API FAQ

What is an API?

from croptracker blog:
”API stands for Application Programming Interface, and it’s a piece of code that enables the majority of the web-based tools relied upon today. APIs allow for applications to send and receive data between each other. The technology offers broad use cases: devices can connect to the internet, define networks, and allow for IoT devices to function. But APIs also allow a user to build the ideal digital systems and workflows for their business, by linking information through integration from different programs to enhance the utility of tools at hand.

Web apps like Facebook use APIs to enable sharing a user profile with other applications for consensual third-party functions, like speeding up the setup process for new users. For a business like a packhouse for the fresh market, an API integration will connect data tracking from one end of the production chain to another, so the information can be easily managed within a central view.”

Why would I want an API integration? What can be integrated?

• Simply Why? Simplify/Enable/Exchange

• remove errors introduced by humans moving data between systems

• automate and schedule movement of data between systems

“ Application programming interfaces, or APIs, simplify software development and innovation by enabling applications to exchange data and functionality easily and securely”. IBM

from blog:
”When conducting initial discussions about how an integration with Croptracker could work, technical members of your team may wonder what type of architectural style the API would be. Croptracker utilizes Representation State Transfer (REST), which is the most commonly used format due to its simple interface. REST APIs allow data to be available through web URLs. These digital resources can then be consumed within web, mobile, and device applications. REST APIs establish a shared language for the transfer and coherent representation of information from one distinct application to another.”


”Case Study: Little Bear Produce integrates Famous accounting tools with Croptracker

Little Bear Produce sells a wide range of fruits and vegetables grown on 7,000 acres of farms across three countries, and four states. Having used Famous accounting software as a primary administrative tool for decades, it was fulfilling most of the company’s needs keeping everything organized per farm. But a good chunk of the data still required manual entry. With an API connecting Croptracker’s Spray module to Famous, Little Bear’s team can now view spray records entered from the farm field within each location’s account. This integration is presently used in two locations as a starting point, with plans to expand usage in the future.

“Having spray records by block in each linked farm account is a huge time saver,” says Marcos Garza. “A lot of the farmers we are affiliated with have been using Famous for a really long time, so they’re used to it. Not having to implement an entirely new tool on the grower side allows us to benefit from the additional tracking power of Croptracker without the drain of migrating to an entirely new administrative platform. Sprays happen 40-50 times per day at the scale we’re at, meaning that’s a lot of paperwork to take care of if it’s manually documented on site, and then entered into a database later. Croptracker has reduced the processing burden exponentially.”

How much work will I have to do?

API integration can be hard - there are many things to consider before undertaking the work.

How much does it cost?

API access, support and maintenance costs USD $4,800 per year. Any Croptracker modules you have access to will generally be available via the API once its activated on your account. Please discuss your plans with our technical group to ensure that what you would like to accomplish is possible via our API.

If you want Croptracker to help you build your integration we will need to conduct an initial consulting project with you to determine your requirements and the scope of work.

- QUESTIONS - PROCEEDING WITH API INTEGRATION -

What I do I need to provide from my end?

If you and your technical team are going to be doing the work, we just need you to let us know you want to get started. We will create an API user for you, and show you how to make/manage your API user(s) yourself.

What do I need to get started? How long will it take?

• a quick consultation with your technical team will be enough to get you started

• how long it will take to complete the API integration depends on the type and potentially the volume of data being considered for integration, and the features / support available for the 3rd party system integrating with Croptracker

• Croptracker has a team of integration specialists that you can hire to help.
  
  

For more information or to get started on an API integration with Croptracker, please contact support@croptracker.com