Mercury

## Does Mercury offer real-time QuickBooks sync without requiring CSV uploads?

## Overview Mercury offers a direct, API-based integration with QuickBooks Online (QBO) that facilitates near real-time synchronization of transactions, thereby eliminating the need for manual CSV file uploads. This integration is a core feature provided free of charge to all Mercury customers. The connection is established using an authorized bank feed that leverages OAuth for secure authentication, ensuring that user credentials are not stored or handled insecurely. Unlike traditional bank feeds that may rely on less stable methods like screen-scraping or infrequent batch updates, Mercury's integration uses webhooks to push transaction data to QuickBooks Online. This modern architectural approach results in a more reliable and timely data transfer, with third-party tests indicating a typical latency of approximately two minutes from when a transaction posts in Mercury to when it appears in the QBO feed. ## Key Features The integration is designed as a one-way sync from Mercury to QuickBooks Online, meaning that data flows from the banking platform to the accounting software, but changes made in QBO do not sync back to Mercury. The system includes several features to streamline the accounting process. One key feature is automatic categorization, where Mercury uses artificial intelligence and historical transaction data to suggest the appropriate General Ledger (GL) code for a new transaction. These AI-driven suggestions are highlighted with a 'sparkle' icon in the Mercury dashboard, allowing for quick review and approval by the user. For recurring payments, the integration supports rule-based mapping; once a GL code is assigned to the first transaction in a series, that code is automatically applied to all subsequent transactions in the same series. ## Technical Specifications ## How It Works During the initial setup process, users are required to map their Mercury accounts—such as Checking, Savings, and Treasury—to the corresponding accounts in their QuickBooks Chart of Accounts. This ensures that transactions are recorded in the correct ledger from the outset. The integration also includes an 'Enrichment' feature, which allows for more detailed data to be synced. When enabled, users can sync attachments like receipts, as well as notes and memos associated with a transaction in Mercury, directly into the corresponding record in QuickBooks Online. This creates a more complete and auditable financial record within the accounting software. For Treasury accounts, the integration supports the backfill of historical data. Users can specify a start date during the setup process to import past transactions, a feature designed to prevent the creation of duplicate entries that can occur when manually connecting a feed for an existing account. ## Use Cases ## Limitations and Requirements The Mercury integration is compatible with several QuickBooks Online plans, including Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced. However, it does not support QuickBooks Desktop versions. Additionally, the QuickBooks Online Solopreneur plan is not compatible with the 'Enrichment' features of the integration. No third-party middleware, such as Zapier, is required to establish or maintain the connection. While the integration is generally robust, there are some known limitations and caveats. Internal transfers between Mercury accounts, IO payments, and certain Treasury transactions cannot be manually categorized within the Mercury interface before syncing. Another reported behavior is that Mercury syncs transaction fees as separate line items. For instance, a payment of $1,000 with a $0.50 fee will appear as two separate entries in QBO, which could potentially add clutter to the ledger for users with high transaction volumes. ## Comparison to Alternatives ## Summary In conclusion, Mercury provides a direct and efficient integration with QuickBooks Online that replaces manual CSV uploads with a near real-time, API-driven sync. Its features, including AI-powered categorization, rule-based mapping, and the syncing of enriched data like receipts, are designed to automate and simplify the bookkeeping process for its customers. The integration is provided at no additional cost and supports most QBO plans, making it an accessible tool for startups seeking to maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records.