How do form integrations work
A form integration is when two or more online platforms connect through an API, with the intention of sharing data and triggering an event or action. Form integrations extend the functionality of a form, either at the time the form and/or the page is first loaded or after the form has been submitted. By utilizing form integrations, a form can automate repetitive tasks, trigger custom workflows and increase the form's capabilities.
Integrations are primarily developed to extend a company’s core software products, however, third-party developers and online SaaS companies can also program their own integrations. When a software company offers their own integrations, it creates a better value proposition for their customers by increasing the form builder's or the primary software product's ability to solve a real-world need. Which is why oftentimes you will find the same integration listed on different app marketplaces for popular online SaaS companies.
When building custom forms for a website, a form may need to send captured form submission data to a customer relationship management software, or (CRM). When the user submits the form, the form data is then sent to the CRM company by making an API call provided by the CRM company's API. The data is re-formatted beforehand into the format expected by the CRM company’s API. When the data has been successfully delivered, the submitted form data can be used by the CRM company to create a new ticket, update or create a new or existing customer, or start a new customer workflow.
Integrations include a new settings page that depends on an API or Secret Key to retrieve and post data with. For example, to add a new subscriber to a Mailchimp audience, a Mailchimp audience ID is required. The Mailchimp API key would be used to retrieve all the current audiences inside the Mailchimp account associated with the API key, and then the audiences are added to the settings. When the user fills out the subscriber form, the email address is added to the audience that was selected in the settings page by ID. The audience ID and the Mailchimp API key are both used to tell the Mailchimp API which account and audience to add the user's email and name to.
Integrations can be found through app or integration marketplaces, individual third-party developer websites, or popular online services such as Zapier. Specifically, the Likeable Forms integrations marketplace includes a variety of featured integrations for payments, e-sign and PDF, CRM, email marketing, SMTP, SMS, and MMS. Since integrations are built using APIs, the only limitation to the type or category of a currently available integration is limited only by the developer's ability and willingness to code one. This is why companies that specialize in integrations only, such as Zapier, can have thousands of pre-built “zaps”.
Integrations can play an integral role in increasing productivity and efficiency when building forms for an online blog or website. They promote increased functionality and enable more complex workflows by connecting to other online SaaS companies and digital platforms. Integrations are excellent tools that share data securely over the internet with online software tools. As the internet becomes more advanced, the number and type of integrations will continue to grow as a result. Ultimately, this leads to a greater value proposition for customers and more robust and helpful solutions.