What is an API?
An API is the door a piece of software opens to other software. Much like a restaurant menu, it defines what information can be requested, how to request it and in what format the answer will come back. Shipping carriers, payment providers, marketplaces, CRM software and most modern systems offer an API.
API integration means using these doors so that two or more systems exchange data without anyone stepping in between.
When do you need API integration?
- Syncing customer and opportunity data in your CRM with website forms and the ERP
- Pulling data regularly from a supplier's stock and price service
- Letting industry-specific software (clinic, field service or logistics tracking, for example) talk to your website or portal
- Offering an API so that dealers or business partners can connect to your system securely
- Bringing data from two separate company structures together in one place for reporting
What goes into a good API integration?
| Topic | What is done |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Every connection uses a key or token, and keys are stored somewhere secure, not inside the code |
| Access limits | The integration only reaches the data it actually needs |
| Transaction log | Every request and response is logged, so you can look back when something goes wrong |
| Retries | If the other system is temporarily unavailable, nothing is lost; the job is queued and retried |
| Alerts | Repeated errors trigger a notification to the person responsible |
| Version tracking | When the other system's API changes, the integration is updated in advance |
When any one of these is missing, the integration works fine in the first days, then one day quietly stops, and it can take days before anyone notices.
Offering your own API
If your dealers, suppliers or customers want to connect to your system, we design an API for them. The API defines who can see which information, sets usage limits and comes with good documentation. That way, you don't need a separate custom project for every new business partner. In B2B dealer portal projects, this API often becomes the back end of the portal.
Personal data and security
If the data moving through an API includes personal information, it travels over an encrypted connection and only the necessary fields are transferred. If data is sent to a service abroad, this is assessed from the start. We never leave KVKK (Türkiye's Personal Data Protection Law) requirements unmet and we don't charge extra for them; you can read more on our approach to KVKK page.
Checklist
- Names of the systems to connect and access to their API documentation
- Is there a test environment or trial account?
- How often, and in which direction, will the data flow?
- When something fails, who gets notified and how?
- Who will manage the API keys?
Frequently asked questions
What if the other system has no API?
We look at alternatives such as file transfer, controlled read access at the database level or an intermediate table. We decide together which of these is safe.
Does an API integration need maintenance?
Yes. The systems on the other side change over time. As part of our support, we monitor the flows and update them as those changes happen.
For every type of integration, you can go back to the integration services page, or use the contact page to talk about your project.