Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio) is Google's online BI tool for converting and processing data analysis. Thanks to the REST API interface, it is possible to retrieve data from ABRA Flexi and process it further in Looker Studio.

We can handle the integration of ABRA Flexi with Looker Studio as a service (you can find the service rate in our price list); however, the guide below describes how to set up the integration on your own.

You can find Looker Studio on the official website of Google.

A Google account is required to get started. We recommend reviewing all account-related details on the official website. The official website also provides a user manual.

First, you need to specify what data you want to export from ABRA Flexi. This typically includes accounting outputs, aggregations over the relevant records, or custom user-defined queries.

To retrieve data from ABRA Flexi, you can call the appropriate URL using the HTTP GET method. Below you will find guides on how to construct such a URL.

If you are just getting started with the ABRA Flexi REST API, we recommend reading our other guide, which explains the basics of working with the REST API interface. It is also worth mentioning again that you can order the Looker Studio integration as a service from us.

For this integration example, we will use the sales analysis export. Our guide describes in detail how to retrieve the sales analysis output via the API.

Our URL will follow this pattern:

https://jmeno:heslo@adresa-serveru:5434/c/firma/analyza-prodeje.json?analyzovat=adresar&datumOd=2022-01-01&datumDo=2022-12-31&datumyUcetne=false&nekatalogovePolozky=true

Let's break down the individual parts of the URL:

Using the URL described above, we will obtain a sales analysis that analyzes turnover by customer for the year 2022, including all line items (not just catalog items from the price list).

Since Looker Studio does not have its own API connector, we chose to use a free JSON connector developed by a third party (Windsor.ai).

Since the connector cannot handle so-called nested JSON, we created a PHP script that adjusts the JSON as needed. The script is available for free on our website.

The standard URL for working with the Flexi REST API is used here as the value of the "url" URL parameter. For example, "https://www.flexibee.eu/admin/sandbox/flat/?url=xxx", where "xxx" corresponds to the appropriate URL calling the ABRA Flexi API interface.

In Looker Studio, we now need to create a data source with the appropriate URL. After logging in to the application and creating a new workspace, you need to add data.

Here, select the "JSON" connector by Windsor.ai. We remind you again that this is a third-party application, and we are therefore unable to guarantee its functionality.

After selecting the connector, enter the appropriate URL and confirm the addition of the data source. The "Root Element" field can be left empty.

https://www.flexibee.eu/admin/sandbox/flat/?url=https://jmeno:heslo@adresa-serveru:5434/c/firma/analyza-prodeje.json?analyzovat=adresar&datumOd=2022-01-01&datumDo=2022-12-31&nekatalogovePolozky=true

Using the URL above, you can retrieve the sales analysis. Based on the parameters used, the analysis covers sales by customer for the year 2022, including non-catalog items (i.e., items without a reference to the price list).

After confirming the addition, all data sources — including the newly created one — are displayed in the right-hand panel of the application (the "Data" section).

All that remains is to build the desired chart or table from the loaded data. You can do this using the "Add a chart" button in the application header.

For the sales analysis, the resulting dashboard may look similar to the screenshot below. On the right side, you will also find an example of the settings.

In Example No. 1, we tried retrieving data using parameters to restrict the data selection for export (see the parameter in the previous URL: "?analyzovat=adresar&datumOd=2022-01-01&datumDo=2022-12-31").

Now, however, we will look at a second approach — how to retrieve all data without parameters and then configure the filtering for individual tables and charts within the Looker Studio interface. We will demonstrate this using a user-defined query that lists revenues and costs.

The URL will look as follows:

https://www.flexibee.eu/admin/sandbox/flat/?url=https://jmeno:heslo@adresa-serveru:5434/c/testovaci_new/uzivatelsky-dotaz/288/call.json?limit=0

For information on how to work with user-defined queries using the REST API interface, refer to our documentation. The only URL parameter used is pagination (the limit used ensures that all records are returned).

On a given page within Looker Studio, you can add multiple charts or tables and assign them a shared data source (in the settings section, individually for each chart or table).

With the URL mentioned above, the current state is that all data is loaded — meaning revenues and costs by month across all periods.

To allow users to easily interact with the input parameters of individual charts and tables, we will add a so-called control element.

In the control element settings, you again specify the data source (which can of course be used across multiple charts simultaneously) and configure which field the control element should affect.

Saving the settings and specifying the control element's condition will filter the results of the corresponding data source, and consequently the individual charts and tables.

Values for the individual fields that the control elements work with must be entered in the data type in which those fields are loaded by the data source.

If new data is created in ABRA Flexi that should be included in an already existing data source, the loaded data must be refreshed. Refreshing the data will trigger a new call to the URLs used, causing the data to be reloaded into Looker Studio.

Once the data sources are set up, all that remains is to display them in the desired format of charts and tables. The detailed steps for these operations are not covered in this guide, but you can order the creation of individual elements as a service from us.

Any number of output display options are available in various chart and table formats. The tool also supports data consolidation across multiple companies. The possibilities are virtually limitless.

ABRA Flexi is of course not the only application that can be connected to Looker Studio. You can compare and combine reporting results from various applications. In this regard, Looker Studio is a powerful BI tool.

As mentioned throughout this guide, we can handle the integration of ABRA Flexi and the subsequent data visualization in Looker Studio on your behalf.

We can process both standard outputs (e.g., sales/purchase analysis or accounting outputs) and fully custom outputs (user-defined queries). Feel free to contact us with any requirement — we will certainly find a solution.

The cost of such a service corresponds to the hourly rate for a service intervention. The price list is available on our website.

The time required cannot be determined in general — it is always individual, depending on the customer's requirements.

Can ABRA Flexi be connected to Power BI in a similar way?

Yes, the process is described in our other guide.

I am not familiar with the REST API interface — how should I proceed?

In that case, the API documentation may be helpful. If you are unable to set up the integration using the documentation, do not hesitate to contact us.

Need help?
If you have any questions about the application, contact us at podporaflexi@abra.eu or via the chat window in the bottom right corner.