Merissa Williams, the client success and channel partner manager at Jonas Fitness Inc., shares the importance of partnering with a software provider that has API capabilities.
There are many software providers in the fitness industry, and many of them try to provide an inclusive, all-in-one approach. While this “jack of all trades” approach to software can appeal to many club operators, it tends to be limiting in the long run. For example, does your club need rotating barcode functionality to minimize potential fraud and security risks? All-in-one software that looks enticing may provide some solutions. But its functionality will be limited and provide no future options to partner and integrate with other leading business solutions your club needs for long-term growth. That’s why it’s essential to look for software providers that openly offer the ability to integrate with others.
What is an Integration Partner?
An integration partner is a product or service provided by a third-party company that uses the data and information of the host proprietary software to expand functionality for the users of both products. This added functionality comes in many forms, ranging from debt collection services, virtual experience offerings, customer loyalty programs and even SMS marketing platforms. If your club has a need, your CMS solution should be open to an integration partnership with leading businesses in various verticals. That’s why looking for software providers who actively develop and maintain an application programming interface (API) is essential.
The Underlying Technology: The APIs
The API is the vehicle by which any application, regardless of its core technology, can communicate to another. Because there is a wide range of technologies involved in the integration process, there must be a pathway on which they can connect. In essence, different application technologies speak different languages, and the API is the “translator” that allows them to work together to achieve the desired outcome. Open APIs define endpoint connections, operation parameters, authentication techniques, and things like contact information, terms of use, license and more.
What Does the Integration Process Look Like?
After a client’s need has been properly assessed, and once a partnership agreement has been settled upon, the process then transitions into development, which includes API documentation, technical calls and the actual API implementation. During this process, regular evaluation meetings must be held with both partners and clients alike. These evaluations give designers helpful feedback they can continually use to improve the interfaces during the user-testing phase.
When properly completed, API integrations are a powerful tool for club operators. They help streamline how operators and members access programs, how operators can consolidate applications to save time and administrative costs, and they even help members feel more connected to their club. Therefore, to ensure your business’s current and future growth, it’s important club operators look for software solutions that are open to integration partnerships.
