BigCommerce inventory integration is the process of connecting inventory management systems with the BigCommerce API. It gives inventory software vendors access to the data stored in BigCommerce online stores, allowing them to process that data and deliver the functionality their clients need.
In this article, we explore why integrating with BigCommerce matters for software providers, and how to build this connection without having to support it on your own.
Why to Consider the Integration with BigCommerce?
Inventory management software is a unique tool that helps web store owners cut time and money expenditures while optimizing business processes. Such systems track inventory levels, orders, sales, and deliveries, and give e-retailers control over the amount of product they have in stock. They can also forecast potential product needs to help avoid overstock and stockouts.
There are many software providers in this field, and each is looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. If you're one such B2B software owner, integrating with various shopping platforms can be one of the most effective ways to enhance your business and get ahead of competitors.
The number of shopping platforms on the market is vast, so choosing which one to work with first can be difficult. BigCommerce is worth strong consideration — it's one of the leading eCommerce platforms, widely used by online store owners around the world. It's a powerful and flexible platform that powers a large number of websites, according to BuiltWith.
BigCommerce continues to gain popularity among online sellers, with a strong presence in markets such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.
Integrating with this shopping platform can significantly expand your pool of potential clients and boost profits. That said, building this connection yourself can be a headache, requiring considerable time and resources to develop and maintain.
BigCommerce API
To retrieve the data you need from BigCommerce stores and process it within your inventory management software, you must connect your system to the BigCommerce API. BigCommerce offers several APIs that let developers work with store data, query product information, and more.
If you need to manage online store data, you'll use the BigCommerce REST API. It lets you add and update products in an online store, and also work with order data — for example, updating customer orders and changing their statuses.
For an inventory management software provider, access to data about orders, products, and customers is essential. Without it, you won't be able to deliver your functionality to BigCommerce merchants.
With access to this data, your inventory management system can:
- Maintain a balance between inventory levels
- Track inventory levels and product sales
- Sync inventory across multiple sales channels
- Prevent lost sales caused by out-of-stock situations
- Provide clients with detailed reports to track performance across all their sales channels
So, if you want to offer your service to BigCommerce merchants, BigCommerce inventory integration is a must-have.
That said, developing a connection with an eCommerce platform like BigCommerce can be technically demanding. It typically requires a qualified development team, weeks of platform research, and a substantial budget — similar to what's involved in building an API integration for other platforms like PrestaShop.
Let's take a closer look at the difficulties that can arise during BigCommerce inventory integration.
BigCommerce Inventory Integration Difficulties
As mentioned above, building the connection between your inventory management software and BigCommerce can be technically complex. If you plan to handle it entirely in-house, be prepared for significant expenses.
To build a stable connection with BigCommerce efficiently, you'll typically need at least two or three qualified developers, and their work can require a substantial monthly budget. On top of that, you'll need to cover server hardware costs and subscription fees for the tools and services your developers rely on.
Don't forget about ongoing maintenance costs either — these are unavoidable, since BigCommerce regularly updates its platform.
Fortunately, there's a way to avoid this painful process and save both time and money with API2Cart. The service lets you connect to not only BigCommerce but also 70+ other shopping platforms, such as Magento, WooCommerce, X-Cart, Shopify, OpenCart, and more — all through a single connection. For a broader look at the platforms shaping the market, see our overview of popular eCommerce marketplace services.
Conclusion
As you can see, API2Cart can significantly simplify BigCommerce inventory integration. It makes integration easier, faster, and more cost-effective, while also handling ongoing maintenance and updates. You build the connection with the API2Cart unified API once, get connected to a wide range of eCommerce platforms, and never have to worry about rewriting your code every time a platform releases a new version. If you're looking to reduce manual development work even further, it's worth exploring how you can run store operations with AI and no developer required.
- products: product.list/ product.count/ product.info/ product.find/ product.add/ product.update/ product.image.add/ product.review.list/ product.variant.add
- categories: category.list/ category.count/ category.info/ category.find/ category.add
- order data: order.count/ order.list/ order.info/ order.find/ order.add/ order.update/ order.status.list/ order.shipment.list/ order.shipment.add/ order.shipment.update
- customer info: customer.list/ customer.count/ customer.info/ customer.find/ customer.add
You can find detailed info about all the supported methods for BigCommerce in our API Docs.
If you would like to find out more, schedule a FREE consultation with our manager. We're ready to answer all your questions by chat, email, or phone, 24/7.
Marketing manager, API fan, nerd, perfectionist, British humour enthusiast, literature and history geek.
