Joshua Galyon
Data is paramount for success in the business world. It is what helps drive strategy, decisions, and—ultimately—success.
There are billions upon billions of data that is being generated at any given time around the world. For many, it can seem intimidating even to know where to begin.
But this is where understanding how you can leverage various data tools and software programs can be a game-changer. You do not have to be a coding genius or technology guru to make data work for you.
One of the most important things to focus on when it comes to setting up how your company collects, sorts, and utilizes data is the role in which data integration plays.
In fact, there is a lot of focus right now on APIs and how they need to be an important factor that you not only understand but use to your benefit.
This is where we come in. We are sharing all there is to know about APIs and why they should come before data integration.
What is an API?
First, many of you may be scratching your head and wondering what an API is. And if you are, that is totally okay.
An API stands for “application programming interfaces”. This means that when it comes to connecting two or more applications for your business in the world of data, an API is a powerful driver for making the syncing process of data successful.
API integrations are able to utilize the various layers and sectors that data is used for in your organization and sync it all up in a way that boosts your company’s overall success and performance ability.
In fact, API is essential when it comes to the business world. Regardless of the industry that you are in and how big or small you are, API will ensure that you can perform to a seamless operational standard and equally have quality performances through your applications and the web.
How to Integrate APIs
This is where understanding the role in which API integration comes in is so important. Not only do you need to time it correctly, but ensure that it will not disrupt anything else in your business.
When it comes time to connect your applications in a way that shares data effortlessly, you need to enable communication between your applications through an API. This will allow the communication to be automated and much more efficient and accurate than a human could ever do.
Living in today’s world, API integration is something that is not as hard as it once was. In fact, thanks to the immense range of cloud-based products and software programs, data can be created in a way where it can easily go from point a to point b in the most efficient way possible. This will ultimately create a data ecosystem where your company will be able to thrive thanks to this efficient integration process.
But not only that, when you integrate data through an API, you will have so much more flexibility when it comes to how information and services are delivered. You can also easily embed content from one site or app and transfer it to another in a straightforward way.
There is a whole range of ways to successfully integrate API. This includes custom integrations of hand-written scripts, pre-built connector applications, and API integration platforms that support connecting multiple SaaS applications.
Examples of Successful API Integration
Don’t just take it from us. Take it from the thousands of companies who have found success in utilizing APIs first before integrating their data. The most common area where API integration is used is on e-commerce websites. For example, online stores have a mapped-out shopping and shipping experience. API integration is important in supporting servers, databases, and even inventory levels.
When platforms have a detailed user experience, there is also going to be a lot of data exchanges happening—everything from how long someone spends on a web page to items they abandoned in their shopping cart.
But it does not just stop there. The payment component is equally supported through API integration. When a customer makes a payment, there is so much data transferring going on in the background. This includes verifying a credit card to delivery details for a shipment. This payment API is the connector between the store and the customer and is essential to be a successful e-commerce business.
Benefits of API Integration
From being able to automate the transfer of data to be able to scale the management of data as you continue to grow, there are so many benefits from focusing on APIs first before data integration.
Essentially, APIs are what help hold together the technologies that help your business thrive. So why not really set yourself up for success?
