New technology is constantly emerging. And the e-commerce industry is no different. As the digital marketplace continues to grow, so do its technological advancements. To stay ahead of the curve, BigCommerce is always looking for ways to improve its platform and give its users an edge over the competition. So, in that spirit, they’ve released updated GraphQL API features with enhancements, functionality, and REST APIs. These advancements are exciting — but what exactly are they, why should you care, and how will this impact your business? Let’s break it down…
What Is the BigCommerce GraphQL API?
A GraphQL API is simply an API built on top of GraphQL. While REST is the most common form of API, companies are moving away from this standard and towards GraphQL. Why? Simply put, GraphQL has been hailed as the “new REST” — providing a revolutionary approach to API development with many benefits over traditional APIs. A GraphQL API is simply a new way to develop APIs with its pros and cons. You must understand how GraphQL APIs work and how they differ from REST. You can read more about GraphQL vs. Restful API’s here
What’s New With the BigCommerce GraphQL API?
The latest GraphQL API from BigCommerce boasts many new features and functionality that should prove helpful to e-commerce businesses. Among them is one of the most important updates: the ability to make all API calls using a single API URL, which is definitely a time-saver! As a result, BigCommerce has joined the growing number of companies implementing a GraphQL API and pivoted away from REST. BigCommerce’s GraphQL API also offers more robust endpoints and improved documentation, making it easier for developers to use. These updates reflect BigCommerce’s growing interest in GraphQL as well as the maturing of GraphQL as a technology.
Why Should You Care About the BigCommerce GraphQL API?
As mentioned above, new technological advancements are exciting. But what is the point if they don’t help your business? Well, there are a few reasons you should care about the latest updates to the BigCommerce GraphQL API. First, as mentioned above, it is now easier than ever to build on top of BigCommerce — allowing you to integrate with other applications and services more efficiently. Next, GraphQL makes it easier to build scalable and efficient APIs — which is great if you’re scaling your business. Finally, GraphQL APIs are expected to become the new standard in e-commerce APIs. Why? They are easier to develop and are better equipped to scale as a business grows. As a result, many developers are now asking for GraphQL APIs over REST APIs — which means that you might have trouble finding partners and services if you’re still using the REST API.
More on BigCommerce from Brent Bellm; check out my interview below
The Launch of Multi-Storefront on BigCommerce with Brent Bellm
How Will This Affect Your Business?
The adoption and implementation of GraphQL APIs among e-commerce businesses are expected to grow, so you’ll have more integration options. This is excellent news for companies and will mean cheaper options and more choices for integration. However, it would be best if you started using GraphQL APIs before they became the de facto standard for e-commerce APIs. Doing so will allow you to do everything from marketing automation to inventory management more efficiently and with fewer headaches. If you’re still using BigCommerce’s REST API, you might find yourself in the cold as more partners begin using the GraphQL API. So, while you may not have to rewrite your system, you might have to make some adjustments.
Conclusion
In short, the latest updates to BigCommerce’s GraphQL API are exciting and will likely benefit e-commerce businesses in various ways. However, this technology is still relatively new and is not implemented by many companies. As a result, if you want to take advantage of its benefits, you should start using the GraphQL API immediately.
