Introduction:
API Integration is used by Companies to automate tasks. It acts as a messenger that processes requests and ensures seamless functioning in an Enterprise System.
Firstly, we can explain API Integration as the connection between two or more applications that allow systems to exchange data sources. The API allows you to communicate with the backend system. For instance you are checking your phone to know the weather conditions and using Facebook and instant chat option. Do you guys know API Companies sell their products and services online?
The following are some examples of E-Commerce Integration and APIs:
- To manage orders and stock levels. Using Inventory management APIs .
- CRM APIs are using to manage customer interactions.
- Payment gateway APIs are using for handling payment and purchase processes.
- Using an E-Commerce Integration platform can make E-Commerce data available to other apps.
- For handling queries and problems customer support APIs are using
- Selling the product on third-party E-Commerce market using E-Commerce Website APIs
You can achieve API Integration in different ways:
- Connector Application
- Custom Integration
Connector Application:
A Connector Application facilitates data transfer between two well-known platforms and reduces the need for API Management. They are affordable in price.
Custom Integration:
This method was popular some years back. It includes a handwritten script from a Software developer and has deep knowledge and understanding of API documentation, but the cost of Custom Integration makes it attractive. It is very time-consuming.
The Advantages of using an API Integration
API Integration has a lot of benefits, some of them including:
- Cyber Security:
APIs have security protocols that guarantee security against applications. There are many applications like Direct Selling Software, E-Commerce Websites, and other websites that consider the transaction details and payment details very important. Most API Management solutions offer de facto standards that help to improve API security.
- Automated Data Transfer:
Automation helps to reduce human components, which results in saving time and reducing errors.
- Better user Experience:
Most of the customers prefer good User Experience. This can be achieved by API integration. Therefore, the API enables us to connect with customers through different Social Media Platforms, in the form of Social Media Marketing Sites, Networking sites, Chatbots, and more.
- Scalability:
Without affecting the performance API support concurrent request.
- Better Financial Control:
With APIs, you can transfer the orders and sales to the ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning) system, and it helps in each stage of sales and orders. So that you can reduce the labour and development costs of writing sales code and offer the same functionality as the API.
- Data-Driven Decision Making:
The API offers easy data-driven decision making. Thus the API’s management solution helps you to understand your customers’ purchase patterns, geographical areas, and types of devices through analytic components. This helps you decide on which business strategies to employ to attract customers.
Different types of APIs that Uses in Web-based Applications.
- Public APIs:
Public APIs are also known as ‘Open APIs’. These APIs are accessible to developers with little authentication. Hence it allows outside users to have access to data and services. To use this first, you need to register and get an API key (OAuth).
- Private APIs:
They are also known as Internal APIs. Here the outsiders are restricted by using internal APIs, but this is exposed to internal systems within the company’s development team.
- Composite APIs:
The Composite APIs allow you to access different endpoints with one call and they are developed through API coordination capacity.
- Partner APIs:
Partner APIs are restricted to the public and allow access to certain business partners. So You have to go through specific authentication to access this API. This API is used most commonly
In fact, the above four APIs can be customized based on the business needs.
Conclusion:
To sum up, API integration is not a small topic to discuss. To repeat In this blog, we discussed some relevant topics about it. Undoubtedly, we can tell that API integration is the glue that holds technological development together.
