Application Programming Interface

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of programming instructions and standards. It’s often used to help different software applications work together.

What is an API endpoint?

In simple terms, an API endpoint is the point of entry in a communication channel when two systems are interacting. It refers to touchpoints of the communication between an API and a server.

What are examples of an Application Programming Interface?

Consider for example travel booking sites.  On these sites, you can check the cheapest option for your convenient date and convenient destination. These sites show the cheapest options through API. It provides the latest information about the availability of rooms or sets from hotels and airlines. API helps you to save your time while checking for available flights or accommodation. 

A second example could be Google Maps,  one of the best common examples of an API. It lets the users use the maps on required web pages. It allows the user to track the traveling routes or traveling vehicles like your kid’s school bus. It provides the user with the flexibility to use it on mobile phones as well as desktops.

What are the application programming interface standards?

Different industries require a different set of standards and not all APIs are a one size fits all model. For example, different formats have pluses and minus from SOAP vs REST vs GraphQL. Each industry has requirements that differ when it comes to APIs.

Some businesses are making API industry standards mandatory.  For example, the European Commission has implemented a set of API requirements for the Banking and Financial sectors, called Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2). This is a set of rules that Banks are required to adhere to in the use of APIs. 

In logistics, too, the times are a-changing. In the early days, APIs were built by using SOAP. However increasingly logitech startups and large corporations alike are now adapting RESTful APIs (take as an example Lyft, Uber, and others).

Which is better- API or EDI?

EDI dates back to the ’70s, when several standards were formulated, leading to mass adoption across different industries, including logistics and transport. It is a well established way of transferring data. EDI uses AS2, a data transfer protocol, to ensure that the data between two parties is secure when it’s transferred.

However, API based approach now contests EDI’s dominance within logistics industry. Compared to EDI, API approach is a bit more relaxed in its abilities to customize.  It enables more agility and innovation because it’s more customizable. The drawback of API approach is that it has not yet gotten to the point where it can pull more data than what is available with EDI today, like sales or operational reports.

Top 20 Logistics APIs in 2021

So what are the most popular logistics APIs in 2021? Below we summarized 20 top logistics APIs in logistics. 

• Taulia API. Taulia is an integratable service for the optimization of routes. With its help, you can get all the necessary supply data along with the corresponding documentation.
• Lokad API. One of the best logistic API options out there, it can assist you a lot in predicting personnel performance spikes and business sales fluctuations. Employ it to enhance the level of service quality and boost profits in the shortest of terms. 
• Seametrix API. If you need to optimize sea routes for new destination points, Seametrix API will come in more than handy. Its primary purpose is to help plan sea shipments. It grants you access to centralized storage of data on ports, terminals, and, most importantly, danger zone shortcuts. 
• Ion Channel API. This here piece of software is positioned as a revolutionary blockchain-based solution for the supply routes planning. And it doesn’t fail to meet the high praise with top performance and diverse functionality. 
• Flexport API. Do you need assistance in planning air, sea or ground shipment routes? This here API will be your trusty helper. It provides a convenient monitoring panel to help you track shipments in real time. 
• Tive API. Tive REST API lets you access the worldwide coverage of points and routes for you to precisely track shipments. The technology of this API is very energy-efficient one, by the way. 
• FreightCenter API. This API forms a database on product shipments, transportation, involved costs, etc. All that in a constantly updated, online mode. 
• Shipwallet API. A solution by Swedish developers that provides the end-to-end connection between vendors, suppliers, and end buyers. Here you can define optimal product shipment routes that would save you time, gas, and perishable products. 
• Mycroft Assistant Integration API. This solution conducts a data analysis related to sales and launched supply chains. With its help, you can boost the productivity of all your business departments at once. 
• Labelary API. This API can help you create stickers for shipments and separate products, which are made from a converted printed text in either PNG or PDF format. 
• Venzee Mesh API. Venzee API is a fully-featured solution for storage resources management. Use it to optimize the storage space load and distribute loads by corresponding vehicles in a smart way. 
• DNA Freight API. This here API can take up responsibility for all operations related to tracking your shipments in real time. A great and efficient tool to help you minimize expenses caused by the inefficient distribution of products by routes. 
• Omnitracs Scheduler API. REST API Omnitracs is a perfect solution for transportation logistics, which provides a full set of tools for composing transfer routes and planning optimal locations for sales outlets. 
• Lufthansa Partner API. This API for supply chain will be your assistant in flexible planning and tracking air shipments implemented by the self-titled German airline company. Choose from a range of shipment price options and monitor the progress of your deliveries. 
• Royal Mail Shipping API. Yet another title among some of the best API for supply chain that provides the integration with Royal Mail – Great Britain’s major delivery service. It will help you track and manage product shipments. 
• hyScore API. An impeccable piece of software for monitoring in oil-producing companies that export oil. From the boring stage to raw material supplies, you can manage and control each step of the way. 
• Targomo API. This solution will help you plan routes in a highly efficient manner thanks to the constant update of geolocation data in the JSON format. This tool can also assist you in forming statistical reports. 
• Keep Truckin API. This is a prominent logistic API for supply chain to help you handle a car park. In particular, it lets you manage the info related to the current location of vehicles, analytical data, drivers’ performance level data, etc. 
• TradeLens API. And this here is one of the best API for supply chain that is based on blockchain and will provide you with the info on the timely location of shipments and their characteristics (temperature, transit passages, etc). 
• LogiNext API. This REST API collects data on transportation vehicles, drivers, transit points, endpoints, products, and many other things necessary to track for detailed shipments monitoring.