Open API
Edgemp
Hello,
So were still learning/Dialing in Edge Serv on our end, but I think what we need more than anything for the future of the product is an Open API (Rest I believe would be best) for so many reasons. From its a fancy word to use when trying to sell a client, to actually delivering on those huge promises we make to gain clients, to talking to third party companies and trying to get them to integrate to EdgeServ to Dealers taking initiative on their own to write their own integrations to help build the EdgeServ name. I'm unaware of this in the EdgeServ offering from what I can see, so if it's there please let me know, and if it's not can we add this, cause I think it will be needed for our future as there is no way we can be all things to all people and we will need integrations to compete. We're coming from Focus which is a software that has been around for a long time and had a lot of integrations and they needed the a restapi to compete too. And I know many Focus dealers won many big installs by doing the minimal amount of work via integrations.
E
EdgeServ Support
Hi Jon -
A couple of comments on several different levels:
#1 - Integrations are a priority
- We understand that we have minimal integrations today and we prioritize integration development projects around sales opportunities. If any reseller has both a sales oppty needing an integration, and a 3rd party that is willing to work with us, we would love to discuss, and in most cases can prioritize that type of project.
#2 - An Open API is a BIG development project
- Creating, publishing and supporting an open API is a very big development project. And while we certainly have the ability to do this type of project, it would come at the time expense of not doing many other things. When we do the critical analysis, other dev projects derive more immediate benefit in the short term. For this reason, an open API remains a longer term priority.
- Hunter
Edgemp
EdgeServ Support: So if you don't have this, how do you purpose doing third party integrations? By installing local programs on the server and then interfacing them to EdgeServ? I don't think companies want to do that anymore, and also not all companies support linux. I know we can export data out, but not all companies support that, and then you have to push data back in. The API would make a standard way of doing business moving forward. Maybe if we are creative with Dealer money and or third party coders we can have our cake and eat it.
E
EdgeServ Support
Edgemp: Jon ... we have not encountered any issues on the several integrations we have done with our existing technology and believe we are well positioned for future requests. There is a HUGE difference between an API development project for an individual integration versus creating, publishing and maintaining a full open API. We are glad to have you as part of the EdgeServ team. Looking forward to getting deeper into topics like this as your product knowledge grows.
Tech Xmart
This is a great idea