What is eCommerce Platform API?
Tags: api, programming, saas
Published: 2022-07-11 11:23:33

If you are an eCommerce software vendor, you can gain an advantage over your competitors by expanding the markets in which your product is offered or by increasing the number of features in your software.

eCommerce platform API integration development is the way to increase your potential customer base.

An application programming interface (API) is a tool that enables two different computer systems to communicate with each other. eCommerce API integration, therefore, is a way for developers to connect the software with third-party solutions so they can access data from their customers' stores.

## What is the Purpose of APIs?

An API facilitates a connection between two digital products or applications, enabling one program to send requests to another and receive responses back.

One of the main purposes of API is to enable two different systems to quickly and easily communicate with each other automatically. For instance, let’s take a look at eCommerce platforms’ APIs. You can use them to integrate your software to shopping platforms like Magento, Shopify, PrestaShop, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and access all the e-store data needed to perform your key software functions.

An API is a key to adding additional functionality to an eCommerce software product, interacting with external services, and accelerating the development process, making the vendor's software more competitive on the market.

## The Specifics of eCommerce platforms’ APIs

 An eCommerce platform is a software solution that helps online merchants manage their eCommerce activities. eCommerce platform API is a means to connect the eCommerce software or application that helps e-merchants perform their business functions to shopping platforms.

Let's explore the major features of APIs of a few popular eCommerce platforms:

**- Magento API**

[Magento API](https://developer.adobe.com/commerce/webapi/rest/) is a popular eCommerce platform API out there. It provides a framework for software developers to interact with Magento-based websites.

The Magento API supports REST and SOAP formats with authentication, including OAuth 1.0a, tokens, and login credentials. However, it also has drawbacks. The API can be complex for beginners, and re-indexing problems can arise. Also, the Magento API Docs sometimes don't contain the right information.

**- WooCommerce API**

The [WooCommerce REST API](https://woocommerce.com/document/woocommerce-rest-api/) supports both JSON and XML formats, providing advanced functionality for custom software development. However, the API requires significant custom coding when it comes to using plugins. Most of the logic has to be developed manually, which is not the case with other platforms.

**- Shopify API**

[Shopify API](https://shopify.dev/api) is also an eCommerce platform API that allows software developers to add additional functionality to their software and gain access to Shopify merchant data. It supports two authentication methods—OAuth and Basic HTTP authentication. Shopify API gets updated occasionally, so some integrations may be affected by these changes.

**- Ecwid API**

[Ecwid REST API](https://developers.ecwid.com/ecwid-api) allows developers to integrate their applications with this platform, allowing them to operate Ecwid stores as if they were users. You can add, delete, modify or update products depending on your requirements.

**- BigCommerce REST API**

The [BigCommerce REST API](https://developer.bigcommerce.com/docs/97b76565d4269-big-commerce-ap-is-quick-start) is one of the most powerful APIs for eCommerce platforms. It gives you access to store data, allowing you to manage it like an administrator. With the BigCommerce API, you can add or update products, customer orders, order status, create coupons, and much more.

## What is eCommerce Platform API integration?

[eCommerce platform API integration](https://api2cart.com/?utm_source=dev.to&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ecommerceplatformapin.kov) is the process of linking software solutions, such as inventory and shipping management, with eCommerce platforms like Magento, Shopify, and WooCommerce.

Software vendors need access to the data of shops on eCommerce platforms in order to offer their solutions to online retailers. Store data is therefore essential for software vendors to offer their solutions to online retailers. Access to store data provides the software with additional functionality and enables it to perform its core functions. Without store data, the software will not be able to automate tasks and synchronize information between systems.

Moreover, API integration with eCommerce platforms provides many opportunities for software vendors to expand their business and engage with e-commerce platform customers as a potential customer base.

## How to Develop the Connection with APIs of Multiple eCommerce Platforms

Developing an eCommerce platform API integration can be a challenge. However, there are two possible ways to build it.

**- In-house integration development**

To develop integrations internally, you need to have an in-house development team. Before that, however, you need to look for advanced developers, hire them, and train them for the purpose. Moreover, developing integrations is complex, time-consuming, and costly, so you will end up spending a significant amount of money on developing one integration.

**- Third-party integration development**

A third-party eCommerce platform API integration service can help you connect to multiple shopping platforms without spending a lot of time, money, and resources. The service provider takes care of all the other maintenance and upgrades. All you have to do is buy the subscription.

For software providers who operate in different eCommerce industries, API2Cart is an ideal integration solution. It is a unified API that can connect your eCommerce software to more than 40 shopping platforms and marketplaces at once. If you need to connect to multiple platforms, you don't have to spend time on each platform individually as API2Cart integrates with all of them together, saving you time, money, and resources.