Tailormade software integrations

Why Integrations Matters

Well, you need to provide application users with easy access to reports directly within the software they already use. While BladeFx reports can be accessed through the native web or mobile app, integrating reports directly into your application offers several advantages — such as eliminating the need for users to manually enter parameter values, since these can be automatically passed to BladeFx based on the application's current context.

Multiple Integration Scenarios

As mentioned in the introduction, BladeFx offers various options for integration into any application. In this blog, we’ll focus on the different integration approaches rather than diving deep into technical specifics. In upcoming posts, we’ll explore the technical aspects in more detail.

Menu-Level Integration

This integration approach is straightforward. Simply add a new menu item — for example, Reports — into your application. Use the BladeFx API to populate the report list, and place a Print button next to each report name and description. Access control is fully managed on the BladeFx side, based on the credentials provided to the API and filtered through report attributes.

When a user clicks the Print button, your application calls the API endpoint, which returns content ready for display in an iFrame — including the parameter form fully integrated into your application. From there, BladeFx takes care of the rest: rendering the parameter form, processing user input, and generating the report exactly as the user requests.

Module-Level or Tab Integration

Imagine your user needs reports related to a specific customer — for example, an Open Payments report. While the user is viewing the customer details within your application, you can integrate a dedicated Reports tab directly into that screen. This tab can display only the reports relevant to the customer, using BladeFx report attributes to filter the available reports.

When a report is executed, the user won’t need to manually enter any parameters. Instead, the integration automatically passes the necessary context — such as the customer ID — directly to BladeFx. As a result, reports are generated instantly, pre-filled with the correct data for the customer being viewed.

Advanced Integration

For more advanced needs, BladeFx offers full flexibility through its powerful API (see: https://api.blade-fx.com/swagger/index.html). In this scenario, you have complete control over the user interface — building your own custom screens for report lists, parameter forms, and report previews, fully tailored to your application's design and user experience.

Beyond user interface integration, BladeFx APIs also support automated report distribution. For example, you can trigger report generation and delivery directly from your application, sending invoices, quotes, or other reports straight to your customers via email — all processed securely on the BladeFx server. This allows you to fully embed reporting and distribution workflows into your business processes, with BladeFx seamlessly handling the backend logic and report rendering.

Real Customer Use Case

Below are real-world examples of how BladeFx has been successfully integrated into custom-built applications across different industries.

Custom MRP (Manufacturing Resource Planning) Integration — Foundry Company

A manufacturing company integrated BladeFx both as a menu-level and context-level solution within their custom MRP system:

• Menu-Level Integration: Users can access the full suite of reports directly from a central Reports menu inside their application. 
• Product Detail Integration: On the product detail screen, users can instantly generate reports related to the product they are viewing — such as Product Specifications, Bill of Materials (BOM), and other product-specific documents. 
• Production Planning Integration: Within production order details, BladeFx provides direct access to operational reports such as Booked Workhours, Material Consumption, and other production metrics. Users simply navigate to the reporting tab and select the desired report without entering additional parameters, as all context is passed automatically. 

This integration allows production managers and planners to generate critical reports instantly, directly from the screens they work on, improving efficiency and decision-making.

Custom CRM Integration — Waste Collection Company (Public Utility Service)

A public utility company managing waste collection integrated BladeFx into their tailor-made CRM system, used for managing customer and operational data:

• Menu-Level Integration: All reports are easily accessible from a centralized Reports section. 
• Customer Detail Integration: On customer records, users can generate reports such as Open Payments, Customer Coupons for free waste collection, Waste Collection History, and other customer-specific reports with a single click. All relevant customer information is automatically passed as report parameters. 
• Schedule Planning Integration: In the scheduling module, reports like Waste Collection Schedules by Zone, City-wide Schedules, and Operational Planning are available through BladeFx tabs, enabling planners to generate operational reports in real time. 
• Public Web Portal Integration: The company’s public-facing application also uses BladeFx APIs. When a customer checks their personal waste collection schedule using GPS coordinates, they can instantly download their schedule as a PDF report generated by BladeFx, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information is always available.

This comprehensive integration simplifies both internal reporting and customer self-service, providing seamless access to critical data across multiple touchpoints.

Benefits of BladeFx Integrations

• Seamless User Experience: Users access reports directly from the application they already use, without switching between systems or manually entering parameters.
• Context-Aware Reporting: Integration automatically passes relevant data (customer ID, product ID, order ID, etc.) to BladeFx, generating reports instantly with the correct context.
• Flexible Integration Options: Whether you need a simple menu integration or a fully customized interface, BladeFx offers multiple API-based integration scenarios to fit your application’s architecture.
• Centralized Report Management: All reports are maintained centrally in BladeFx. Any updates, new reports, or layout changes are immediately available in all connected applications — no deployments needed.
• Reduced Development Effort: No need to build complex reporting engines or parameter forms. BladeFx handles report logic, parameter definitions, rendering, and output formats.
• Multiple Output Formats: BladeFx supports various export options (PDF, Excel, CSV, etc.), making it easy to distribute and share reports in the desired format.
• Secure API Access: API-level security ensures that users only see the reports and data they are authorized to access, based on credentials and report attributes.
• Automated Report Distribution: Use BladeFx APIs to automatically generate and send reports via email or other channels directly from your application workflows.
• Scalable for Future Growth: As your reporting needs evolve, new reports or integrations can be added without significant changes to your core application.

Getting Started with Integration

Integrating BladeFx into your application is simple and flexible. Whether you’re planning a lightweight menu integration or a fully customized reporting interface, our API-first approach gives you full control.

You don’t need to build your own reporting logic — BladeFx handles report design, parameter definitions, rendering, and output generation. With clear API documentation, live Swagger interface, and dedicated support, your development team can start integration quickly and efficiently.