It’s no question that software needs to pass benchmarks to become reasonable and gain users. Standards often include excellent performance, reliability, and user experience. But recent years saw an addition to the list—how much software is automated to handle changing dependencies.
Automation enables the software to adapt instantly for uninterrupted delivery. This ability wasn’t possible until applied science advanced enough to create intelligent API technology, allowing the users to automate whatever repetitive work they needed help with—simple data fetching to complex web scraping.
How can you succeed with automation through APIs?
You can’t ignore it anymore. Manual work is outdated and takes way too much time and energy. So, let’s go through how you can follow technological advancement and not be left behind.
How much does API handle automation?
API stands for “Application Programming Interface.” It’s a set of routines, protocols, and tools that enable two applications to talk to each other. A great API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks, which the programmer then puts together.
An API is like a customer service rep in a store. They take your order (request) and bring your product (response) from the shelves (database). In this example, you don’t need to know how the business works—you need to know what you want to eat.
Nowadays, APIs do way more than take requests and return responses. Instead, they have evolved into intelligent beings who can make decisions themselves, like choosing the fastest route to take your order or finding the best sources for the data you need.
What can you automate with APIs?
The quick answer is anything that is repetitive and time-consuming.
You can use APIs to automate simple tasks, like fetching data from a database, or complex processes, like web scraping. You can also use them to schedule posts on social media, track analytics, and more. Here are some examples of what you can automate with APIs:
- Data entry
- Data analysis
- Reporting
- Social media posting
- Lead generation
- Marketing campaign management
- Email marketing
- App development
- Website development
Anything that requires data or interaction with another application can be automated with an API. You can imagine how much time you’ll save by automating these tasks, so you wouldn’t have to do, adjust, and test them manually.
Is it easier to code with API than with libraries and frameworks?
It can be, depending on your level of coding knowledge and the task you’re trying to automate. An experienced coder might find it easier to code with API than with libraries and frameworks because you have more control over the code.
Libraries and frameworks are great for automating simple tasks because they provide pre-written code that you can use. However, if you want to customize the automation process or add more features, you might need to write more code yourself.
On the other hand, APIs give you more flexibility because you can access the underlying code and make changes to it. You can also use APIs to connect to other applications and create complex workflows. If you want to learn how to code with API, there are many resources available online, such as tutorials and documentations.
How can I get started with automation through APIs?
If you want to get started with automation through APIs, the best way is to find an API that meets your needs and start using it. There are many different APIs available, so it’s important to choose one that is well-documented and easy to use. To find a list of popular APIs, try ProgrammableWeb.
Once you’ve selected an API, you need to create an account and get an API key. This key will be used to authenticate your requests and track your usage. Then, explore the API’s documentation to learn how to use it. Most APIs have comprehensive documentation that includes code examples and tutorials.
When you’re ready, you can start writing your own code to automate tasks through the API. You can use any programming language that you’re familiar with, such as Python, PHP, or Java.
Automating tasks through APIs can save you a lot of time and effort, so it’s definitely worth considering if you’re looking for ways to optimize your workflow.
Can non-technical personnel understand APIs and how they work?
Yes, they can. While it helps to have some coding knowledge, it’s not necessary to understand how APIs work. There are many GUI (graphical user interface) tools that allow you to create automations without writing a single line of code.
Some popular API automation tools include Zapier, IFTTT, and Integromat. These platforms provide ready-made integrations that you can use to connect different applications and automate tasks. For example, you can use Zapier to automatically send data from one application to another.
These tools are very user-friendly and don’t require any coding knowledge. However, if you want more control over the automations, you can always write code to customize the integrations. Non-technical personnel won’t have to worry about that, though.
How does Vatcheckapi help with automation through APIs?
Vatcheckapi exposes a powerful set of APIs that allow you to automate many tasks related to VAT checking. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, VAT checking is the process of verifying that a given VAT number is valid and active.
This can be a time-consuming task, especially if you need to check multiple VAT numbers. With Vatcheckapi, you can automate this process by setting up a VAT checking workflow, including the following steps:
- VAT number validation
- VAT rates lookup
- Calculating VAT
- Checking invoices for errors
In addition, Vatcheckapi provides a wide range of integrations with popular applications, such as Zapier, IFTTT, and Integromat. These integrations make it easy to connect Vatcheckapi with other applications and automate tasks without writing any code.
You can easily validate any VAT number and retrieve related company information to get a first impression of how our API can solve your use case–all in a matter of seconds.
Are you interested in trying Vatcheckapi? Check out their website for a demo.
Automation Through APIs: The Future of Work
The world of work is changing, and automation through APIs is playing a big role in that change. In the past, most tasks were completed manually. This meant that someone had to do them manually, which was often time-consuming and error-prone.
With the advent of APIs, many tasks can now be automated. This ability means that they can be completed without any human intervention which can save a lot of time and money while giving accurate and consistent results—something humans can never achieve.
As the world of work continues to evolve, it’s likely that automation through APIs will become increasingly crucial. So, if you’re not already using APIs to automate tasks, now is the time to start.