DIY Developer Guide: Building SanMar Integrations

Overview

SanMar is a top supplier of wholesale apparel and accessories, providing businesses with an extensive range of products through a B2B platform and comprehensive EDI and API services. This DIY Developer Guide for SanMar offers a straightforward, practical framework for creating secure, scalable, and efficient custom integrations with eCommerce platforms, ERP systems, and inventory management solutions.

Understanding SanMar

SanMar delivers wholesale apparel and accessories that work for your business. Period. They’ve built an extensive catalog designed around what your customers actually want. Smart businesses understand SanMar’s pricing and inventory processes. That’s where real integration pays off. Enable SanMar integration and streamline your inventory management instantly. Real-time product data means accurate inventory levels. Always. No more guessing. No more stockouts. This integration cuts through the entire sales cycle complexity. Distributors and retailers find products faster, place orders without friction, and manage inventory with confidence. SanMar integration expands your product selection immediately. Your customers get what they want, when they want it. That builds satisfaction. That builds loyalty. From catalog to customer—handled.

Prerequisites for SanMar Integrations

• SanMar EDI/API documentation and access credentials
• API Key, FTP credentials, or VAN setup (for EDI)
• Familiarity with:
• RESTful APIs or EDI standards (X12, EDIFACT)
• JSON, XML, or Flat File data structures
• Tools: Postman, EDI Translators, API Client Libraries (Python, Node.js)
• Access to up-to-date supplier data and documentation is essential. Integrating with suppliers like SanMar streamlines inventory and order management by ensuring accurate product information and efficient order processing.

Step 1: Authentication for SanMar Integrations

SanMar offers both API and EDI-based integration methods.

API Authentication Example:

Authorization: ApiKey YOUR_API_KEY

EDI Example:

• Use secure FTP (SFTP) to send/receive documents like 850 (Purchase Orders) and 856 (Ship Notices).

Step 2: Endpoint Discovery and Data Mapping

Common API/EDI Resources:

• Product Catalog (Inventory Updates)
• Orders (Purchase Orders)
• Order Acknowledgments
• Advance Ship Notices (ASN)
• Invoices

Process:

• Review SanMar’s documentation for API endpoints or EDI transaction sets.
• Map ERP or eCommerce fields (e.g., SKU, Quantity, Order Number) to SanMar’s data requirements.

Important considerations:

• SKU and product code matching
• Unit of measure consistency (e.g., pieces, dozens)
• Accurate address formatting for orders and shipments

Product Data Management

Smart SanMar integration starts with getting your product data right. Connect SanMar’s data directly to your eCommerce or ERP systems. Your customers see accurate, real-time information—every time. No more outdated pricing. No more selling items that aren’t in stock. Clean, connected data means fewer errors and smoother inventory management. SanMar integration centralizes everything. Update once, sync everywhere. Your product information stays consistent across all sales channels. Better data means better customer experience. It also means automated order processing and optimized supply chains. Your systems work together so your team doesn’t have to work harder.

Inventory Management Strategies

Smart inventory management with SanMar integration isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. Real-time inventory data means you know exactly what’s in stock, when it’s running low, and what’s moving fast. No more guessing. No more surprises. Automated updates handle the heavy lifting, preventing stockouts before they hurt sales and stopping overstocking before it drains cash flow. Your inventory levels adjust automatically as orders come in and ship out. Clean data. Accurate counts. Always current. This gives you the insight to make smart calls on inventory, pricing, and production planning. From order to fulfillment—handled. Better inventory control means faster fulfillment and happier customers.

Configuring Shipping Options

Smart shipping configuration through SanMar integration changes everything for your customer experience. No more guessing at delivery options. No more checkout surprises. SanMar’s shipping capabilities connect directly with your eCommerce platform, giving customers exactly what they need—variety, accuracy, and speed. Automated shipping estimates eliminate manual errors. Real-time shipping class matches mean customers see the right options every time. Your operational needs drive the setup. Your logistics get streamlined. Your fulfillment process runs smoother. Result? Happy customers who get their products on time, as promised. Less manual work for your team. More efficient operations for your business. From shipping configuration to customer satisfaction—handled.

Order Placement

SanMar integration handles your order placement. Simple. Direct. No more manual order processing headaches. Your business gets automated order workflows that cut manual data entry and slash errors. Real-time order updates keep everyone in the loop—your team, your customers. Track orders from placement to delivery without the guesswork. Place orders directly with SanMar. Fast processing. Accurate every time. This isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about building trust with customers who expect reliable, timely service. Smarter operations mean happier customers. That’s how growing businesses scale.

Step 3: Building Integration Workflows

Before building your integration workflows, first enable SanMar integration in your platform settings. Choose the appropriate warehouse or environment for your fulfillment needs, and click the relevant links or buttons to complete the configuration.

Integration Patterns:

• Inbound (to SanMar): Place orders, update customer information.
• Outbound (from SanMar): Retrieve inventory availability, order acknowledgments, ASNs, and invoices.

Example: Placing an Order via API

POST /api/orders
{
  "orderNumber": "ORDER12345",
  "customerId": "CUST001",
  "items": [
    { "sku": "SAN123", "quantity": 12 }
  ]
}

Example: Retrieving Inventory Availability

GET /api/inventory/available
Authorization: ApiKey YOUR_API_KEY

Step 4: Error Handling and Pagination

Error Handling:

• Capture API status codes and SanMar-specific error messages.
• Retry logic for transient server (5xx) errors or rate limiting (429) responses.

Pagination:

• Use page and pageSize parameters to handle large data sets efficiently.

Example:

GET /api/products?page=2&pageSize=100

Step 5: Testing and Validation

• Use Postman or EDI testing tools to validate each integration workflow.
• Confirm proper order placements, inventory syncing, and ASN generation.
• Conduct load testing for high-volume order and inventory transactions.

Step 6: Deployment and Security

• Deploy integrations securely using cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Store API Keys and FTP credentials securely with encryption.
• Enforce HTTPS/TLS for API traffic and secure FTP protocols for EDI.
• Implement logging, monitoring, and real-time error alerting.

Step 7: Maintenance and Monitoring

• Monitor SanMar API or EDI service updates.
• Set up real-time alerts for failed transactions or downtime.
• Track KPIs like inventory sync accuracy, order processing success rates, and shipment timelines.

Optional Enhancements

• Middleware solutions (Celigo, MuleSoft, Boomi) for broader integration needs.
• Dashboards for real-time inventory visibility and order tracking.
• Event-driven notifications (webhooks or EDI acknowledgments) for order status changes.

Summary

Creating custom SanMar integrations enables businesses to automate product catalog synchronization, simplify wholesale order processing, and optimize fulfillment workflows. This DIY Developer Guide for SanMar provides a secure, scalable framework designed to enhance operational efficiency through high-performance integrations.