API Connector: exchange your business data in real time
You want to exchange your business documents in real time with your customers, suppliers and partners? Artéva implements an API connector to connect all the information systems and digital platforms involved in your B2B exchange project.
An API: what is it?
The acronym API stands for “Application Programme Interface”. As the name suggests, it is an interface that allows two software, information systems or applications to communicate via the Internet. Exchanges are in real time and automated
01
An interface role
APIs allow to facilitate access to the services of an application without having to develop a very complex program.
They act as interfaces through which queries and data pass.
02
Modern, low cost
This makes the API an effective, low-cost solution that is in keeping with the times. Indeed, production and integration costs are particularly interesting. APIs are quickly implemented, because they are relatively easy to program.
Your API project with Artéva
Collaborative digital platforms are increasingly popular among companies that want to exchange data in real time and communicate across borders. With the advent of these platforms, APIs (Application Programming Interface) have developed. They are the main exchange protocol used to connect platforms. Nowadays, we talk about “plateformisation” of exchanges: we are witnessing a strong expansion of the connectivity domains and web services.
Artéva is fully in line with this trend by offering you to take charge of your API project through Orchestrade®, a digital B2B platform that we have developed to meet your digital business needs.
How does an API connector work?
The API allows for the use of a program without having to look at the complex operation that an application can have. APIs can be used to obtain invoice data without knowing the software that created it. They are now found in operating systems, SaaS applications, software, CRM or ERP (including SAP for example), databases, graphics, open data…
The design of an API is generally based on web standards in order to be able to use the internet for remote interaction, and therefore usually on a different computer than the one that makes the request.
Client case
API connector for our industrial partners
Some of our industry customers need to be connected in real time to e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, Cdiscount or Zalando… These marketplaces owe their success to the referencing of a large number of suppliers, which is made possible by the provision of standard API connectors.
The Orchestrade® platform allows our clients to communicate in a uniform way with all these APIs and to handle all exchange scenarios with marketplaces: flows, warehouses (stocks, expected receipt, movements…), order processing, invoicing.
The differences between EDI & API: our vision
We can think of APIs as a modern version of EDI. It is not the same technology and the expected benefits, but some projects can indeed go through API rather than traditional EDI. So what are the differences between these two exchange protocols?
EDI solution in SaaS mode
- 1 | One-way communication
- 2 | Batch communication (=lot) asynchronous
- 3 | Relatively long deployment times
- 4 | High integration cost
API connector
- 1 | Two-way communication (interactive)
- 2 | Synchronous communication through real-time data transfer and processing via the internet connection
- 3 | Fast installation
- 4 | Fairly low integration costs
Trade document exchange and API:
Entrust us with your project
We take into account the business processes that are specific to your company to offer you the API solution that corresponds to your real needs.
Depending on the types of connection expected by your partner platforms and your information system, we set up API connectors for your real-time business data exchanges.
You want to exchange with all your partners today, whether or not they have an information system, via APIs? Tell us about your project.
API Connector:
everything you need to know
Through this FAQ, explore all the essential questions that will guide you through the world of API connectors.
Les API (Application Programming Interfaces) permettent aux applications d’échanger des données et sont classées en plusieurs catégories selon leur architecture et mode de communication. Les API SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) utilisent le format XML pour structurer et sécuriser les échanges d’informations. Ce protocole garantit une forte sécurité et une gestion stricte des transactions, ce qui le rend particulièrement adapté aux services financiers et aux administrations publiques. Grâce à son cadre strict et normé, SOAP est souvent privilégié dans des environnements où la fiabilité et l’intégrité des données sont essentielles. Les API REST (Representational State Transfer) sont plus flexibles et légères que SOAP. Elles reposent sur des principes architecturaux définis, tels qu’une architecture client-serveur, un serveur sans état et l’utilisation des verbes HTTP comme GET, POST, PUT et DELETE. REST est aujourd’hui le standard le plus utilisé pour les API web et mobiles, car il facilite l’intégration et permet un développement plus rapide et plus efficace. Les API GraphQL, développées par Facebook, offrent une alternative à REST en permettant aux clients de demander uniquement les données dont ils ont besoin. Contrairement à REST, où chaque ressource possède un endpoint spécifique, GraphQL centralise les requêtes sur un unique point d’entrée, ce qui réduit la surcharge réseau et optimise la consommation de données. Cette approche est particulièrement utile pour les applications nécessitant une grande flexibilité dans l’interrogation des données. Les API gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call) sont conçues pour des communications ultra-rapides entre services. Basées sur Protocol Buffers (Protobuf), elles permettent une transmission de données plus rapide et plus légère que REST ou SOAP. gRPC est particulièrement utilisé pour les architectures de microservices et les applications nécessitant des échanges en temps réel, où la latence doit être minimale.
Une API (Application Programming Interface) est une interface qui permet à deux applications de communiquer entre elles en définissant un ensemble de règles d’échange de données. Elle peut fonctionner en local ou via un réseau et peut utiliser différents protocoles comme HTTP, RPC ou encore des bibliothèques spécifiques à un langage. Un webservice, quant à lui, est un type particulier d’API qui permet l’échange de données entre deux systèmes via un réseau, généralement sur Internet. Il repose souvent sur des protocoles comme SOAP ou REST, utilisant principalement HTTP pour la transmission des informations. Ainsi, tous les webservices sont des API, mais toutes les API ne sont pas des webservices. Une API peut être utilisée sans connexion réseau, alors qu’un webservice nécessite obligatoirement une communication entre un client et un serveur.
Schedule your appointment
Request your demo
personalized
Discover how the Artéva experts can support you: from integration to solution management, with a personalized service.
Références
