Universal Shopping Cart API: What It Is and How to Use It
eCommerce software providers looking to compete in today’s market should consider the option of using a universal shopping cart API integration solution as a way to streamline their integration efforts and maximize their reach on multiple shopping platforms.
When you offer order management, marketing automation, repricing, multichannel, or dropshipping automation services, it is essential that you understand how to integrate with multiple eCommerce platforms to provide better services to your clients and have access to all the data you need to run your business.
In this article, we’ll explore a universal shopping cart API and reveal the meaning of API integration in the eCommerce sphere.
What is API, and How Exactly Does It Work?
The term “application programming interface” was first used in 1940 to describe software interfaces designed for end-user-facing programs. Today, the API is used to describe hardware interfaces and utility software as well. In the eCommerce sphere, APIs allow seamless data transfer between shopping cart solutions and eCommerce platforms.
Each API contains its own set of function calls that tell the software what kind of information to collect. For example, as an eCommerce software provider, you can use these function calls to get data related to your clients’ e-store products, descriptions, prices, orders, baskets, shipments, or taxes.
The API enables software developers to create a variety of apps and tools that interact with other apps, exchanging data in a standardized environment. For example, a developer can use API to send an inquiry “call” to a server to pull out the data needed. There are four methods available for use:
GET: it is possible to use this method to gather info required
PUT: allows updating data pieces
POST: is used for the creation of new resources
DELETE: allows removing an item or several items
The methods and parameters you pass in an API request are part of the request. The response is the actual data you receive after making a request. The format of this data varies based on what is stored in the system. This information can be manipulated into other data formats, such as JSON or XML.
For example, some responses can be:
- 100: continue
- 200: ok
- 204: no content
- 302: found
- 308: permanent redirect
- 404: not found
- 423: locked
- 504: gateway timeout
API Integration in the eCommerce Sphere
APIs are used today by many industries and niches, such as banking, retail, cloud computing, manufacturing, and eCommerce. Pulling data from third-party systems is neccessary for all modern software solutions regardless of the industry.
In the eCommerce sphere, API integration has become more important recently as more software providers have realized the necessity of collecting their customers’ data. The API integration process in the eCommerce sphere involves tying specific software to shopping carts’ APIs like Shopify, Magento, X-Cart, WooCommerce, and ZenCart.
Once you’ve created a connection to your clients’ data, you’ll be able to access it from all of the eCommerce platforms they use. If you connect your software to Magento, WooCommerce, Wix, and Shopify, you will be able to work with the data from any e-stores based on these platforms.
For instance, chatbot providers can integrate their solutions with shopping platforms to retrieve data related to products, stocks, baskets, and customers’ interactions. At the same time, inventory management software can leverage API integration to shopping cart solutions to seamlessly sync inventory across multiple selling platforms and channels.
Ultimately, API integration development enables you to transfer data between systems without inputting the information manually.
Usage of Universal Shopping Cart API
If you want to grow your software business, properly service your existing and prospective customers, and expand by implementing improved services, then setting up a connection to the largest shopping carts is a must-have.
But the key concern is that creating a separate connection to each required shopping cart is time-consuming since each platform has its own API specifics. Hence, you need to find people with specific knowledge of how to create connections for each platform.
Instead of creating your own integration, you can choose to use a universal shopping cart API such as API2Cart to connect to multiple shopping carts. With API2Cart, you will connect to 40+ shopping cart solutions with minimum financial investment and no ongoing maintenance involvement.
The modern unified shopping cart data interface allows you to seamlessly connect to millions of potential clients using platforms such as Wix, WooCommerce, Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, X-Cart, Magento, or OpenCart. This interface takes API connectivity in eCommerce to the next level and allows you to do it all at a very good price for you with a minimum investment of personnel.
Conclusion
Universal shopping cart API integration is recommended to all eCommerce software providers looking to improve their offerings and expand into new markets. To learn more about how API2Cart can help you, contact their managers now.
