APIs are everywhere. For most, they make life today possible. The irony is most consumers don't have the foggiest idea what an API is or does. So what is it?
An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a complex system that at its core allows two technologies to connect and communicate. For example, let's say you're searching for a flight from Chicago to Miami this weekend. You start by entering your desired dates and cities in a search engine such as Google or Bing. Because Google and Bing are not airlines, they do not have flight-specific information. They do, however, have APIs that communicate with other relevant websites to compile relevant information for your upcoming trip.
These APIs allow the user to see ticket prices on one convenient and easy-to-read page. The API acted as the backbone throughout this flight-booking process and streamlined the information for the consumer.
APIs are leveraged in nearly every industry, and they play a particularly critical role in shipping. A business can waste considerable time, resources, and money figuring out the best (and most cost-effective way) to ship their packages, which is why EasyPost helps connect carriers with different shipping users.
More About EasyPost's API
The EasyPost API was the first RESTful API built for shipping and is the fastest, most flexible, and most reliable shipping API on the market. In fact, EasyPost boasts an industry-leading 99.99 percent uptime. Real-time information is available to customers via cloud technology, allowing them to stay updated with UPS tracking and other timely carrier data around the clock.
- Compare rates and purchase labels across UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, and 100+ other carriers
- Improve on-time delivery metrics with data-backed optimization
- Create and print labels in seconds
- Receive real-time shipment updates through custom branded tracking pages and notifications
- Confirm the accuracy of domestic and international addresses
- Insure packages against any number of pitfalls
How Do You Connect With an API?
To begin, a company that wishes to use an API first needs a developer. This individual will be the key to implement the integration steps needed. Following our easy-to-use process documentation, a customer can complete the integration process in mere days, compared to the weeks or even months needed for some competitors' solutions.
Once completed, companies have access to EasyPost's full suite of logistics solutions, a network of over 100 shipping carriers, our experienced team of customer service representatives (and a side of painless shipping).
Whether you're a small business or an enterprise-level shipper, a flexible and reliable API is paramount to shipping success. Get started with EasyPost today to take your eCommerce shipping solution to the next level.