The Data Bridge®

Automated data transfer between your business systems. Real-time or scheduled. Monitored and supported. Connect virtually any database, API, or application and let the data flow.

What is The Data Bridge®?

The Data Bridge® is Solweb’s proprietary automated data transfer platform. It is a service based application, built on Microsoft’s .NET Framework, that runs on your local server and connects your business systems together, moving data between them automatically, accurately and without manual intervention.

Think of it as the central nervous system for your business data. Your ERP, accounting software, website, design tools and third-party platforms all hold valuable information. The Data Bridge® ensures that information gets to where it needs to be, in the right format, at the right time.

Developed and refined over many years across hundreds of client installations, The Data Bridge® is a proven, production grade platform, not a prototype or a proof of concept. It is running right now in businesses across the UK, processing thousands of transactions every day.

How it works

The Data Bridge® is installed on your local server and configured with a set of tasks that define what data moves, where it moves to and when. Each task connects to its endpoints using the most appropriate method such as direct database connections, ODBC, API calls, file monitoring, or scheduled queries, depending on the systems involved.

1. Detection
The Data Bridge® monitors your systems for changes. A new order on your website, an updated customer record in your ERP, a file arriving in a monitored folder, these changes are detected automatically.

2. Extraction
The relevant data is extracted from the source system in its native format.

3. Transformation
The data is converted, validated and structured to match the requirements of the destination system. Field mappings, format conversions and business rules are all applied at this stage.

4. Transfer
The processed data is delivered to the target system, whether that is creating a record in your accounting package, updating stock levels in your ERP, or posting information back to a website via its API.

5. Logging and confirmation
Every transfer is logged with full details of what was moved, when and the outcome. These logs are accessible through the web based monitoring dashboard and are proactively monitored by our support team.

This entire cycle can run in real time (triggered by changes as they happen), on a schedule (every few minutes, hourly, daily), or on demand (triggered manually through the web interface). You choose the approach that best fits each task.

What can The Data Bridge® connect to?

The short answer is: virtually anything that stores or produces data. The Data Bridge® can connect to SQL and ODBC compatible databases, RESTful and SOAP APIs, file systems (monitoring folders for incoming files), cloud services and SaaS platforms and websites and e-commerce platforms.

Systems we have successfully integrated include:

ERP and MRP systems
123insight and other manufacturing management platforms.

Accounting software
Sage 50, Sage 200, Access Dimensions, Xero.

Design and engineering tools
Solidworks, Omnify BOM management.

CRM platforms
Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Salesforce.

E-commerce platforms
Magento, custom websites, third-party e-commerce sites.

Industry-specific systems
Passfield Data Systems and a wide range of bespoke business applications.

EDI middleware
Platforms such as Lobster for translating and transmitting standard EDI message formats (DELFOR, ASN, etc.).

If your system is not on this list, that does not mean we cannot connect to it. All we need is a way to access and create data in the target system such as a database connection, an API, or even a file-based interface.

Ready Made Tasks and Custom Development

The Data Bridge® comes with a suite of pre built tasks that cover the most common data transfer scenarios. These can be configured quickly for your specific systems, significantly reducing the time and cost of getting your integration up and running.

For requirements that go beyond the standard task library, we write custom tasks tailored to your specific needs. The platform is designed to be extended, so custom tasks sit alongside standard ones within the same managed, monitored framework. Examples of custom tasks we have built include:

Website order processing - monitoring a website’s API for new orders, extracting customer and order data, creating corresponding records in the client’s accounting and stock management systems and updating the website to confirm processing.

BOM transfer automation - transferring Bill of Materials data from Solidworks or Omnify into 123insight, ensuring production always works from the latest design revision.

EDI order and despatch processing - receiving DELFOR messages, translating them into sales orders and forecasts within the MRP system, and generating ASN files for despatch confirmation.

Automated report generation - compiling and distributing weekly management reports by email, drawing data from multiple systems.

File monitoring and processing - watching server locations for incoming data files, extracting and transforming the contents and routing the data to the appropriate system.

Email automation - triggering automated email notifications based on data events, such as order confirmations, despatch alerts, or exception reports.

Monitoring, Alerts and Support

A data transfer platform is only as good as its reliability. The Data Bridge® includes comprehensive monitoring and alerting as standard, with proactive support from our in-house team.

Proactive error detection - The Data Bridge® maintains a connection to our secure configuration server (restricted by IP address) which logs all activity and errors. Our support team is automatically alerted to any issues - from malformed data to loss of connectivity. We often identify and resolve problems before you are even aware they have occurred.

Web-based monitoring dashboard - you can log in to the cloud-based Data Bridge monitoring platform at any time to view transfer logs, check task status, edit settings, or pause transactions. Full visibility of your data transfers, accessible from any browser.

Comprehensive logging - every transfer, every transaction, every error is logged with full details. This provides a complete audit trail and makes troubleshooting fast and straightforward.

UK-based support - support is provided directly by the Solweb team in Dorset. You are dealing with the people who built the product, not a third-party helpdesk.

Key Benefits of The Data Bridge®

Eliminate Manual Data Entry

Every manual data transfer between systems is a task The Data Bridge® can automate. Orders, invoices, customer records, stock levels, BOMs, forecasts - data that previously required someone to export, reformat, and re-enter now moves automatically. The time savings are immediate and cumulative.

Reduce Errors

Automated data transfer is consistent and precise. The same data is moved the same way every time, with validation at each step. The risk of typos, transposed figures, and missed entries - inherent in any manual process - is eliminated.

Connect Any System

The Data Bridge® is not limited to specific platforms or vendors. If your system has a database, an API, or can produce and consume data files, it can be connected. This vendor agnostic approach means you are never locked into a single technology ecosystem.

Scalable

Start with one connection and add more as your needs grow. The Data Bridge® is designed to scale; additional tasks, endpoints and trading partners can be added without rebuilding the core system. Many of our clients started with a single integration and now run dozens of tasks through The Data Bridge®.

Proven and Reliable

The Data Bridge® is not new technology hoping to prove itself. It has been in continuous development and production use for years, handling critical data transfers for businesses across the UK. It is the backbone of numerous client operations, and its reliability is proven in the most demanding real-world environments.

Full Control and Visibility

The web-based dashboard gives you complete visibility of what The Data Bridge® is doing at any time. You can view logs, check status, pause tasks, and adjust settings. Where manual approval is needed before data is transferred, the platform supports approval workflows that let you review pending transactions before they are processed.

Technical Overview

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Platform: Service-based application built on Microsoft .NET Framework.
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Deployment: Installed on your local server with a connection to Solweb’s secure configuration and monitoring platform.
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Connectivity: SQL databases, ODBC sources, RESTful APIs, SOAP web services, file system monitoring and custom endpoints.
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Scheduling: Real time (event driven), scheduled (configurable intervals), or manual (on demand through the web dashboard).
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Monitoring: Cloud based web dashboard with full transfer logs, task management and configuration controls.
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Security: Configuration server access restricted by IP address. All data transfers logged for full audit traceability.
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Extensibility: Custom tasks can be developed and deployed within the same managed framework alongside standard tasks.

Common Use Cases

Website to ERP/Accounts

orders placed on your website are automatically created in your manufacturing or accounting system. Customer data and order status flow back to the website.

ERP to Accounting

invoices, customer records and financial data synchronised between your MRP/ERP and your accounting package. Works alongside Accounts Gateway® for comprehensive financial integration.

EDI with trading partners

automated exchange of orders, forecasts, despatch notifications and invoices with customers and suppliers in standard EDI formats.

Multi system synchronisation

keeping data consistent across three, four or more systems, that all need to share the same information.

Automated reporting

generating and distributing reports on a schedule, pulling data from multiple sources and delivering them by email.

The Data Bridge® in action

Electronic Data Interchange

Discover the transformative power of our bespoke EDI solutions, designed specifically for Advanced Plastics to revolutionise their order and despatch processes.

Custom Website Integration

Connected a third-party e-commerce website with the client’s accounting and stock management systems through The Data Bridge®, automating the entire order pipeline.

Solidworks to 123insight Integration

The Data Bridge® has been configured to integrate with various add-ons for SOLIDWORKS, an industry-leading software solution, covering all aspects of product development, and design.

Efficient Online Ordering

The flexibility of DataBridge meant we were able to connect to their Sage 50 Database and transfer information relating to customers, sales orders, and their stock, directly up to the website database in real time.

What systems can The Data Bridge® connect to?

Virtually any system that has a database, an API, or can produce and consume data files. We have connected to ERP systems, accounting packages, CRM platforms, design tools, e-commerce sites, EDI middleware and many bespoke applications. If you are unsure whether your system is compatible, get in touch and we will assess it for you.

How is The Data Bridge® different from a simple file transfer?

A file transfer just moves a file from A to B. The Data Bridge® detects changes, extracts relevant data, transforms and validates it, delivers it to the target system in the correct format, logs the entire process and alerts our team if anything goes wrong. It is a managed, monitored, intelligent data transfer platform, not just a file copy.

Do we need anything installed on our server?

Yes. The Data Bridge® runs as a service on your local server, which allows it to connect directly to your databases and systems. Installation and configuration are handled by our team as part of the setup process.

Can we control when data transfers happen?

Absolutely. Each task can be configured to run in real time, on a schedule, or on demand. You can also pause and resume tasks through the web dashboard at any time. For scenarios that require human oversight, we can build in approval workflows so you review pending transfers before they are processed.

What happens if a data transfer fails?

Failed transfers are logged with full error details, and our support team is automatically alerted. We investigate and resolve the issue, often before you are aware of it. The failed transaction is retained so it can be reprocessed once the underlying issue is fixed — no data is lost.

Can we add more connections later?

Yes. The Data Bridge® is designed to grow with your business. New tasks, endpoints and integrations can be added at any time without disrupting existing transfers. Many of our clients start with one or two connections and expand over time.

How much does The Data Bridge® cost?

Pricing depends on the number and complexity of the tasks and connections required. We provide transparent, tailored pricing based on your specific setup. Get in touch and we will assess your requirements and provide a clear quote.

Built and Supported in Dorset

The Data Bridge® is designed, developed, and supported by Solweb from our offices in Ferndown, Dorset. Every installation is configured and maintained by the team that built the product. Whether you are based in Bournemouth, Poole, the South Coast, or anywhere in the UK, you get direct access to the engineers who know the platform inside and out.

Let Your Data Flow

If your team is spending time manually moving data between systems, The Data Bridge® can put a stop to it. Tell us which systems you need to connect and what data needs to flow, and we will show you how The Data Bridge® can automate the process. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation assessment.