There are so many ways to make your program more efficient, but one of the best is through application programming interfaces (APIs). APIs enable systems to connect with each other and transfer data or information. Because of their technical nature, APIs are best suited for developer use.
Impact’s APIs allow you to automate workflows, connect various systems, track program performance, and more. They offer a great opportunity to more effectively scale your business and unlock rapid growth.
In this overview on how to get started with APIs, you’ll learn where to access your Impact API credentials, how to use the Impact Developer Hub, and what you can accomplish with Impact APIs.
Where can I see Impact’s API documentation?
You’ll find three distinct APIs on the Impact platform: one for brands, one for partners, and one for solution providers. In-depth guides and help documentation explaining how to use each API can be found in the Impact Developer Hub. It’s important to note that only current Impact clients have access to the Developer Hub.
Login to the Developer Hub using the same credentials you use to access the Impact platform. If you don’t have a login, a member of your team can provide permissions to your organization’s Impact account.
How do I use the Developer Hub?
The Developer Hub helps you to quickly and easily interact with Impact APIs. This detailed, step-by-step guide makes it simple to get connected and accomplish your goals.
The Developer Hub provides a bird’s eye view of how to get started, including authentication requirements, information about request and response formats, status codes, pagination, rate limiting, and more. The documentation highlights what you can do with each endpoint, lists all required and optional parameters, and provides sample requests and responses.
Unless you have strong technical experience, enlist the help of one of your developers to make the best use of Impact APIs. Software developers are generally familiar with APIs and know how to successfully use them.
If you or your developers need help or have questions, reach out to Impact’s product experts by clicking on the “Need Help?” button at the bottom right corner of the Impact platform.
Where do I access my Impact API credentials?
To use the Impact APIs, you’ll need your unique API SID (username) and the Authentication Token (password). Log into your Impact member account on the platform to get your Impact API credentials.
To access credentials:
- Brands can navigate to settings, then click on “API.”
- Partners can click on the cloud icon in the far left navigation bar and select “API.”
- Solution providers can navigate to settings, then click on “Platform REST Web Services.”
What are some of the major ways to use Impact APIs?
With so many great options, deciding where to begin may feel overwhelming. To help you get started, here’s a broad overview of how to power third-party integrations, track web and app events, and automate manual tasks — three of the main ways APIs can help you increase productivity and unlock growth.
- Third-party integrations
Impact APIs enable you to send data to a variety of third-party systems. You can connect your Impact account with the tools and technologies you already use to manage marketing efforts, including your own analytics platform or data management platform (DMP).
In addition to pushing your data to other systems, you can pull other marketing data into the Impact platform. This will allow you to more fully and accurately connect the touchpoints across your buyer’s journey, measure performance, and attribute credit to your partners.
For example: Your marketing organization uses a third-party analytics platform to report on all the different marketing channels. Instead of manually pulling reporting each day, week, or month, an Impact API can automatically pull data into your third-party analytics platform of choice.
- Event tracking
Brands can use the Impact brand API to reliably track, attribute, and commission online, mobile app, and call events. This is a great alternative to tag- or pixel-based methods for brands that want to futureproof tracking against Apple and Google’s continuous privacy updates or want to start tracking in-app events.
For example: You’re a retail brand with an app that allows consumers to purchase your products. With Impact’s API-based tracking solution, you can set up app tracking to get insights on installs, opens, and conversions from within the app. Instead of limiting yourself to tracking web traffic only, you’ll gain a full view into your customer journey and more accurately attribute credit for partner contributions.
- Automated program management
Many manual repetitive tasks can be automated or streamlined using APIs — freeing up your time to focus on other critical tasks.
For example: You’re a partnerships manager that oversees returns and modifications each month. You likely coordinate with other internal teams to generate a reversal and modification file that’s sent to Impact monthly. With the Impact API, you can hook up your ecommerce system to automatically send reversals and modifications to Impact — allowing you to focus your attention on more strategic areas of program management.
Some of the most common tasks you can automate with APIs include:
- Submitting returns and modifications
- Sending reporting data to other teams
- Updating ads and product catalogs
- Managing action inquiries
- Updating partner groups in bulk
- Downloading invoices
- Managing promo codes and exception lists
To see some of Impact’s pre-built integrations, head over to our Technology Partners page. The impact.com partnership management platform already integrates with various platforms such as BigCommerce, Shopify, Woocommers and more.
Get started today
APIs are a great way to make your program more efficient and accelerate growth. Once you decide to get started with APIs, you’ll be on your way to eliminating manual tasks from workflows, streamlining connections between Impact and your third-party platforms, and tracking mobile app events. Before you know it you’ll enjoy the many benefits that APIs have to offer.
Head over to the Impact Developer Hub to learn more about all the things you can do with our APIs and access our in-depth documentation. Not yet on Impact? Contact a growth technologist at grow@impact.com.
