The line between Digital and physical can be clearly distinguished now. The disruptive force Apis are developed for the different range of industries. Matrix Marketers is one of the web and mobile company developing APIs for different verticals.

The industries like the music industry are being fundamentally altered by technology, giving rise to new patterns of consumption. Now, with the potential offered with APIs, the music industry is evolving further and creating new ways of tunes connecting with our day-to-day lives.

The retail industry is fully influenced by the use of APIs.

It’s clear new technologies and strategies based on well-managed APIs, cloud infrastructure, and agile development practices are behind much of the transformation we’re seeing in retail, but how and why?

Matrix Marketers recently examined the patterns driving digital transformation across global Retailers, by studying various individual APIs.It is seen that many companies still struggle about APIs and digital initiatives. The research of Matrix Marketers team of APIs in Retail provides a roadmap for any company launching digital initiatives today.

Start at the core

APIs are a foundational technology for digital commerce. They allow retailers to create new digital services and experiences as retailers evolve from the web to mobile. As illustrated below, executives in retail—and indeed any sector of digital commerce—are well-served by skipping the planning phase and jumping right into building the following “core” APIs on day one:

Customers want to know what you are selling. Make it easy for them to find out! This is exactly why product APIs exist.

Most retailers operate a patchwork of backend systems housing various key pieces of information about their products: SKUs, descriptions, catalogs, inventory, and price, to name a few. As any retailer who has undergone digital transformation can tell you, untangling the mess is no small feat.

Our research says, creating a complete RESTful API is the first step for stitching for introducing APIs in a retail setting. This enables retailers to use the API to power rapid development of mobile and web apps, and partner or affiliate programs. It’s a core building block of modern digital retail experiences.

Location API

Once customers know what they can buy, the next thing they want to know is where to buy it. Retailers certainly want to give them the option to buy right then and there on their device, but many customers want to see items in person before purchasing. How do companies help customers find their nearest location? Location APIs.

Authentication API

Security is the lynchpin of a great digital experience. Using an OAuth2 authentication API is a key step towards ensuring the safety of the customer’s and the enterprise’s security.

Fulfillment API

Fulfillment is where the customer’s digital experience with a brand crosses over into the real world. Did the product gets delivered in time? Is flex fulfillment, like an in-store or curbside pickup, an option? Are there integrations with a third-party delivery service?

Profile API

Every retailer wants to know their customers, and the customer wants that too. Using the profile APIs, retailers are able to display to users what he has purchased (or otherwise prefer) and make it possible to provide personalized offerings that are relevant to their individual tastes.

Cart /Payment API

All of these interactions between the customer and a retailer’s products are great, but at the end of the day, transactions are at the heart of any business. Customers want a product or service, and retailers want them to complete the purchase. Today, however, creating a simple way for customers to select items and purchase by credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Android Pay, or any other transaction method is table stakes.

The path to platforms

The retailers have the pattern of using the most advanced APIs. A maturity pattern for retailers building digital experiences as they go through a few initial projects to a more mature program and eventually a full-blown platform is provided to the retailers.

The State of APIs in Retail report offers a great visual overview of these capabilities. Note in the graphic below how many capabilities—not just the core set—can be used across a variety of use cases. This clearly illustrates the value of making each individual capability simple and easy to use; doing so means a retailer can quickly create, test, and scale new customer experiences.

Leveraging ecosystems

Sometimes the data you can’t see says more about a market than what’s immediately visible. Increasingly, it makes more sense to leverage the APIs of third-party service providers rather than building bespoke systems. Why build mapping when you can get it

Disruption across all industries

At the end of the day, we are all being trained to expect fast, easy, self-service access to products and services. Whether they’re ready or not, companies operating in healthcare, financial services, telcos, and others sectors are being driven to respond. While there are clearly differences in the specific use cases customers will require of these service and product providers, executives in these industries have much to learn from their colleagues in the retail space.

Conclusion

Irrespective of the industry, customers want to engage with a company such as ours around the products and services that are relevant to them, and they expect the entire experience delivered simply, quickly, and securely with minimal friction or hassle. So, for the innovative retail API solutions, hire Matrix Marketers!