"The combination of multiple delivery companies' functions into a single API, along with the user-friendly API specifications, played a pivotal role in our decision."
OpenLogi, guided by a vision to "utilize technology to connect fragmented logistics and innovate the movement of goods through data," offers the logistics fulfillment platform "OpenLogi." By linking nationwide warehouses via its unique warehouse management system, the company achieves operational efficiency and centralization through standardized specifications and procedures.
OpenLogi provides a logistics fulfillment service with zero fixed costs and pay-as-you-go billing, serving approximately 11,500 active accounts as of September 2022. OpenLogi collaborates with various e-commerce cart platforms such as Shopify, Yahoo! Shopping, Next Engine, BASE, and eBay through API integration, facilitating automated shipping.
Challenges Faced by OpenLogi
Developing in-house WMS system integration with multiple delivery companies proved complex, involving confirmation of each delivery company's API specifications and meticulous testing.
Efficient and rapid collaboration development was imperative.
Expanding the service required system integration with multiple delivery companies.
Decision to Implement Ship&co's Shipment API
OpenLogi, providing logistics fulfillment platform services for small and medium-sized businesses in the growing e-commerce market, needed to support various delivery options. However, system integration with delivery companies was intricate, often lacking RESTful APIs, and confirming API specifications consumed significant time. Direct collaboration required detailed testing, prompting the need for a "Shipment API" supporting multiple delivery companies to reduce development time.
Two significant factors leading to the adoption of Ship&co API:
Excellent RESTful API specifications from an engineer's perspective.
Capability to accommodate specification differences between domestic and international delivery companies, facilitating seamless implementation when adding new delivery companies in the future.
Effects of Implementing Ship&co's Shipment API: Further Easing System Development Burden
OpenLogi's collaboration with domestic and international delivery companies, including Sagawa Express and DHL Express, through Ship&co API has had a profound impact. The Ship&co API consolidates the APIs of the required delivery companies into a unified interface, providing access to each delivery company through this streamlined mechanism.
The implementation of Ship&co API has brought remarkable efficiency to the development process, significantly reducing the system development burden at OpenLogi. According to engineers at OpenLogi, a standout feature of Ship&co's API is that "the API specifications are developer-friendly, aligning seamlessly with REST standards."
The introduction of Ship&co API has yielded the following two key benefits for OpenLogi:
Cost Reduction for Implementation:
The implementation process has become more cost-effective.
Reduction in Essential Testing Activities:
The testing phase has seen a notable reduction in necessary activities.
Note: Ship&co's developer kit provides multiple code samples and is accessible to anyone.
OpenLogi not only collaborates with major delivery companies in Japan and internationally but also forges partnerships with robust local delivery companies. To cater to the diverse needs of e-commerce businesses, expanding delivery company options is imperative.
OpenLogi is committed to working in tandem with Ship&co, aiming to fulfill its vision of leveraging technology to streamline logistics, both domestically and internationally.
