Catalog API
Introducing Catalog API
As an merchant, you may sell to both customers and other resellers. The reseller may have their own eCommerce site, which they wish to populate with some or all of your products to sell to their customer base. The Catalog API allows you to share your product, pricing and stock data with your authorized resellers in a fast and efficient way. The API consists of a number of commands (endpoints) that your reseller use to read and import your WebShop catalog. Once set up, it provides a fast, easy and efficient way for your reseller to keep their eCommerce site synced with your data
The purpose of this document is:
to explain how the API and its endpoints works and,
to outline what commands are supported.
Benefits
There are benefits for both you and your resellers when using the Catalog API.
For you, it
Presents additional sales channels to use in a convenient and efficient way; once set up, your catalog (including product, price and stock information) is regularly and automatically updated on your reseller's eCommerce site,
Allows your resellers to automatically add sales orders to your ERP in real-time,
Reduces back office administration by providing a direct link between your WebShop and ERP with your reseller's eCommerce site.
For your resellers, it
Expands their product catalog easily and efficiently,
Allows them to manage sales of your products automatically, by adding sales orders to your ERP in real-time,
Reduces their back office administration and potential transcription errors by providing a direct link between their eCommerce site and your ERP.
Introducing terms and concepts used in this article
Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Application Programming Interface | (API), which is an interface that allows two different computer systems interact with each other. It consists of a number of rules (also known as endpoints) that request data from the other system and receive and process responses from that system. |
Customer | a client of the merchant. |
Endpoint | a rule or command that specifies the location on the server that can accept data requests, process them and return a response. A set of endpoints (or rules) make up an API. |
Enterprise resource platform | (ERP), a collection of your critical business operating systems, such as product, stock levels, financial, customers, suppliers and so on that run on the same platform. |
JavaScript Object Notifivation | (JSON), a open standard text format that defines data elements in a structured way that is both human- and machine- readable. |
Merchant | a company who uses Experlogix Digital Commerce Platform. |
EXtensible Markup Langauge | (XML), a language used to store and transport data which is human- and machine- readable. |
Fitting it all together
Imagine that Person 1 wants to send an invoice to Person 2. Person 1 creates the invoice, puts it in an envelope, writes Person's 2 address on the envelope and posts it. Some time later, Person 2 receives the invoice, processes it and sends payment back to Person 1. Now think of an API as the postal service - the interface between two systems. Think of each endpoint as the specific address in that postal service. Think of the invoice and payment as structured data stored in the envelope.
In a similar way, the eCommerce catalog API is an interface between your WebShop and your reseller's eCommerce site. Your reseller wishes to use catalog data stored on your WebShop. The API consists of a number of rules (or endpoints) that specify the exact location where to send structured catalog data to, the format of that data and where responses are received and processed. Typically, endpoints are defined as URLs (uniform resource locators). Endpoints are written in a format that is understood by both humans and systems.
The eCommerce Catalog API is available in both JSON and XML; both formats are standardized ways of defining data to share between systems. The endpoints within the Catalog API allow you to carry out the following actions:
List products: list of all active products
List categories: list categories
Place order: place an order in the merchant's ERP
It requires login credentials, and it can be further restricted, if required. It is intended for use as a back office tool to allow you or your reseller to more easily import catalog data currently stored in your WebShop.
Never give access to the Catalog API to your customers. It is designed to be used by you, the merchant, as a back office tool to support catalog management between you and your reseller's eCommerce site or catalog management system.
Next steps
Interested in finding out more? Please contact us and we are happy to chat to you about your options.