B2B eCommerce software help organize many tasks of online store owners, such as handling customers, products, orders, and shipments across multiple sales channels. All these operations can be performed from one centralized place which is convenient for online retailers.
For the most eCommerce systems, the ability to update order status across different shopping platforms is a primary function. However, it is challenging to develop proper integration with eCommerce platforms and provide real-time order status updates.
This article will walk you through how to easily integrate with eCommerce platforms and marketplaces and update order status on various sales channels through one unified API.
Which eCommerce Software Need Order Status Updates
Real-time order status updates are vital for almost every SaaS software, no matter what kind of functionality it provides. Here's a list of some eCommerce software whose functionalities greatly depend on such data.
1. PIM systems
Product information management systems collect and share product information, making it available to all the eCommerce platforms. As a PIM software provider, your system needs to update the order status in real-time while feeding and syncing product information across any shopping platform.
You can sync and show info about product availability by having real-time order status updates.
2. Warehouse management software
For warehouse management systems, an ability to update order status is one of the high priorities. A WMS manages all the information from online stores, such as products, customers, or orders. Without this info, all the warehouse operations like tracking products, updating inventories, and creating detailed reports can not be implemented.
Real-time order updates help a WMS enlarge its order fulfillment quickly and accurately. The status updates inform the system about the number and size of orders placed on a particular shopping platform. In addition, it helps the WMS process orders on time and check on the stock that's not available.
3. Marketing automation software
Marketing automation software helps e-retail companies streamline their business operations and spark their marketing efforts. One of the main functions of such types of systems is sending personalized emails about order updates.
4. Shipping software
Shipping software vendors also need to integrate their system with shopping platforms and have an ability to update order status.
The shipping software uses order information to manage shipping for corresponding clients. As soon as an order is placed and the system is notified about it, shipping software processes the order for shipping and sends the updated status to the customers. This allows the shipping software to keep retailers and their customers informed about orders.
eCommerce Integration Issues
Due to the importance of shopping integration in today's retail industry, the process of integration comes with a lot of challenges.
Let’s have a look at why developing eСommerce integrations can be tricky:
Long-term process
Integrating shopping platforms and SaaS applications can be a time-consuming process. In order to establish a perfect connection between the two systems, you need to execute chunks of code. Therefore, completing the process requires a good deal of time.
Every shopping platform has its own architecture and logic and a unique and defined integration process. For one integration it is needed at least 8 weeks, so you can multiply the time by the number of integrations you need.
Costly
Integrations are expensive, and you need to develop a lot of them. Additionally, you need to have a development team to write all that extra code for you. The expense of hiring those developers and installing the required infrastructure can be considerable.
Poorly working API can cost you twice the price of one integration. Therefore, you need highly experienced specialists to do the job, which means additional costs. Once again, this cost can be multiplied by the required number of integrations and added with maintenance costs in the future.
Required updates
The integration process is dynamic, so shopping carts and marketplaces must be constantly updated with new versions. Sometimes adding support of new cart versions is like developing a new integration.
Let's look for an alternative way to deal with problems of integration.
How to Update Order Status on Multiple eCommerce Platforms via Only One Unified API?
Yes, your B2B eCommerce software can update order status and access all other information about orders, products, and customers from eCommerce platforms at once using one unified API.
It allows connecting your SaaS applications with 40+ shopping platforms and marketplaces in one go. You will be able to retrieve, manage and sync store data from these platforms with ease.
Below is how the service helps you update real-time order statuses using a unified API.
It uses order.update method to update order status info on different eCommerce platforms. The response structure shows the updated items, so your software will be able to provide your customers with real-time order and product updates.
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