Think back to a moment when you needed one very specific thing and simply could not get it. Substitutes existed, of course, but what you wanted was the original - the option that truly matched your vision. That was exactly the situation we faced with our own integrator.
There were solutions on the market that came close to what we needed, but they all had critical shortcomings that ruled them out from the start. The first was price, the second was a lack of alignment with our preferences and processes. We did not find the right answer until we decided to build it ourselves.
That is how our integrator came to life: a solution that not only worked, but also helped the client save a meaningful amount of money.
What is an integrator, really?
An integrator is essentially a bridge between two systems that cannot communicate with each other on their own. You can also think of it as an intermediary that collects information from one system and passes it to the other in a format it can understand.
With an integrator in place, data can flow automatically: without manual entry, without copying and pasting, without mistakes and, above all, without wasting time - something every business depends on.
Why did we need a separate integrator?
We needed to connect to Insert systems, the well-known business management software widely used in Poland. The objective was straightforward: automate and integrate warehouse operations and working-time records with our own application.
We wanted a single source of truth capable of handling the required operations on documents, leave, stock and other business data. On paper, it sounds simple. In practice, it was anything but.
Gaining access to the data and attempting the necessary operations was only the beginning. The bigger challenge was the communication layer itself. What do you do when a legacy system does not support modern integration standards? That is when the real engineering work begins.
A problem that left no room for half measures
The biggest challenge was not just the code. It was something more complex: how to initiate communication between the systems in the first place.
Sfera did not offer a conventional API-based communication model that would have solved the problem in a straightforward way. It followed its own rules and those rules were not easy to work around. On top of that, the documentation was incomplete and in some areas had to be clarified through our own research.
Some information had to be verified through trial and error. Instead of a single, clearly marked path, we were given a puzzle that had to be assembled piece by piece.
That required more than programming. It required patience, analysis and very careful testing. Every step had to be validated in practice, because in projects like this theory alone is rarely enough.
How did we solve it?
We started by analysing how to approach the problem with such limited information - from official documentation to the materials available online.
As a team, we found a lead that enabled us to open communication with Insert. The application could communicate through the COM interface. COM interfaces define a strict contract - a set of methods through which other programs can access an application's functionality.
That insight did not give us a complete solution, but it gave us enough to begin implementation. We looked for tools that could support this scenario and started building the solution in Python.
Python proved to be an excellent choice, but more obstacles appeared almost immediately. The documentation needed to be supplemented and some technical details had to be reconstructed independently.
Our team had to dig into the architecture of Insert systems, understand how they worked and extract the information that mattered most where it was not stated explicitly. That is how we managed to build a working connector.
What can a connector like this do?
Some of the capabilities implemented in the connector may sound straightforward, but behind them sits complex logic and a considerable amount of engineering.
One example is the automatic synchronisation of stock levels between Insert and our application. In a process like that, there is no room for even the smallest margin of error. Every operation has to be exact.
Another important capability is working-time management. We can calculate employee leave time, handle more complex business operations and do all of it directly from within our own application.
These are only some of the opportunities the connector opened up. It allows us to build better products for our clients and tailor them more closely to real operational processes.
Why was it difficult?
We were not building on top of a convenient, well-documented pattern. There was no perfect documentation, no step-by-step manual and no simple blueprint that could be copied.
From the architectural analysis and the first lines of code all the way to testing, everything had to be done independently, relying on our skills and experience.
That is where the real value of a project like this becomes visible. It is not just that the systems were connected. It is that they were connected successfully despite the limitations.
And that says something important about the team: we do not only implement features. We solve integration problems in situations where a standard approach simply is not enough.
What does the client gain?
The client did not receive a generic integrator. They received a tool that works on their terms and supports their processes exactly as required.
Going back to the beginning of this story: if you need a solution that does not exist as an off-the-shelf product, and the available alternatives come with too many compromises, then the only sensible route is to build something fitted to your reality. That is exactly what we did in this project.
Despite the challenges, we delivered a solution aligned with the client's real needs. Just as importantly, the client saved a considerable amount of money, and the product can continue to evolve together with their business.
That is what distinguishes this approach from ready-made substitutes: flexibility, alignment with the application and the ability to grow further.
What mattered most in this project?
Not just that the integration was delivered. What mattered most was that it was delivered in spite of the obstacles.
With limited information, incomplete documentation and technical constraints, we still managed to build a solution that works reliably and fulfils its purpose.
That proves we are willing to take ownership of difficult integrations rather than avoid them.
In practice, that means that even when the system on the other side is legacy software, a non-standard interface, incomplete documentation or a custom communication layer that has to be built from scratch, we can still deliver a working result.
Why does this matter to other companies as well?
Many companies face the same problem, even if they have not named it yet. Their environments include systems that have been in place for years but do not communicate well with modern applications.
There are processes that still require manual handling. There is data that should synchronise automatically, yet someone is still retyping it between systems.
This project shows that the Type Of Code team can handle challenges of exactly this kind.
Summary
This project was more than a standard integration. It was proof that even with limited information, outdated tools and technical constraints, it is possible to build a stable solution that materially improves the way work gets done.
We built a dedicated integrator that enabled communication between our application and Insert. As a result, the client's needs could be met in a structured, automated and secure way.
Projects like this show that system integration is not only about code. It is about understanding the problem, navigating around limitations and delivering a working solution where others see only obstacles.
Let's talk about your integration
Do you have a system that has been running for years but refuses to cooperate with newer applications? Or perhaps a process in your company still depends on manually copying data from one program to another?
Book a free consultation and we will analyse your case, assess the available integration paths and advise how to build a solution aligned with your processes.
Type Of Code - system integrations, process automation and bespoke web applications for business.
- Website: typeofcode.com
- Email: contact@typeofcode.com
- Location: Wroclaw, Poland | We support clients across Poland and Europe
Article published on 15 May 2026 by Type Of Code - a software studio specialising in system integrations, process automation and bespoke web applications.