How RepSpark’s API Makes Integrations Easier

When you’re thinking of integrating a wholesale platform into your business, the last thing your brand needs is a clunky integration process. 

Here at RepSpark, we have a flexible and powerful API that makes it easy to integrate your ERP, product data, and inventory systems into our platform. 

If you’d like a look behind the curtain and get a quick primer on how our API streamlines your integration process compared to a flat file integration (although we can do that too) then keep on reading. 

We’ll also give you the info you need to know about integrating with a platform, regardless if it’s us or another platform you’re looking at. 

What Does An Integration With RepSpark Actually Involve?

At the core of every integration is an Extract, Transform, Load process (ETL).

The ETL process is a critical framework that enables your organizations to integrate data from various sources into RepSpark. This process involves three key stages:

Here’s the breakdown of what ETL stands for:  

• Extract: Data is gathered from multiple sources, which can include databases, CRM systems, IoT devices, and more. This stage ensures that all relevant data is captured, regardless of its original format or location.
  
  
• Transform: Once extracted, the data undergoes a series of transformations to enhance its quality and usability. This includes cleansing the data and applying business rules. For instance, data deduplication and format revision to the RepSpark API schema to ensure consistency and reliability in the dataset.
  
  
• Load: Finally, the transformed data is loaded into RepSpark where it can be accessed for ordering and reporting.

When brands integrate directly through our API, the “Load” step happens in real-time, through a seamless and secure connection. This means you can control when your data gets pushed, how often, and exactly what gets shared.

Why Use RepSpark’s API?

You Control the Data

With an API connection, you’re in the driver’s seat. Your team can decide what data to send, when to send it, and how often. Want to sync your inventory every 2 minutes? Go for it. Need to update pricing only once a day? That’s your call.

You Save on Labor and Support Costs (If You Have Tech Resources)

When your team has the technical capability to handle the transformation and API connection (the “T” & “L”), you avoid the cost of hiring outside help or engaging RepSpark’s professional services team. You can customize your integration and update it as needed without needing to submit change requests.

You Get Faster Syncs and Fewer Delays

Flat file integrations often involve scheduled uploads, delays, and added steps to manually transform data. With an API, updates flow directly from your ERP to RepSpark. This process is faster, cleaner, and has fewer chances for data errors.

When a Flat File Integration Might Still Be Needed

Not every brand has in-house developers or IT resources, and that’s okay. For brands without a tech team, flat file-based integrations (like CSV or XML uploads) are an option, and the team at RepSpark can fully support this type of integration. 

We have a professional services team that can step in and help: 

• Extract your data
  
  
• Transform it into the right format
  
  
• Load it into RepSpark using our own API

It’s more labor-intensive and requires additional service fees, but it gets the job done.

Choosing Between an API or Flat File Integration

You want to choose RepSpark’s API if: 

• You have a technical team or development partner
  
  
• You want control over how and when your data syncs
  
  
• You plan to scale and want a flexible foundation

You want to choose a flat file integration if: 

• You don’t have developers or IT on staff
  
  
• You want to “set it and forget it” and are okay with periodic uploads
  
  
• You’re okay working through our professional services team to manage data

RepSpark’s Integration Options

If your brand uses Shopify for your ecommerce, then here’s some good news: RepSpark offers an out-of-the-box integration for Shopify users. Simply configure your Shopify data so it’s readable by RepSpark, and you’re good to go, no custom integration needed.

But, whether you’re an emerging brand starting to scale or an enterprise optimizing performance, our API makes it easy to connect, sync, and sell smarter.

If you’re looking for a wholesale platform to integrate into your business, you want to ensure that its API is built to take the stress out of melding your existing services into it. 

If the option you’re looking at only offers flat file integrations, then it may be worth clicking the link below to understand the hidden costs that come with flat file integrations.