Developer’s Help Desk: I Want to Integrate with a Third Party Vendor, What Do I Need to Do?

Integration processes and techniques continue to grow rapidly.  Depending upon the level of 3rd party integration desired, they may include utilizing an existing API for which CU*Answers has previously developed, or entail a true custom development effort as part of our custom project suite.  Common examples of 3rd party integrations include:

• A new Loan Origination Systems (LOS) provider.
• DEX/Data Warehousing projects, for transferring pre-configured files to external warehouses.
• Single Sign On (SSO) projects, for helping eliminate the requirement for member authentication multiple times.

What do I need to do to get started on a Third Party Integration?

1. Contact the Developer’s Help Desk by ordering this service – we will assist in reviewing your project with you and create a Special Project Request/Authorization form for getting started.
2. Your project Request will be presented to our Project Team.
3. Depending on the project goals and scope, the Project Team will review and deliver (as applicable) a research/design quote for you to initially determine how we may best proceed.

Click the button below to get started!

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Developer’s Help Desk: I Want to Talk to Someone About My Idea, What Do I Need to Prepare?

Have a great idea but unsure how you should engage with CU*Answers to determine what project expertise may be available to you?  Not a problem – that’s exactly what the Developer’s Help Desk team is here for!  The DHD team can assist you with rounding out your project vision, designing techniques and managing your project as based on your terms.

Simply reach out to the Developer’s Help Desk and provide us with some overview details of what you’d like to achieve with your project.  Maybe you want to integrate a new third party vendor for a specific product or toolset that appeals to your credit union?  Or perhaps you’re looking to build your own solution outside of CU*Answers’ standard offerings and require resources and expertise to bring your idea to fruition?  Whatever your project goals are, the DHD team will review your initial thoughts and help determine a strategy for getting started!

Visit the store today to submit your idea and start a conversation with the Developer’s Help Desk team!

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What is a Project Specification? Why Do I Need One? How Do I Write One?

If you have a project vision and are ready to take a next potential step, you’ll want to outline and write a project specification to articulate the desired scope of your project, as well as objectives and goals.  The Developer’s Help Desk can help your write and project specification to secure a project bid.

We encourage you to develop and submit as many details regarding your desired custom project as possible.  The more information you can provide about the specifics of your project, the smoother the process of writing a specification will be.  To begin the process, visit the online store.

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After receiving your request, a DHD team member will contact you to review your project initiatives and discuss your idea.  We will detail our processes for helping to make your software vision a reality and will answer any additional questions you might have.  For additional details or to gain a better understanding of the key components to writing a specification, please refer to our Tips for Writing Specs document.

Is This a Project for Developer’s Help Desk?

CU*Answers empowers credit unions to strengthen the credit union movement by working together to enhance the tools we all utilize every day.  Enhancements to CU*BASE normally fall under two primary criteria: improvements to existing functionality and custom development projects.  Have you ever wondered what the differences are?

Our credit unions have amazing ideas on how to enhance the tools credit unions staff members like yourselves use every day!  Making such a change could affect everyone in the CU*Answers family – some changes save you time, others drive your business.  The CU*Answers Idea Form process is a means that allows you to make a case for what you need.  The Idea Form process is like a suggestion box: it’s a method to ask for an enhancement, a new feature, maybe a new report.  Find out more about the Idea Forms Here.

Sometimes an enhancement to an existing feature is not what you need to meet the operational needs of your credit unions or your members’ expectations.  In this case, you need a strategy for developing custom software with CU*Answers.  This is where the Developer’s Help Desk  (DHD) comes in.  DHD is uniquely positioned to help you envision your case, develop a strategy and help bring your plan to life.  DHD Consultants stand at the ready to assist credit union executives and managers of all experience levels in navigating  the 6 major development phases of custom projects: Think it, Write it, Fund it, Build it, Launch it, Support it.  DHD makes getting started with a custom programming project easy!

DHD features many off the shelf products ready to deploy or activate for your credit union.  These products typically represent a newer project that has been completed for a peer; these types of solutions are easily modified for other CU*BASE clients to benefit, and in most cases, are offered at a lower price point.  Check out the DHD online store to see what others have been up to!