What is Ecwid API and How to Connect with It?
Tags: api, programming
Published: 2022-07-28 15:55:29

For eCommerce software vendors who provide solutions such as marketing automation, shipping management, warehouse management, order and inventory management, price optimization, etc., it is important to use an Ecwid API to connect with this platform. Moreover, they need to access valuable data from Ecwid online stores that can only be retrieved smoothly through integration with this shopping cart platform.

Ecwid API gives you the ability to connect your software with hundreds of thousands of e-stores using Ecwid and obtain valuable data from those stores related to orders, customers, shipments, prices, taxes, etc.

In this article, we’ll look at the process of integrating Ecwid and show you how to work with its API to leverage its database.

## Ecwid Platform

Ecwid became one of the most prominent eCommerce platforms of 2022, with users in more than 175 countries. It powers [more than 900,000 active online stores](https://trends.builtwith.com/shop/Ecwid).

Ecwid platform, which started gaining traction a few years ago, has many customers in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. For example, there are more than 400,000 e-stores on the Ecwid platform in the United States. In the UK, there are 92,000+ e-stores based on Ecwid; in Germany - 87,000+ stores; and in Italy  - approximately 63,000 stores.

In many countries, Ecwid offers a viable alternative to WooCommerce and Shopify, two of the most popular eCommerce platforms.

## Ecwid API

In order to take full advantage of Ecwid integration and make the most out of being connected to this giant platform, it is essential to understand what an [Ecwid API](https://developers.ecwid.com/ecwid-api) is.

An application programming interface (API) is a set of protocols and definitions enabling two computer applications to connect with each other. The first application uses specific methods to request data, and the second system sends back an API response containing the requested data.

Ecwid API is a RESTful API with oAuth2 authentication, which means that you can use it to manage Ecwid e-stores’ data, customize the storefront and send out updates. Developing integration with the Ecwid API means you can gain access to precious online stores’ data, such as products, orders, customers, shipping, and inventory details. 

Ecwid's RESTful API makes it possible for you to get, update, create and delete Ecwid store data easily.

Without the ability to retrieve and manage Ecwid data, software vendors who operate in the eCommerce sphere cannot provide their products to merchants who build their stores on this shopping platform.

## Ecwid Integration

If you want to offer your prospective customers an easy way to manage their Ecwid online stores and products, integrating your eCommerce software with the Ecwid platform is a great way to accomplish this goal.

The Ecwid API integration allows you to create additional features for your customers, expand your market share, and increase profits. The integration enables you to gain access to the data stored on Ecwid and import this data into your own system as order details, pricing information, customer details, shipping information, and much more.

Building a connection with the Ecwid API is not a simple process, and integrating your software with this shopping cart solution can be extremely difficult because Ecwid has a specific architecture. You should work with developers who are well-versed in bypassing any integration challenges that might appear along the way.

Integrating Ecwid manually with any software is extremely time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, it can take up to 6 weeks for a team of developers to completely set up a connection, plus months to continue improving the connection and fixing bugs/enhancing security.

## Ecwid API Connection Development

Manual in-house Ecwid integration development is a viable option for large companies with huge budgets that can afford to pay a team of developers to integrate their systems with the most common platforms available on the market. However, most software providers choose a cheaper and easier alternative: third-party Ecwid integration services.

There are a few popular integration solutions available on the market. Usually, they work on a subscription basis, supports the connection with multiple eCommerce platforms, and take care of further integration maintenance and updating. 

One of the examples of [services that provides integration with Ecwid API is API2Cart](https://api2cart.com/supported-platforms/ecwid-integration/?utm_source=dev.to&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ecwidapin.kov). It provides a universal API for multiple eCommerce platforms. Ecwid is on the list of the platforms that can be integrated using API2Cart. 

API2Cart provides a number of API methods that allow you to work with Ecwid online store data related to products, orders, customers, attributes, shipping info, prices, and taxes.

It is possible to test API2Cart functionality for a month for free.