Google Apps API’s - extending enterpise applications with Google functionality
If you are a developer, or have access to developers, you should be aware of Google API’s - Application Program Interfaces.
The basic idea behind Google API’s is that anything you can do through the user interface - e.g. add an event to a calendar - can be done by a program. So for example, let’s say that part of your job responsibility is calling people when their payments are late. Normally, you would have to go to check your accounting system to get a report that you can use to determine which calls need to be made.
But you can use a Google API to automatically update your calendar with all the calls that need to be made. Not only that, but it can be kept up-to-date at all times - if a payment comes in, the system automatically removes it from your calendar.
And because Google allows you to have multiple calendars that you can merge together at will, you can have a calendar for “Late Payment Calls” that is separate from your regular calendar - to be seen only when performing that particular task.
This is just a small example of what can be done with Google API’s. Just remember that anything (ok, pretty much anything) you can do manually in Google, you can do programmatically. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities, and can give new life to old applications.
Tags: accounting, api's, apllication program interfaces, developers, Google API, idea, idea behind, report