Connected Sources
Beyond uploaded files, an engagement can connect to live sources — databases, CRM systems, document storage, surveys, and workshop tools — so it works from real, current data. Connections are configured by your firm as integrations and inherited by engagements, where you can override the defaults.
Who can access
Members of the engagement team manage an engagement's connected sources. Firm-wide integration setup is an Org Admin task.
Source types
| Type | Examples | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| Databases | Connected client databases | Live, queryable data — backs Database KPIs and Ask the Data |
| CRM | HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho | Account and pipeline context |
| Document storage | SharePoint, Google Drive, Box, Teams | Documents to index as evidence |
| Surveys | Typeform | Structured stakeholder input |
| Workshops | Miro, Asana | Workshop and collaboration artifacts |
The exact set available to you depends on what your firm has connected. See Integrations for the firm-level setup.
Inheritance and override
Your firm sets org-level defaults for connected sources. Each engagement inherits those defaults, and you can override them for a specific client — connecting a client's own database or document store, for example.
Step by step
- Open Data & Evidence → Connected sources in the engagement.
- Review the inherited org defaults.
- Override or add a connection specific to this client/engagement.
- Confirm the source is connected and (for document stores) that its documents are indexing.
Best practices
- Connect a database for defensible numbers. Database-backed KPIs carry their query and are the most verifiable figures you can show a client.
- Override deliberately. Inherit firm defaults where they apply; override only for client-specific sources.
Common errors
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Source shows not connected | OAuth not completed or credentials missing | Reconnect from Integrations; some providers require re-authorization |
| Database KPIs empty | No database connected to this engagement | Connect one here or via Database connections |