In today’s digital era, some large and medium-scale enterprises in the USA use different types of accounting software to manage their business transactions online efficiently. QuickBooks is a popular accounting software that runs globally on desktop and Mac (Macintosh) operating systems (OS).
Enterprises can effectively manage financial transactions directly from the bank using online QuickBooks accounting software. It is a desktop-based software that seamlessly works with mobile apps. This blog will help you learn more about QuickBooks Web Connector, how to use it, and what software products and tools are widely used.
What is QuickBooks Web Connectors(QBWC)?
QBWC was launched in 1992 by a well-known software company called Intuit. This software is based on accounting principles and methods. It is a web-based technology that allows web applications to exchange data with the most common QuickBooks software products including QuickBooks Financial Software (QBFS) and QuickBooks Point of Sale (QBPOS).
This software was launched for smooth and easy communication among web-based software applications and QuickBooks Desktop. The web server of quickbooks can be hosted individually and via third-party integration. It allows software developers to create applications, that exchange data with three common QuickBooks Desktop editions. The editions are:
- QuickBooks Pro
- QuickBooks Premier
- QuickBooks Enterprise Support
Quickbooks Web Connector is an open-source platform that deploys a web server to host a local and live web service. The web connectors are to be installed on the same machine in which QuickBooks Software is already installed and can operate through the internet or local area network(LAN). This desktop application safely and securely shares the Intuit web connector data with third-party software applications through SOAP API (Simple Object Access Protocol Application Programming Interface).
This API encodes all data and communicates in the form of messages that contain QBXML (QuickBooks Extensible MarkUp Language) and QBPOSXML( QuickBooks Point of Sale Extensible MarkUp Language) API.
How to use QB Web Connector?
To use the web connector for Quickbooks effectively and efficiently on Windows-based desktop machines, some common steps you need to follow:
- Install on the Same Desktop System: QuickBooks Web Connector is open-source software that a user can download and install from the Company’s website.
- Prepare the Web Application or Service: A user ensures the web connector is liable for communication with the QuickBooks Desktop system.
- Generate Web Connector Configuration File: A user can create a . QWC (QuickBooks for Web Connector Configuration) file, which contains information like Web Service URL(Uniform Resource Locator), validation or verification details, polling frequency, etc. In addition, a user can create this configuration file manually or with the help of software tools available on the company’s website.
- Add the Configuration File to the Software: First, the user opens the Web Connector for Quickbooks and adds the .qwc file to it. After that, the software will read the complete file line-by-line and build a strong connection with the web service.
- Allow the Connection with Software: The QuickBooks Desktop will prompt a message on the screen to authorize the connection between the software and the web service. A user should follow all the desktop instructions to validate and verify the connection.
- Run the software: If the setup is complete run the QB Web Connector application software. It will initiate the synchronized data between the QuickBooks Desktop system and web service depending on configured schedule settings.
- Monitor and Troubleshoot the Software: At regular intervals of times, a user can monitor the synchronizing process to ensure that data is being exchanged or shared in the right direction.
What Websites are Integrated with QuickBooks Web Connectors?
The web server of quickbooks can be hosted individually and by a third party. There are some common platforms or websites that provide communication in the cloud, which include:
- E-commerce Industries: To collect customer data, stock information, and synchronize sales e-commerce platforms are used such as WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, eBay, Amazon Seller, Squarespace, Etsy, etc. These are used to integrate QuickBooks Desktop with web services.
- Payment Gateway Systems: Today most enterprises often accept online payments for selling goods or services. Using online payment processing applications such as PayPal, Plooto, Authorize.Net, Zil Money, Square, eBizCharge, Stripe, etc., helps in paying bills and the overall payroll functionality. These services are integrated with QuickBooks Desktop to sync the transaction data and rectify payment issues.
- Stock Management Systems: Cin7, inFlow, SOS Inventory, Acctivate, and Vend are the best five inventory management that integrates with QuickBooks to manage inventory levels, sales, and purchase orders.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Some latest CRM software like Zoho CRM, Salesforce, HubSpot, and so on are generally used for integrating QuickBooks Desktop with web service to synchronize customer data, sale/purchase orders, invoice bills, or journals.
What Software Products Are Used for Web Connector for Quickbooks?
Intuit Web Connector (QBWC) integrates with various QuickBooks Desktop editions such as QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks Premier, QuickBooks U.S. Financial editions, QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions, QuickBooks Point of Sale (QBPOS), etc.
Some widely used software products are mentioned below to enhance usability and ease the integration process of QBWC. These are as follows:
- Common Web-based Services: Some different web-based applications or services can integrate with QuickBooks Desktop by using QBWC such as CRM systems, E-commerce industries, payment gateway systems, stock management systems, etc.
- Common QuickBooks Desktop Editions: QuickBooks Web Connector is specially designed to work particularly with general QuickBooks Desktop editions namely QuickBooks Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. It serves as a connection between QuickBooks Desktop and other web services.
- Hosting Web Services on Servers: Almost all business enterprises have to develop and host their web services on web servers to integrate QuickBooks Desktop with the latest cloud hosting platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS (Amazon Web Services), Google Cloud, and so on.
- Use of Software Development Tools: Software developers generally use tools to build the structure by writing code and optimizing web services, which interact with QuickBooks Desktop with the help of software.
- Software Development Kits (SDKs): The company offers SDKs and third-party applications mainly APIs which software developers use to build and write the code for different programming applications that are integrated with the QuickBooks Desktop system.
Steps to Set up Quickbooks Desktop Web Connector
First, you need to install Quickbooks Desktop then Follow the below guide to install the Quickbooks Web Connector.
Step 1: Download and Install the QWC Software:
Here are some steps that you need to follow:
- Download the Quickbooks Web Connector file from a website.
- Save the file at any location.
- Once the downloading is complete go to File Explorer and open it.
- Search for downloads where you saved the file.
- Locate and click on the file.
- Select the Extract all files to the folder name that you saved before.
- The process of extraction is starting now you can use the files.
Steps to solve Errors while installing Web Connect Quickbooks
If you face any error in the middle of the process then follow the below steps:
- Press the Window+R tab on the keyboard.
- Enter the Control Panel on the Run window and hit the OK button.
- Mark checks on Uninstall a program.
- Now select Web Connector and then Uninstall.
- Install Web Connector.
Step 2. Set Up Quickbooks Web Connector
Add an App for connecting web connectors with quickbooks and for adding you can connect the .qwc file from the third-party app with Quickbooks.
- Log into Quickbooks accounts as an Admin.
- From the file menu, click on App Management and then select the manage web apps.
- Choose the app for which you want to set up by selecting the Set Up button.
- You will be logging into the App’s website move further by clicking on Connect to Quickbooks.
- The license/Access Confirmation screen will be open on your quickbooks desktop Hit the Done tab.
Conclusion
QuickBooks Web Connector benefits both large and medium-scale businesses to create, develop, customize, monitor, and troubleshoot their web applications and to maintain connections between QuickBooks Desktop and web service. Also, there is a diverse range of web-based services that help streamline financial business transactions. Hence, acts as an essential bridge between various QuickBooks Desktop editions and web-based services to facilitate the seamless integration and exchange of data securely over the internet.
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