The eCommerce industry has grown and changed over the last two decades. Advances in technology have changed the way consumers shop and what they expect from the shopping experience.
The term API stands for “application programming interface,” which enables two or more applications to communicate with each other. They provide a set of rules and procedures for how pieces of software should interact.
Understanding the function of APIs is the key to understanding how they can help business users accomplish more in the competitive industry.
In this post, we will go through an overview of API integrations and their role in the eCommerce marketplace.
API integration enables systems to exchange data sources by connecting two or more applications through APIs. API integration allows processes at many different organization levels to keep data in sync, increase productivity and generate revenue.
With the help of APIs, different systems communicate with each other, resulting in an interconnected network that seamlessly shares data. This process not only helps to create a natural split between your front-end and back-end operations but also shares the data between multiple systems that help your business work at a high level.
APIs increase growth, innovation, efficiency, agility, and productivity ― all of which have a beneficial effect on profitability. Indeed, it would not be much of a stretch to say that under the hood, APIs are the engine powering the digital economy, which is now evolving quickly in the eCommerce industry.
For example, if you need to call the news aggregator API and request ten of today’s most popular news from it, you can use the “top news” command, and the service will respond by sending you the most recent collection of updates.
Marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy provide buyers with a comprehensive virtual shopping experience through various features, functionalities, and services. In addition, many eCommerce marketplace owners do partnerships with third-party service providers to integrate their systems with various marketplaces easily and faster.
Along with improving the buyer experience, API integrations make it easier for the marketplace administrator to manage and market the eCommerce business, which aids in the growth of their business. It allows the company to focus on its core strengths along with maintaining a website.
APIs have multiple uses. Apart from enhancing buying experience for customers and amplifying selling capabilities for the sellers, API integrations also facilitate managing and marketing the eCommerce business for the admin of the marketplace.
eCommerce fulfillment APIs offer order management, printing shipment information, tracking, confirmation notifications, and many more that can assist businesses in automating, coordinating, managing, and streamlining their operations.
Before launching a marketplace, it is important to understand APIs because they act as the glue that holds eCommerce together.
Let’s explore some of the benefits of eCommerce API integration.
Most businesses require application automation with no manual effort. This interchange of applications is possible with APIs that support automation.
An Admin can automate and integrate manual tasks in his business to create a smooth and seamless transition between the linked applications. Automation simplifies complex processes and can help business owners to save money, effort, and time.
APIs raise the security of software systems by letting users request data from your systems. The API protects the eCommerce data with security measures such as encryption. APIs can help with this by adding an extra layer between software systems, reducing the risk of data breaches and preventing hackers from accessing a server’s backend. You can keep your eCommerce marketplace safe and secure by sticking to API security best practices.
You can use an API to connect your various systems, resulting in a seamless and simple customer experience. When customers use a system, they have no idea that they are communicating with multiple platforms linked together by an API. All they see are quick and easy capabilities and opportunities that they can get from the marketplace.
Scalability is your ability to expand and grow, while your current system grows with you. By using APIs, you’ll add to your existing eCommerce ecosystem without changing the underlying system. this suggests APIs can provide greater scalability and flexibility as your needs grow and change.
The following are a few of the most practical eCommerce APIs that you should think about integrating with your marketplace.
Today’s customers want more advanced payment options. Payment APIs enable online stores or marketplaces to accept payments from a variety of payment gateways. A payment gateway not only builds customer trust but is also essential for a marketplace’s sales conversion. Payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Payoneer, and others are widely used.
That’s why a secure and robust payment gateway should be a part of any marketplace.
A Shipping API enables marketplace owners to automate shipping processes from the sale through the package being delivered to a customer. This covers everything from the initial sale to the finished delivery and everything in between. It also can be used to automate the creation of packaging invoices and labels.
The Shipping API lets you select from a variety of carriers based on their delivery time, rates, and location. This type of API also allows for shipment tracking. It allows you to incorporate order tracking information into a mobile application or website, as well as send it via email or text message.
GPS location services offer features like Search, Maps, and Fleet Telematics to the market. These aid in customizing marketplace services. This API provides a map of locations for shipping or a list of services to different regions. In addition, this also helps in creating a map of products people buy in different geographical locations, to help the customers find what they need most, depending on where they live.
Integrating Google Maps is proven to be a great strategy in the eCommerce marketplace.
This API is very important while running a global eCommerce business which helps eCommerce businesses to sell across borders with ease. A multi-currency conversion API allows instantly converting currency to the customer’s local currency.
Fixer is a safe currency conversion API with a millisecond response time.
eCommerce integrations improve an online marketplace’s capabilities in a variety of ways. They automate the majority of the processes, making the eCommerce marketplace a powerful tool that you can use to onboard vendors and attract customers to your marketplace. Improved functionality can provide a good foundation for a successful eCommerce business.
eCommerce operations can be much easier if you use API integration and the right technology.
At the end of the day, every decision you make regarding your eCommerce business should assist you in reaching your goals. Whether it is streamlining your business operations, expanding your brand’s reach, or directing your customers to the desired products.
We hope this blog helps you understand that a lot can be achieved with the help of API integrations, hence their importance.
Need some help? You can contact the FATbit Technologies team to learn more about possible solutions.
Suggested Read: A complete guide on API integrations in eCommerce marketplace
We create future-focused content to help you stay updated. Follow us on Twitter to get notified about latest tips, trends and product updates.
Disclaimer: The Blog has been created with consideration and care. We strive to ensure that all information is as complete, correct, comprehensible, accurate and up-to-date as possible. Despite our continuing efforts, we cannot guarantee that the information made available is complete, correct, accurate or up-to-date. We advise - the readers should not take decisions completely based on the information and views shared by FATbit on its blog, readers should do their own research to further assure themselves before taking any commercial decision. The 3rd party trademarks, logos and screenshots of the websites and mobile applications are property of their respective owners, we are not directly associated with most of them.
Sakshi Sharma is a Content Marketer at FATbit Technologies. Through her blogs, she brings insightful data to help entrepreneurs and startup owners understand the eCommerce strategy according to the latest market trends. You can find her listening to music and reading books in her leisure time.
