Learn what APIs, API integrations and are and why they are critical to building automated workflows and easy data transfer.
Online services as we know them today are highly interconnected with other systems. To fit in the ecosystem of related software, it is important for vendors to be able to both expose and consume data. That is why they build integrations and expose their APIs so that vendors could interchange information with partner companies, internal software developers and customers.
In many cases, API integrations are indispensable. For instance, B2B eCommerce software solutions wholly rely on connections with shopping platfroms to deliver their functions and services. For example, order management systems need to access data on products, customers, shipping, and inventory levels to be able to process the orders. In this case, the best, if not the only, way to set up an ongoing data interchange with the online store is to integrate with the shopping cart.
The thing is, along with the benefits of integrations, there come API integration challenges as well. API integration development means making disparate software work together, and it always has been an enterprise software pain point.
Understanding APIs
APIs stands for Application Programming Interfaces. It is a group of protocols, tools and definitions that define how various application software can interface with each other. They allow developers to use some features or data of another service or application without knowing its implementation detail. APIs are a middleman – the software that allows one program to ask for information/data, or to have something done, and in response receive the required data or have something done to it. For instance, whenever you open a weather app on your smartphone, the app calls on a weather service API and gets live weather information to present on the screen.
Understanding API integrations
API integration refers to the ability of integrating one application with another through the use of APIs. It allows to enhance the interoperability of the two systems. APIs are useful in automation of tasks, data transfer between different platforms and applications. They improve the performance of software that a developer may be developing. This is especially the case in the present digital age, where companies are likely to use different applications and systems to coordinate their activities, interact with clients, and provide products and services. For instance, an eCommerce platform may use APIs to link with payment processors, delivery companies and CRM systems to ensure that the whole process is seamless. API integrations are therefore very important in helping the modern software ecosystems to function effectively.
So, there is a great number of benefits of API integration development.
What Problems Does API Solve?
Boosts productivity
Building applications from scratch rather than using existing solutions can negatively impact the productivity of enterprises.
APIs make software development faster. By using them, developers can faster implement existing functionality instead of creating everything themselves.
Saves money
The greatest benefit of APIs is that they can save on costs. Since APIs reduce the effort involved in creating applications, using them to develop apps is a great way to reduce costs.
Boosts connectivity and cooperation
Internal APIs can enhance communication and collaboration within a company. The core functionality of APIs is connectivity. They enable different systems to communicate with one another, share data and perform varied functions.
Supercharges innovation
Another valuable advantage of APIs is that they enable businesses to encourage innovation. Nowadays, more than ever, innovation is what drives success.
Improves customer experience
Enterprises can use APIs to create new and efficient ways to interact with customers. Especially in today's digital age when customers demand a seamless customer experience.
Gathers data for intelligence analytics
With the help of APIs, businesses can easily and quickly gather valuable data. When you make APIs available to third parties, you can see how people are using and interacting with them. This allows you to understand how consumers are engaging with your products.
Creates opportunities for revenue growth
Another benefit of using APIs is that you open up new revenue opportunities. If you monetize your company's APIs, you can increase the value of your digital resources and find new ways to enhance growth.
How Does Successful API Integration Work?
API integration is connectivity between applications that allows sharing data with each other. In the case of B2B SaaS solutions integration with eCommerce platforms enables them to work with store info. It includes such an info as orders, customers, products, shipments, baskets, and much more. They typically use a third-party solution to execute the integration, as in-house API integration entails a lot of challenges.
API integration is a set of API methods that allow performing CRUD operations, which are as follows: create, read, update, and delete. It is a bare minimum of options in most applications. CRUD operations comprise fundamental methods for accessing and managing data via RESTful APIs. Basically they correspond to five major HTTP methods:
- Create = POST
- Read = GET
- Update = PUT, PATCH
- Delete = DELETE
The Common API Integration Challenges Vendors Usually Encounter:
- Technological Complexity
- Security Risks
- High Time Consumption
- High Expensiveness
- Maintenance and Upgrading
- System's Diversity
Technological Complexity
Elaborating a flawless integration module requires having a wide range of tech knowledge and being on top of the latest trends in API building. Such experts worth their weight in gold. So finding a highly skilled and knowledgeable developer willing to elaborate integration for your system is one of the biggest challenges for vendors.
Security Risks
Security remains one of the main concerns for vendors. Results of API abuse, such as data breaches and losses, may affect a company's reputation and finances, not to mention the harm that can be done to the end customers(if there are any). Data breach methods are getting more sophisticated. It means that poor integration can become a sheer gift for users with malicious intentions. That is why keeping your connection with another system safe requires control and constant enhancing.
High Time Consumption
Elaborating a properly working integration module involves a great deal of scrutinous work. Setting up just one connection will take at least 4-12 weeks. That's the time when your developer learns the logic and architecture of the platform, makes an effort to reduce the bugs, and much more.
High Expensiveness
Have we already mentioned that professional developers are worth their weight in gold? 🙂 If you manage to find one, compensation for a month of hard work on integration will cost you several thousand dollars.
Maintenance and Upgrading
When a connection between the system is established, it is not the end of a story. You will need the IT staff or at least one developer to take care of integration maintenance and upgrading. Otherwise, any functional changes made to the shopping cart can mess up the whole process of data access and manipulation. Plus, your customers might request modifications and custom improvements.
System's Diversity
There is a big variety of software and API architectural styles. Given the fact that every system has its own specific logic, every integration has its unique challenges. When it comes to integrating with multiple platforms, a lot of time, and broad expertise to learn each of the systems is required. So if you are planning on multiple integrations, you should be aware that establishing a connection with every next endpoint will not be any faster or easier than with the previous ones.
How to Overcome Multiple Integrations Difficulties?
A single API integration is a difficult task. Multiple integrations are a whole mess of challenges. As a result, many software vendors can afford to work with only a few systems and thus missing out on business opportunities. Others turn to winning alternatives and choose to use API integration platform and focus on other business matters. Is there a way to avoid those international difficulties without detriment of API integration quality and quantity?
Luckily, yes. There are special integration solutions, which enable to perform integration faster, easier, cheaper, and safer. As to shopping cart integration, there is an API2Cart. It provides a unified API to connect with over 40 shopping platforms including Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Prestashop, etc.
Doing only one API2Cart integration instead of endless ones offers a good amount of advantages. These are as follows:
- extended features. You will get access to the database of oodles of eCommerce platforms and can retrieve products, categories, clients, order, etc., to synchronize the information within your system.
- new business opportunities (due to the ability to apply the changes to extend your services)
- a wider circle of customers (users of the 40+ shopping platforms become your potential clients)
- vast expenses and time loss prevented. No need to hire a developer to work on an integration module and then continue paying for maintaining and updating it when a new version is released.
Conclusion
Thus, API integrations are one of the most important aspects of the current software development because they allow applications to interact and work together. Learning about API integration is crucial for every developer because it help them build better, more efficient applications for the modern world. API integration is used in various software applications such as for eCommerce platforms, cloud services, and internal business applications. Therefore, through the adoption of the best practices, using the appropriate tools, and tracking the trends in the API industry, it is possible to develop effective and secure integration that will add value to the users and clients.
If you are interested in integrating your B2B solution with many shopping platforms and marketplaces and overcoming all API integration challenges, please schedule a consultation with our representative or contact us by chat. We provide a free 30-day trial period. So, you can test the functionality of API2Cart and see if it fits your business needs. Using API2Cart, you will be able to connect your system with Magento, Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce and many other platforms easily. Automate your business processes easily and fast.
The detailed documentation makes API utilizing easy and a dedicated. Tech-savvy 24/7 support team is always ready to help with any matters. API2Cart protect clients' personal and store information from unauthorized access, so their customers can be assured about their data security.
Wait!
Before you go, download the guide on how to integrate with 40+ eCommerce platforms in less than a month!
