PragaWeb

Integrations, APIs and automation

API integration

In short

API integration connects the software you already use, such as your management system, online store, CRM and accounting, so they exchange data automatically, with no copy and paste and no typing errors.

Talk about your project

API integration is a direct connection between two or more pieces of software so they exchange data automatically: an online order lands in your management system, a new CRM customer reaches accounting, a shipment updates the order status. It is built for companies that run several disconnected tools and spend hours copying information from one to another.

An API (Application Programming Interface) is the “service door” a piece of software offers so other programs can read or write its data under clear rules. PragaWeb designs and builds custom API integrations that run reliably, log every step and alert you when something goes wrong.

When you need an API integration

  • You retype orders, customer records or invoices from one program into another.
  • Stock levels on your website don’t match those in the warehouse.
  • The same customer exists in three systems, with three different sets of details.
  • Getting a report means exporting spreadsheets from several sources and pasting them together.
  • A supplier, carrier or marketplace asks you to connect to their systems.
  • You want to replace a tool without losing its links to everything else.

What we build with API integration

  • Links between existing software: management system, online store, CRM, accounting, email marketing platforms and e-invoicing tools talking to each other.
  • Data synchronisation: products, prices, stock, customers and orders aligned in real time or at set intervals, with clear rules on which system is the source of truth.
  • Connectors to external services: carriers, payment gateways, marketplaces, e-signature services and the systems of your customers or suppliers.
  • Custom APIs for your systems: if your software has no API, we can build a documented, secure one that other programs and partners can use.
  • Integration middleware: a small intermediate service that receives, transforms and routes data when systems “speak different languages”.
  • Monitoring and logs: every exchange is recorded; if a call fails, the system retries and notifies you, so no order is silently lost.

How we work

  1. Mapping the flows: we work out which data moves, from where to where, how often and who handles it manually today.
  2. Checking the available APIs: we read the documentation of every system involved and check limits, authentication and access costs.
  3. Proposal: we describe the flow, the edge cases and the release phases, with clear timing and costs.
  4. Development and testing: we start in test environments or with sample data, then move to small real volumes.
  5. Go-live: we switch the integration on with monitoring and alerts, and support your team in the first days.
  6. Maintenance: external APIs change over time; we take care of the updates.

Technologies and standards

We work with REST APIs and JSON, the most common standard, as well as SOAP and XML, which are frequent in older business software. We use webhooks (notifications one system sends to another when something happens) for real-time updates and message queues when volumes are high. For authentication we use OAuth 2.0 and securely managed API keys. When a program has no API, we look at alternatives such as exchanging CSV or XML files over shared folders or SFTP, or controlled access to the database.

Timing and costs: what they depend on

The cost of an API integration mainly depends on:

  • how many systems are involved and in how many directions data flows;
  • the quality and completeness of the API documentation;
  • how many special cases exist (returns, product variants, multiple price lists, currencies);
  • volumes and frequency of exchanges;
  • whether data that is already out of sync needs cleaning or reconciling.

A simple link between two services with well-documented APIs usually takes a few weeks. Integrations involving several systems or older software take longer and are best split into releasable phases.

Why choose PragaWeb

  • One point of contact: you always talk to someone who knows your project, in English or Italian.
  • You own the code: the integration code and documentation belong to your company, with no lock-in.
  • The full picture: we also build inventory and order management software and e-commerce stores, so we know both ends of the connection.
  • Ready for the next step: once your systems are connected, you can add process automation such as notifications, documents and approvals.

If you want to know whether your software can be connected and how much effort it takes, get in touch for an initial review of your integration.

Frequently asked questions

My management software has no API. Can it still be connected?
Often, yes. We can exchange CSV or XML files, use controlled database access or build a small dedicated API. We choose the safest option after looking at the software.

How much does an API integration cost?
It depends on how many systems are involved, the quality of their documentation and the special cases to handle. After the review we give you a quote split into phases, with clear timing and costs.

What happens if an external service changes its API?
Monitoring flags errors straight away, and with a maintenance plan we handle the updates. Many providers announce changes in advance, so we can usually act before anything breaks.

Is my data safe while it is being exchanged?
Yes. We use encrypted connections, key-based or OAuth authentication and give each integration only the permissions it strictly needs. Logs record exchanges without exposing unnecessary sensitive data.

Who owns the integration code?
Your company does. We hand over the code and documentation, so you can keep developing it with us or with anyone you choose.