API Strategy for High-Volume B2B Software
Tags: api, apiintegration, apistrategy, ecommerceapi
Published: 2022-08-25 07:17:41

Today, the number of APIs is constantly growing, changing how many businesses run and operate. With a robust API strategy, companies can transform their business processes and create new revenue streams.

For software vendors working in the eCommerce industry, API integrations are also an integral part of their systems. Namely, the integration with eCommerce platforms is what allows them to perform their core functionality. However, due to the complex integration development process, they usually choose to integrate with just a few platforms. This results in covering a small pool of potential clients and loss of revenue.

In this article, you will learn why it is significant for you as a software provider to have a reliable API strategy and how to implement it with a third-party integration solution.

##How APIs Enhance B2B Software

The ultimate goal of any API connection is to seamlessly exchange data across your eCommerce software to give even more advantages to your clients. An API describes how various modules of your eCommerce application may interact with one another, allowing separate, standalone systems to communicate and share data. When an API is accessible for an eCommerce piece of software, it implies it may share data with any other API-enabled application.

[The benefits of APIs](https://blog.api.rakuten.net/api-benefits/) are huge: they make life easier, more stable, more secure, automate the IT process, and provide a better user experience. In addition, APIs greatly help companies generate additional revenue by improving their products and services.

##Challenges of Developing Integration With eCommerce APIs

When it comes to shopping platform integration, more is better because the number of connected shopping platforms affects the number of potential clients. Developing such a connection, on the other hand, is a complex and costly process. Thus it is frequently the major obstacle to the implementation of many SaaS applications.

Here are the common API integration difficulties for eCommerce software providers:

1. The integration process usually takes some time. During this phase, the responsible developer needs to understand the API functionality and the concept of the platform and find ways to overcome the challenges during the integration development. For example, the [Etsy API documentation](https://www.etsy.com/developers/documentation) does not contain all the necessary information to provide the integration easily. The other difficulty in retrieving data from Etsy through its API is related to the lack of relationship between product variants and images. Moreover, testing the Etsy API is a costly process.

2. Be prepared to pay a few thousand dollars, with the possibility of further payments if additional modifications are required. Once the integration is complete and properly validated, developer commitment and attention will be required as updated versions will occur, indicating further upgrades. Additionally, your customers might make requests for updates and enhancements.

3. Every integration takes a lot of time and effort, and it's a never-ending struggle after it's completed. For higher and more consistent performance, you'd prefer someone with expertise and competence, which might be difficult to discover and delegate if they're not on your development team.

Furthermore, every shopping platform is distinct and has its particular way of data storage. Due to the requirement to hire competent developers who can handle each integration individually, you'll need a considerable financial expenditure as well. 

##Unified API Strategy for High-Volume B2B Companies

As we've seen, [integrating with various shopping platforms](https://api2cart.com/ecommerce/shopping-cart-api-integration-for-b2b-saas/?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=shoppingcartapikh.ol) is essential, especially for SaaS vendors looking to come up with innovative products in their niche industries and get access to a larger user base. The good news is that you won't have to waste resources and time manually completing each integration because [API2Cart](https://api2cart.com/how-it-works/?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=apistrategykh.ol) provides a unified API for integrating with over 40 eCommerce platforms, including many industry leaders like Amazon, Magento, Shopify, OpenCart, PrestaShop, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and many others. As an outcome, you may work with a variety of data from any supported shopping platform.

Also, you won't have to develop connections with new eCommerce platforms if you use it because it's already compatible with the latest shopping platforms, saving you money and time. With the unified API you could easily integrate your SaaS application to a variety of shopping platforms used by your clients with a single connection and have a reliable API strategy.