GiudittaAmong the most popular e-commerce of the moment, Woocommerce is particularly successful for its ease and speed of use, but also for its easy integration with other systems.
Integrating Woocommerce with a management system is not too complex, although it is necessary to know the procedure in detail to avoid errors that could become disabling in the long term.
No one wants to end up with synchronization errors between their accounting management system and e-commerce, for example.
Or, better not to risk losing some emails or messages from customers asking for information on a product, maybe because the data has not been correctly migrated from one end to the other.
However, there is a quick way to integrate WooCommerce with any type of app, software and management program, that is, using the WP Rest API.
The WordPress API
WordPress is one of the most used CMS in the world, not only because there are many compatible themes and plugins, but also for the excellent possibilities of integration with other software and products.
To make a coherent speech on the integration of Woocommerce with other programs we must start from the CMS on which this e-commerce relies, namely WordPress.
The good news is that WordPress can be easily integrated without having to download yet another plugin - considering that often, for those who manage a website, downloading yet another plugin can be synonymous with overloading the e-commerce, and therefore slowing down.
The most effective method to integrate WordPress with other software is without a doubt using the WP Rest Api.
What is an API?
Acronym for Application Programming Interface, APIs are able to allow two interfaces or two software to communicate without sharing the entire source code, thus protecting against hypothetical industrial espionage.
APIs save developers time, as they can only change the portions of the server code (the platform whose APIs are made available) for their client, such as the website or company management system. These changes are designed to seamlessly integrate the server and the client.
In general, thanks to APIs, it has been possible to innovate much more quickly and flexibly in different apps, sites or software that make these “pieces” of their code available for developers to work on and modify some functions as they wish.
This possibility has greatly simplified the design, management and use of tools in the hands of a company.
In practice, the developer sends a request formulated through the API, therefore using a language structured in a certain way, and through this request the target software will respond with certain features.
Their success is based on the fact that companies need to keep up with new products and features, and app development is often expensive and energy-intensive.
Yet, digital markets do not forgive those who remain behind, and only thanks to APIs is it possible to maintain an acceptable level of updating in the face of relatively low costs and development times.
A practical example: many sites integrate a Google Maps map into their contact page with which the end user can interact directly. This is only possible thanks to the Google Maps API, which has been worked on by the site developer.
In this case it is possible that we are dealing with the use of WP Rest API.
What is WP Rest API
An integration between Woocommerce and a management system, but also any other software or app, is possible only through WP Rest API.
“Rest” is a way in which APIs are created and shared (stands for Representational State Transfer), and it concerns both the development method and some of the features and functionalities that this type of API should offer.
For example, a Rest API, or better “restful”, must adhere to the “stateless” protocol, must provide a certain cache usage, and have a uniform interface.
What can you do with WP Rest API
- Linking Posts and Pages
- Register new Woocommerce users
- Check the products and quantities in stock directly from the e-commerce, without having to send a request
- Send e-commerce order data to a electronic invoicing software, for example, or any other external software.
Some practical examples
Pizero Design has helped several companies integrate with Woocommerce. Here are some of the jobs we can do to make your company or business smarter:
1) Integrate e-commerce with the company management system, in order to synchronize warehouses and customer records (Costabox);
2) Build iOS and Android apps connected to Wordpress sites (https://myjewishitaly.it/, https://piemontevda.lnd.it/, https://viaggioconstile.it/, https://visitbuggiano.com/);
3) Integrate an e-commerce with an automatic ticketing system. This integration is very useful for managing customer requests more smoothly (https://sgranarpercolli.it/);
4) Connection between e-commerce and smart cash registers that work with Cloud Cashier (ginofruttabistrot.it).
Do you want to make your Woocommerce shop integrated and enhance it with another platform or software?
