your Simplicate configuration, connected systems and the data flows you need. Which modules do you use? Which custom fields? Which data needs to go where?
Architecture
We design the integration: data model mapping, middleware architecture, webhook configuration, error handling and monitoring. You approve the design.
Development
Iterative build in sprints. Each integration is developed and tested separately using real Simplicate data in a sandbox environment. You test along with us at every delivery.
Go-live & support
Production deployment with monitoring, alerting and documentation. Ongoing support for API updates, extensions and optimisation.
Why Appfront for your Simplicate integration
We are not a no-code platform but a development agency that builds custom integrations. That makes the difference when off-the-shelf solutions fall short.
Full-stack development team
Real software engineers who write custom code. From the API layer to the monitoring dashboard, we build the complete integration stack, not the configuration of a third-party tool.
35+ integration specialisms
We already build integrations with Exact Online, AFAS, Shopify, Mollie, HubSpot and dozens of other systems. We bring that experience to your project.
Dutch market & PSA expertise
We know the Dutch software market and how service providers work. From time registration and billability to intercompany invoicing, we understand the context.
Ownership of the code
No vendor lock-in. You own all the code. Full documentation, version control in Git, and transferable to your team or another agency if you wish.
Scalable and extensible
Start with one integration and expand when needed. Our microservices architecture means each new integration can be added independently without disrupting what already exists.
Monitoring & maintenance
Every integration is delivered with monitoring, alerting and error dashboards. We proactively catch API changes from Simplicate or connected systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Simplicate integrations.
We build integrations between Simplicate and almost any system: Exact Online, Twinfield, Moneybird, AFAS, Jira, Azure DevOps, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Voys, Aircall, Power BI, Slack, Teams and more. Each integration is custom built using the Simplicate REST API, including bidirectional synchronisation and robust error handling.
Yes, API access is required for a custom integration. It is available on Simplicate's higher subscription tiers (Professional and Enterprise). You will need an Authentication Key and Authentication Secret, which you can generate in the Simplicate admin settings. We will help you check whether your subscription includes API access and guide you through requesting it if necessary.
Simplicate offers standard integrations with systems such as Exact Online and Twinfield, but these are often limited to basic functionality: one-way invoicing, restricted field mapping and little error handling. A custom integration offers bidirectional synchronisation, complex business logic, multi-system orchestration, custom field mapping and professional monitoring. Ideal when the standard integration does not fit your specific workflows.
A simple integration between Simplicate and one system (for example, exporting hours to payroll administration) can be live within 2 to 4 weeks. A more complex integration involving several systems, bidirectional synchronisation and custom business logic typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. We work in sprints so you see early results quickly.
Yes. We build initial data synchronisations that transfer your existing Simplicate data (contacts, projects, hours, invoices) to a connected system, and vice versa. We also help with migrations from other PSA tools (Gripp, Teamleader, AFAS) to Simplicate, preserving all historical data.
The Simplicate API applies rate limits per time window. Our middleware manages this automatically using request queuing, intelligent batching and exponential backoff. For bulk operations (initial synchronisation, large imports), we spread requests over time to stay within the limits. With daily synchronisation, rate limiting is rarely an issue.
Absolutely. API keys are stored encrypted, all communication runs over HTTPS/TLS, and we implement role-based access so that only authorised processes can reach your data. We follow OWASP guidelines and design for GDPR compliance: only strictly necessary data is synchronised, with audit logging of every operation.
Yes. Every integration is delivered with monitoring, alerting and error logging. We provide ongoing support for updates whenever Simplicate changes its API, performance optimisation, and extensions with new integrations or functionality. If problems arise, we are alerted automatically, often before you notice anything.
Ready to integrate Simplicate with your systems?
From Exact Online invoicing to Jira development hours, tell us which systems you want to connect and we will build the integration. No obligation, no commitment.
Discuss a Simplicate integration