FSM integration with Books

FSM integration with Books

Hi,

I have spent a few months working with FSM and have come across a critical gap in the functionality, which I find almost shocking....either that, or I am an idiot. 

The lack of bi-directional sync between Books and FSM on Sales Orders/ Work Orders is something I cannot wrap my head around.

We are a service-based business with dairy farmers as our core customers. 

Typical workflow:
- Customer calls the shop or technician directly requesting service
- Technician travels to the customer's farm
- Work is performed at the farm
- Customer is billed for the work after the work is completed

Solution 1: WITHOUT a custom integration, here is what that flow would look like:
- Technician or dispatcher creates a WO in FSM
- Technician performs work
- Technician creates an invoice, which is then pushed to Books

Solution 1: Drawbacks
- WO has to be created in FSM, cannot use Books
- The WO in FSM does not integrate with Inventory, that means I do not have visibility into "committed stock" - which means Books will assume I have inventory available but I will not, as the parts are currently being used on a job

Solution 2: WITH a custom integration
- Technician or dispatcher creates an SO in Books (at least now I have visibility into committed stock)
- The SO is then pushed to FSM, showing up as WO
- Technician performs work
- Technician creates an invoice, which is then pushed to back to Books

Solution 2: Drawbacks
- If a technician adds parts to the WO in FSM (which happens a lot), those changes are not reflected in Books
- The original SO in Books remains as an open SO, even after I have invoiced in FSM

I would love to hear from other users on how they actually use FSM without this functionality.