Sage and Brightpearl to Form Strategic Partnership

/in , /by

We were excited today to see the strategic relationship evolve between our two partners Brightpearl and Sage Intacct. APIWORX has been a partner of both organizations now for some time. We believe in the ability of both companies to service our mutual customer base. APIWORX already offers dedicated integration products for Brightpearl and Sage Intacct. We are excited to see how this new partnership evolves our relationship and our ability to support our customers even more effectively!

Under the partnership, Sage will make a minority investment of approximately £17 million ($23m) into the business. The company will take a seat on Brightpearl’s board. Together, Sage and Brightpearl will help retail and e-commerce customers take advantage of best-of-breed cloud finance and retail management solutions. Furthermore, both aim to support businesses on their digital journey.

Strategic Partnership

The partnership with Brightpearl is consistent with Sage’s broader strategy to invest in complementary high-growth cloud-based software applications.

With its global headquarters in Bristol, UK, and the US headquarters in Austin, Texas, Brightpearl helps 1,000 retail customers. The company aids to streamline and automate these businesses’ retail operations. That is across order management, CRM, fulfillment, retail accounting inventory, and warehouse management as they scale and grow. The company has partnerships with organizations like Shopify, eBay, and Amazon. It has seen the number of online firms joining its platform grow by 75% in the last quarter of 2020.

Lee Perkins, Chief Operations Officer at Sage, said: “As retail businesses from across the globe recover from the impact of Covid-19, trading online has gone from being a ‘nice-to-have to a ‘must-have’ for retailers. Digitizing back-office operations is a critical step towards transitioning to online commerce – and through investing in high growth, cloud solutions like Brightpearl, we are committed to supporting our customers to not only make that switch quickly and easily but to also grow and compete”.

Derek O’Carroll, the CEO of Brightpearl shared: “We are delighted to build this new relationship with Sage to further support our retail customers and accelerate the strong presence that Sage and Brightpearl have in the UK and US. Brightpearl’s solution brings significant benefits by automating retail processes so global merchants can save time and deliver outstanding and rapid end-to-end customer experiences. This investment will allow us to expand the platform and provide even better service, increase our product innovation and our fabulous team globally.”

Moving Forward

Sage led the round investing approximately £17 million ($23m). It was the amount out of a total of £25 million ($33m) in this Series C round. Existing shareholders including Cipio Partners, Notion Capital, and Verdane investing a further £8 million ($10m). Pagemill Partners, a division of Duff & Phelps, served as the financial advisor to Brightpearl on the transaction.

The Growing Trend of API Integration as a Service

/in /by

The term API integration-as-a-service (AIAAS) is relatively new. It is a secure and reliable solution. It can connect applications across various web services and organizations. In addition, it also allows you to deploy integrations without installing new software and hardware or creating a custom code. As a result, many technological trends are driving the rise of API integration as a service.

Growing Trends in AIAAS

  • The Cloud

    The cloud has already replaced the computer and other physical storage systems in keeping personal content. Because of it, we can now access services and our personal preferences from this technology. Consequently, it has become the center of our digital lives.

Internet of Things

  • Internet of Things

    Undoubtedly, the Internet of Things (IoT) is connecting any device with an on/off switch to the Internet. It is a giant network of connected things, such as cellphones, wearable devices, and almost anything you can think of.

  • Big Data 

    Big Data is now moving from a personal aspect to an enterprise level. Many organizations are already abandoning the idea of a single enterprise data warehouse that contains all information. Evidently, they are moving towards multiple systems.

The advances in technology are generating, sharing, and storing enormous amounts of data across various organizations and applications. Thus, data is becoming more disconnected between cloud applications and the website.

Here’s when an integration solution becomes a business saver.

Several companies offer API integration as a service, including APIworx. APIworx creates high-quality API integration across your internal and external systems to get the best results. Moreover, our customized API solutions and integrations provide you with real-time advantage and integration between traditionally disparate unintegrated systems. Designed as a global company, we have cloud-based employees from various locations around the world.

Here are three reasons why you should get API integration as a service from APIworx:

  • Superior customer care

    At APIworx, we understand that APIs are your new business. That’s why we are here to expose your systems, make them available and support them like any mission-critical system.

  • Direct connection

    We directly and securely connect to your internal systems. Additionally, we also make connections with your cloud systems. Hence, we can provide you with a seamless API-based workflow across your extended application ecosystem.

  • Cloud-based and infinitely scalable

    APIworx applications leverage the best technology of the world’s largest cloud infrastructures. We deliver unlimited scalability, uptime, and low cost.

With APIworx, you don’t have to deal with software or hardware. You don’t need programming or any technical skills to use the service. We’ll do it all for you. We have pre-built integrations to the best systems and a wide selection of online service providers. Likewise, our solutions automate various types of repetitive business and social tasks. Learn more about us here.

Integrate these 7 Useful APIs in your Website

/in /by

Integrating useful APIs in your website helps you get valuable data, share it with your consumers, and be informed of important events. It also improves the user experience. In the new world, your APIs are your business. Exposing your systems and making them available in the most secure way is what you need. APIs allow you to do almost anything that you can imagine online. And, there are hundreds of them to choose from. Some are better than others, and some are definitely more useful.

Useful APIs Must-haves in Your Website

  • Facebook

    Facebook APIs are great time savers. They allow you to sign in to many applications and websites using your Facebook ID. They also allow your app to read and write data to Facebook. Other offers lets you work with Credits, Ads, Chat and other legacy APIs that are no longer actively supported.

  • Twitter

    Following Facebook afterward, Twitter APIs and social media campaigns are also intertwined into its business model. They allow you to create applications that interact virtually with any Twitter feature.

Twitter

  • YouTube

    YouTube has 2 APIs available – Player and Data. The former allows you to have an embedded player that you can customize within Flash or HTML. The latter lets your application perform operations available on YouTube, such as uploading videos.

  • PayPal

    Operating a worldwide online payment system, PayPal API allows you to easily and securely accept mobile and online payments. It enables your customers to make PayPal and credit card payments in just a few clicks.

  • QuickBooks 

    QuickBooks API makes your customers’ lives easier. It helps connect and integrate QuickBooks data with other business applications easily and quickly.

  • MailChimp 

    MailChimp allows you to send millions of emails every day without hassle. Easily sync your data, import content from various sources, and keep track of your revenue in just a few clicks. It is the ideal API integration for data-driven emails, such as targeted e-commerce and personalized messages.

  • FedEx 

    Take advantage of the peace of mind associated with successful transport. Use FedEx API shipping integration to locate the best rates, track shipments and estimate transit time. You can also save time by automating processes like exchanging information between sources.  

Do you need integration with these applications? We’ve got your back. APIworx offers direct, cloud-based integration and API solutions for these applications tailored to your needs. We handle all the tasks involved in accepting and processing up to hundreds of thousands of API calls. We integrate tightly with your systems, so you can run APIs without servers. Furthermore, we also create REST APIs that you can use to call publicly available services through your system’s available API. To check out more of our integrations, click here.

4 Major Cloud APIs: Which is the Right Model for You?

/in , /by

Cloud technology has become an essential part of various industries in recent years. In the modern world, your APIs are your business. That is why finding ways to integrate applications and other workloads into the cloud is also paramount to success. There are four major Cloud APIs to choose from. Depending on your needs, determine the suitable model for you. In addition, check also how you can operate an API to the cloud. There are many ways to integrate it into infrastructure and each has its fundamental components.

PaaS APIs (Platform as a Service APIs)

These Cloud APIs are designed to give access and functionality to a cloud environment. Likewise, they allow you to integrate with messaging systems, databases, and storage components.

IaaS APIs (Infrastructure as a Service APIs)

These Cloud APIs help control specific cloud resources and their distribution. One can also use them in n-network configurations and workload management.

Cloud Technology

Cloud Provider & Cross-Platform APIs 

For greater cloud versatility, providers offer generic HTTP and HTTPS integration. In the same way, cross-platform APIs provide access to resources from different cloud providers and platforms. As a result of these, you can save a lot of time and development energy.

SaaS APIs (Software as a Service APIs)

These Cloud APIs help connect the application layer with the cloud and underlying IT infrastructure. Likewise, these application APIs create a cloud application extension for your environment.

Choosing the right platform is essential for your organization. For your online environment to function well, you may also need to use multiple platforms. Whatever you decide, make sure to plan the deployment carefully and that all elements can interoperate and perform compatibly.

APIworx builds and manages customized API solutions and integrations, giving you a real-time advantage and integrating unintegrated systems. We are dedicated to making cloud integration simple and easy for you. Furthermore, if you want to operate seamlessly in the cloud, use our managed API to seamlessly manage your business across all your applications. Check out a few of our integrations here.

The Future of Your Business Relies on Efficient API Integration

/in /by

Recently, there has been an explosion of APIs. Whether you believe it or not, API integration has become an essential part of application development. Furthermore, the future of your business may rely on it. APIs enable power. They create a more open and adaptive future for your business. In addition, they are the difference between minor tweaks in your processes to real innovation. If you want to be more precise with data, innovate and deliver more efficient service, you need efficient API integration.

  • APIs ensure governance 

Customers expect consistency, and that’s what you should offer. As much as possible, you must have consistency in your data models and management. For instance, you have multiple definitions of a customer. You risk alienating developers who expect a standard definition. Moreover, to prevent a disaster from happening in your hands, your staff needs to follow a robust governance model.

  • APIs enable collaboration

API enables collaboration

Collaboration between people and technology is the key to the future of your business. Everything depends on data analytics. In addition, APIs help foster collaboration. With API integration, you don’t have to rewrite the application’s capability. You share its existing service, which is more practical.

Many business owners dismiss the benefits of API in their business. On the contrary, you don’t want to be one of them. For this reason, here are five ways efficient API integration can brighten the future of your company:

  1. Improving site loyalty and conversion rates
  2. Empowering lead generation with social insights
  3. Harnessing remote processing power for business intelligence
  4. Harnessing remote storage
  5. Developing lightweight mobile applications with power and functionality

Do you want to benefit from APIs without worrying about what they are and how they work? We can do that for you! APIworx builds and manages customized API solutions and integrations so that you can operate seamlessly in the cloud. Check out a few of our integrations here. If your application isn’t listed, don’t worry! We can build and manage it for you using our cloud-based API framework.

API Management Platform: Main Features to Look for

/in /by

API management platform offers you a range of tools that could help you achieve business success. They are a great way to improve the development and management of your APIs with minimal overhead. However, there are several vendors out there that offer various platforms. Hence, you need to know the main features to look for to make the right decision.

Here are some questions you need to ask before you purchase an API management platform:

  • Which platform should you go for – On-premise or Cloud?
  • How extensive is the support infrastructure?
  • What method of documentation is used?
  • How much does it cost?
  • Should you go for a unified platform or multiple platforms?

Do you have a solution in place for API management? Some of the essential areas where individual tools exist include scalability, documentation, testing, and security. Although using multiple tools require less commitment than a unified platform, they may lack integration – making it more difficult for employees to access them.

When considering purchasing an API management platform, here are the main features you need to consider:

  • User Support

User Support

On the whole, stay away from platforms with a history of poor support. User support is crucial to the success of your enterprise. That is the problem with on-premise solutions. Your developer productivity could face drastic consequences when something goes wrong since your engineering team’s hands are full. By leveraging the cloud, you can increase accessibility while achieving a seamless workflow.

  • Usability

One of the most significant advantages of using the correct API management platform is usability. You need to be aware of these areas: metrics, documentation, design, and customer support. API management platforms that provide metrics can help reduce strain. Documentation and design allow you to update easily without changing the structure of the back-end. Lastly, empowering your customer service team reduces sprint creep and frees up engineering resources.

  • Implementation

The type of implementation is perhaps the essential decision you should make before purchasing an API management platform. It determines how API manages authentication methods, automates changes in infrastructures, and deals with traffic spikes. The three methods of implementation are on-site, off-site, and hybrid.

With this information in mind, you should be able to make the right purchasing decision. Choose an API vendor that offers a product that best suits the needs of your organization. Learn more about APIs here.    

Monetize APIs: What to Consider when Pricing Them

/in /by

APIs started just as an acronym that only programmers knew in the 2000s. Now, they have become an important piece to ignite several innovative solutions. They unleashed several opportunities in various services to help them function more efficiently. Using APIs is easy, but many don’t understand what it takes to make it worthwhile. People are too focused on the technology part that they overlook the use cases to add value to their businesses and monetize APIs. Many overlook how it represents a way to reduce operational costs and automating business processes completely.

Ways to Monetize APIs

How do you make money from APIs, and how should you price them to get the best return? 

  • Data Collection 

Data Collection

This is Facebook’s preferred method. It involves collecting data from third-party applications to use in your advertising efforts or your products.

  • Product Adoption

It allows developers to build custom integrations that increase the value of products and keep the users locked in.

  • Developer Usage

That is the most obvious way to monetize APIs. You charge developers for API calls. Likewise, the Developer Usage model has three pricing models, so you need to think carefully and choose wisely. The first model is Pay-as-you-Go, which means that you pay per API call. Fixed quota means you pay for a fixed number of calls per month, and you are not allowed to exceed. Lastly, the Overage model is like the previous model. However, it allows developers to exceed their call limit in exchange for a small overage fee.

Each pricing model has its pros and cons, but the last one may be the best option for you. It has the scaling advantages of the pay-as-you-go model and offers the predictability of the fixed quota plan.

Of course, how much you should charge per plan depends on your business. Just consider these three C’s when pricing:

  • Cost
  • Competitors
  • Content

On pricing your APIs, determine what type of value they can deliver and your actual pricing structure. Determine how much the access is worth in conjunction with your existing web-based offering and competition, then choose the pricing model your customers will ultimately be comfortable paying. Find out how we can help here.

API History: What Is It And Where It’s From

/in /by

Much of the changes that take place in the world of software hinges on APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). They have been a hot topic among developers, but only a few people are acquainted with what they are and where they’re from. Although, we interact with APIs every day, many still underestimate their impact on web applications. Here’s a brief API history to better understand their uses.

What is API?

An API is software programming written to bridge the communication between web applications. It pulls or shares data within the firewall of a company or over the internet. To put it simply, it makes services accessible to outside developers so they can build those services into their own programs.

API History: What Is It And Where It's From

The earliest uses of APIs were associated with three origin stories:

  • Franchises attempting to use their services in various locations
  • Stock market machines ticking out real-time data for media and investment firms
  • Catalog-based mail order shopping

To sum up, the bottom line is that, the entrepreneurial spirit of the people who struggled to use their company’s underlying services in new and profitable ways drove the development of APIs.

Web APIs, on the other hand, have a fairly short API history. They have only been in use for over a decade. These companies have pioneered them:

  • Salesforce
  • eBay
  • Flickr
  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Google Maps

Perhaps, the most popular web API is Google Maps. While many are more likely to use Amazon and Facebook, Google Maps is adapted to site-specific purposes around the Web. In fact, it is the first to widely demonstrate the power of “API mash-ups” – using content from more than one source. Thanks to these mash-ups, you are able to see which bands are playing in what location, track your running routes, and highlight hiking trails near your home.

On the contrary, the API history did not start with Google Maps. Its popularity is what made the wheel turn. Many developers hacked their code for use on other sites and forced the application to release an API that the former can use without the need to hack. API is one of the factors that changed the face of the Internet – forever.

Click here for more blogs about APIs.

API Integration Challenges that Businesses Need to Overcome

/in /by

The influx of software applications and the rising demand for customized products and services call for an unobstructed flow of data. APIs serve as a medium to exchange information between systems and applications. Due to the migration of business services to the cloud, API integration is gaining momentum. Instead of having an internal IT server and staff, APIs stitch together applications available on the internet for quicker time to market and reduced costs.

While APIs transfer data between devices and the cloud,  HTTPS protects data while in transit. The data resting on the client or server is also encrypted. Another way to reduce the possibility of a data breach is developer registration. API keys, unique to every developer, are used to keep track of the devices using the APIs. Random tokens that expire after a given time are also a great way to ensure security.

Challenges of API Integration

  • Security Concerns

Security Concern

Developers find REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs as more agile. Many cloud service providers prefer them because they provide lightweight communication between producers and customers. However, they also come with a set of disadvantages. A number of security concerns arise due to the lesser overall consistency of in-app updates. An effective way to secure REST is through network standards that assign IP addresses that deploy components.

  • Testing

Another API integration challenge is testing as it can be extremely difficult if performed by conventional methods. The implementation can collide with cloud resource mapping. The successful testing of APIs in the cloud is based on “abstraction”, a technique that exposes the features without exposing the implementation. By including component scaling and resource allocation features, it enables a test plan to include cloud-related elements without disturbing the cloud quality of the experience.

REST APIs are scaling high in their implementation by assisting convenient integration and possessing resilience and scalability in cloud applications. They are an affordable and powerful way to use pre-existing applications in the cloud to drive your business.

At APIworx, we make API integration simple and easy. We help automate, optimize and secure your technology driven-processes by making APIs that are easy to set up and maintain. Click here to learn more about our API integration solutions.