Revolutionizing software integration with REST APIs and webhooks
Project overview
A rapidly evolving logistics environment makes effective integration with partners’ IT systems crucial for ensuring operational success. Our partner faced significant challenges with its outdated file-based integration system and asked us for support in overcoming these obstacles. We helped the 3PL company revamp its integration infrastructure and design a tailored solution to enhance the system’s efficiency.
Challenges
The company operated on a legacy file-based integration system that relied on asynchronous file exchanges. The system was not equipped to handle the demands of the company’s growing client base or the evolving requirements of modern logistics. While functional, this outdated approach hindered the 3PL’s ability to meet the evolving expectations of its business clients and prolonged the process of onboarding new clients.
Lengthy onboarding times
New clients usually needed over two months to integrate with the legacy system, which often delayed operations and led to client frustration.
No real-time updates
The file-based system couldn’t support real-time updates, so both the company and its clients had to rely on delayed data, which hindered decision-making.
Damage to brand image
Some prospective clients saw the outdated system as a deal-breaker, preferring to partner with 3PL providers who use modern technology that enables swift onboarding and integration.
Our solution
The 3PL provider partnered with Maxima Consulting to modernize its integration infrastructure. Our consultants recommended a complete overhaul and the introduction of REST APIs and webhooks.
Our expert team designed and implemented a completely new integration system, fundamentally transforming our partner’s interaction with its clients. We built a robust integration framework that leveraged REST APIs and webhooks. This new approach modernized the company’s operations, enabling real-time communication and significantly reducing onboarding times.
REST APIs with 22 dynamic endpoints
A suite of over 22 REST API endpoints that supports synchronous and asynchronous communication enables the company’s clients to effectively interact with their 3PL’s provider systems.
- The new system supports real-time status updates on transactions.
- It allows for seamless creation and updating of shipment orders, item profiles, purchase orders, and returns.
- By design, the APIs are intuitive and easy to implement. Providing clients with API keys facilitates integration of their systems, resulting in much quicker onboarding without the need for extensive setup or support.
Webhooks for real-time notifications
A tailor-made webhook system allows the 3PL’s clients to receive instant notifications about key events such as shipment confirmations and tracking updates.
Built as a self-service platform, webhook system allows clients to enable or disable specific notifications, eliminating the need for manual intervention or file polling.
Project results
The introduction of REST APIs and webhooks had a transformative impact on our partner’s integration capabilities, improved client satisfaction, and enhanced operational efficiency and systems scalability.
This transformation not only addressed the 3PL provider’s immediate challenges but also positioned the company for sustained growth and innovation in the logistics industry for the years to come.
Onboarding time reduced by over 75%
Onboarding new clients, which previously took more than two months, was reduced to less than two weeks. In some cases, new clients were up and running in just a few days. This not only improved client satisfaction but also allowed our partner to take on more business.
Improved client experience and brand perception
The new integration framework simplified interaction with the 3PL’s systems, provided its clients with real-time updates, and enabled faster response time. This was a game-changer for many prospective clients, who now saw our partner as a modern, technology-forward logistics company.
Future-proof solution
The APIs and webhooks were designed to be platform-agnostic, guaranteeing compatibility with any future warehouse management systems (WMS) to ensure long-term benefits from this investment for our partner.
Enabling further innovation
REST APIs and webhooks introduced by our expert consultants became a backbone for our partner’s new self-service client portal that provides a 360-degree view of transactions, order management capabilities, and real-time status updates.
While another team built the portal, Maxima Consulting’s APIs powered it, demonstrating the versatility and scalability of the integration framework.
