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API Integration: All You Need to Know

by Tech Addict Writer, Blogger
As the world becomes increasingly invested in digital transformation, there has been a growing focus on API integrations, i.e. establishment of a link between two or more applications via their application programming interfaces. 

It refers to the seamless connectivity that allows organizations to automate their business processes and enhance the sharing and embedding of data across a variety of various applications and systems. The goal of API integrations is to enable systems to exchange data amongst different sources, of course. For instance, an app like Tripadvisor would aggregate data about various airlines and hotels by calling their APIs in real-time. An additional case would include the synchronization of leads between marketing automation systems such as Marketo with an organization’s CRM system such as Salesforce that enables the sales team to work on them.

The goal of API integrations is to enable systems to exchange data amongst different sources, of course. To better demonstrate the point of API integrations, allow us to walk you through some of the key benefits of API integrations for businesses.

  1. Automation: API integrations facilitate the automatic exchange of information and data within apps. Such robust automation, in turn, helps do away with the need for manual intervention, i.e. the need to involve human agents. What that does, consequently, is help companies save time and costs as well as cut down the scope for errors.
  2. Scalability: One of the biggest reasons why businesses turn to API integration is that it is highly conducive to scalability. You see, API integrations help companies take their businesses to the next level: this is because it helps companies ensure that they do not need to start over every single time they are trying to set up connected apps and systems.
  3. Optimized visibility: Yet another critical benefit of API integrations is the ability to achieve end-to-end visibility of all processes and systems across the organization. This, in turn, enables better reporting and communication. Furthermore, such a streamlined approach also allows companies to better monitor data, create reports, and so much more.

Now that you understand the benefits, let us also take a look at the process: 

a. The first step in the process is assessing the company’s goals and identifying the issues that need to be addressed. This is followed by identifying how the internal and external platforms can be integrated to address said concerns.
b. Next step is to garner support from stakeholders including software analysts, system admins, etc. for the API integration process.

You are now ready to start the integration process. Let us now talk about the different ways in which one can achieve API integration.

  1. Custom integrations: This type of integration is based on manual scripts written by software developers with an extensive grasp of the concept of API documentation. While this remains a popular method, it does involve considerable costs, including custom development, maintenance, etc. 
  2. Connector apps: Connector apps enable the transfer of data between two software platforms. Not only are connectors budget-friendly but also facilitate quicker deployments and render integrations much simpler to maintain and manage.
  3. API integration platforms: API integration platforms are generally SaaS apps designed for the development of API integrations to join systems, SaaS apps, etc.

Let us wrap this up with an example to better demonstrate the concept of API integration and perhaps nothing would better serve the purpose than e-commerce websites. They use order management systems to process orders, be it for purchase or shipping, and to do that, they require databases, servers, etc. 

This implies an exchange of data and that, ladies and gentlemen, is achieved via API integration, of course. So now that you know the purpose of API integration and how much it stands to benefit your website as well, we highly recommend getting in touch with a trusted application integration services provider at the earliest possible. 

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About Tech Addict Innovator   Writer, Blogger

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Joined APSense since, November 22nd, 2016, From Vododara, India.

Created on Apr 18th 2022 07:22. Viewed 162 times.

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