The Integration Blueprint: Building a Tiered Strategy for ConnectWise and 3rd-Party Tools

Building out integrations for ConnectWise and third-party tools probably wasn’t part of your MSP dream. But here you are, reading this post, wishing the documentation was just a little less technical and a lot more "human." Maybe you’ve just wrapped up the initial setup of your ConnectWise environment…if not, take a look at our blog on Your First 100 Days with ConnectWise: A Complete Setup Roadmap for a survival kit. Now, you want to actually make ConnectWise work for you without breaking your brain or burning through billable hours.

This guide brings it down to earth. Let's walk through how you can approach integration with a tiered strategy, making it simple, scalable, and smart—even if you’re not a full-time systems engineer or someone who dreams in APIs.

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• What a tiered integration strategy is (and why you should care)
• The basics of ConnectWise’s integration ecosystem
• Step-by-step instructions (with relatable detours) to start building your integrations the right way
• How to prioritize integrations for real business value
• Where most MSPs slip up (and how to avoid it)
• How Bering McKinley supports you along the way

What Does Tiered Integration Strategy Even Mean?

Building out integrations isn’t just flipping a switch, plugging in, and moving on. A tiered approach means layering your integrations by importance and complexity, so you don’t end up with a Rube Goldberg machine quietly plotting against your team in the background.

Why tier your approach? 

• Prevent “integration sprawl” (a real thing where you have too many disconnected apps running half-baked integrations)
• Control risk and data flow
• Maximize uptime and minimize headaches
• Make scaling up (or troubleshooting) way easier

Think of this as Marie Kondo for your MSP tech stack, but instead of sparking joy, you’re sparking efficiency and profitability.

Mapping the ConnectWise Integration Ecosystem: What Plugs In, What Pays Off

Before we jump in, here’s the landscape: ConnectWise is built to scale with you. From low-code workflows to full-blown API integrations, it supports everything from “just works” convenience to custom automation wizardry.

Key options MSPs work with: 

• ConnectWise Marketplace – Your directory for 270+ integrations, including security, automation, quoting, RMM, analytics, and more. Most major vendors you’d want to connect with are here.
• ConnectWise PSA, Automate, RMM, ScreenConnect, and ASIO – First-party tools designed to play nice together, creating a single-pane-of-glass experience.
• Invent Program – For critical and certified third-party integrations, with security reviews and ConnectWise support on tap.
• Open Developer Network – For those who want to go custom; robust API docs, forums, and best practices guide you.

But just because you can connect something, doesn’t mean you should (at least, not all at once).

Step One: Define Your Integration Priorities

Before getting technical, plot your integration wish list. Where are your bottlenecks or error-prone manual processes? What eats away at your day? Are there compliance tasks that must be rock-solid, or customer-facing workflows where missteps cost money or reputation?

Ask yourself 

• What are the highest-impact apps or data your team uses daily?
• Are you spending too much time double-entering info, chasing errors, or piecing together reports from multiple platforms?
• Is your team always copying data from system A to system B (hello, wasted hours!)?

Now choose your top three integrations. Yup, just three to start. Focus keeps things manageable and lessons learned from one can inform the rest.

Step Two: Know Your Integration Tier Before You Plug In

Tier 1 Certified, Supported "Must-Haves"

These are plug-and-play or near plug-and-play integrations available in the ConnectWise Marketplace or certified via the Invent Program. 

Examples: 

• QCommission for sales commission automation (think "no more Excel nightmares")
• RMM tools (ConnectWise’s own or approved 3rd parties)
• Backup and advanced security tools (Perch, ESET)

Why start here? 

• Well-documented, security reviewed, officially supported
• Community experiences to draw from
• Quickest wins for eliminating manual data entry

Tier 2 Configurable Integrations and API-led Tweaks

You move up the ladder into integrations that require configuration, mapping fields, and maybe a little help from a tool like Zapier or an in-between platform like QXchange.

Examples: 

• CRM or accounting platforms that aren’t natively listed, but have reputable API options
• Custom report or dashboard linking (BrightGauge, Power BI)

Why here? 

• Allows you to solve specific business needs or automate key steps unique to your workflow
• Balances custom flexibility with risk management

Tier 3 Custom, Build-Your-Own with APIs

This is advanced territory. Maybe your company has some unique workflow, or there’s a feature gap. Direct API scripts, webhooks, or webhook-to-API bridges live here. You might team up with a specialist or consultant at this stage.

Why go custom? 

• Total control over your data and process
• Solve for gaps when no off-the-shelf solution exists
• Tackling specialized vertical needs or proprietary IP

Warning: Don’t start here unless you truly must. "Because I can" is not a valid tier three strategy.

Step Three: Lay the Tracks Before You Stack

Once you know your priorities and tiers, plot a course of action. Call it a roadmap, a blueprint, a track—call it whatever you want—just make one. You don't have to lock yourself in, but a plan keeps your stack from looking like your sock drawer after laundry day.

Sample roadmap: 

• Month 1
  • Enable and test the top three Tier 1 integrations directly from ConnectWise Marketplace
  • Write down (yes, physically) every manual workaround you’re doing
• Month 2
  • Review lessons, troubleshoot, and fine-tune
  • Identify process gaps unsolved by Tier 1; outline Tier 2 solutions
• Month 3+
  • Tackle Tier 2, looping in consultants if needed
  • If a real gap remains, only then venture into Tier 3 (and prepare for more testing/support)
• Quarterly Review
  • Meet with your team to assess what’s working, what isn’t, and recalibrate

Tip: Track what doesn’t work as much as what does. Integration-fails make for great “what not to do” stories at the next MSP meetup.

Step Four: Red Flags, Regrets, and Rookie Moves to Skip

• Integration for Integration’s Sake

More isn’t always better. Every new link in the chain is a new point of failure.

• “Fire and Forget” Mentality

Integrations need ongoing care. Document the setup, logic, and authentication details, and map out “what ifs” for outages or auth changes.

• Lack of Testing

Always test with actual data in a sandbox, not live environments.

• Neglecting Security and Compliance

Use certified integrations whenever possible. The Invent Program exists for a reason; integrations like HYAS Infosec through Invent offer real peace of mind with security reviews.

• No Ownership Hand-off

Someone on your team needs to own each integration—document who, what, and where.

Step Five: Lean on the Network - Support, Community, and Shared Wins

You’re not alone. Don’t suffer in silence or try to build Rome in a day. Engage with ConnectWise’s developer network, user forums, and specialists like those at Bering McKinley. Read up on “Your First 100 Days with ConnectWise” for setup lessons, and check the ConnectWise blog for real-world integration case studies from MSPs who’ve been there and survived.

Final Takeaway: Start Small, Plan Smart, Stack Strategically

Implementing a tiered integration strategy with ConnectWise isn’t just about surviving IT vendor roulette. It’s about building a system where people and platforms work with each other, not against. Start with the basics, celebrate each small win, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Need personalized guidance? The team at Bering McKinley brings decades of ConnectWise expertise. We’ll map your priorities, help you avoid common pitfalls, and keep your integrations as simple or as customizable as you want.

Take action now and reach out to Bering McKinley for a free consultation. With a solid, tiered integration roadmap, you transform ConnectWise from "just another tool" into the operational backbone your MSP actually enjoys using.