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Selling Partner API Overview
Learn about what Amazon Selling Partner API (SP-API) is, how to get started as a developer, and review frequently asked questions.
FAQ:
What is an API?
An API, which stands for application programming interface, is a mechanism that enables two software components to communicate with each other using a set of definitions and protocols.
In the context of APIs, the word Application refers to any software with a distinct function. Interface can be thought of as a contract of service between two applications. This contract defines how the two communicate with each other using requests and responses. Their API documentation contains information on how developers are to structure those requests and responses.
In the context of APIs, the word Application refers to any software with a distinct function. Interface can be thought of as a contract of service between two applications. This contract defines how the two communicate with each other using requests and responses. Their API documentation contains information on how developers are to structure those requests and responses.
What is Amazon Selling Partner API (SP-API)?
Selling Partner API (SP-API) is a REST-based API that helps Amazon Selling Partners programmatically access their data on orders, shipments, payments, and much more. Applications using the SP-API can increase selling efficiency, reduce labor requirements, and improve response time to customers, helping Selling Partners grow their businesses.
- Set up an OAuth authorization workflow that selling partners initiate from the Selling Partner Appstore detail page or from your own website.
- Generate an SDK that can help you with LWA token exchange and authentication.
- Test your applications by making calls to a sandbox environment.
Types of SP-API applications
Private seller applications
Applications for sellers that are available only to your organization, and are self-authorized.
Public seller applications
Applications that are publicly available and are authorized by sellers using OAuth. In accordance with the Amazon Services API Developer Agreement, public developers must list their app in the Amazon Selling Partner Appstore.
Private vendor applications
Vendor applications that are available only to your organization, and are self-authorized.
Key features & functionalities
Take a closer look at some of the key features and capabilities of Selling Partner API. These features empower Selling Partners to take control their selling journey in the Amazon stores.
Listing management
Create, update, and manage product listings programmatically, automating the process of listing creation and keep catalogs up-to-date effortlessly.
Inventory management
Efficiently monitor and update inventory levels and availability. Avoid stockouts or overselling by automating inventory updates, providing a seamless shopping experience for customers.
Order management
SP-API allows Sellers to retrieve orders, confirm shipments, handle cancellations and refunds, all in real time. This level of automation ensures smooth order fulfillment and customer satisfaction.
Pricing automation
Dynamically adjust prices based on competitive factors, enabling Sellers to optimize pricing strategy and maximize sales and profits.
Reports and analytics
Gain access to detailed reports and analytics. Analyze performance, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to propel Seller businesses forward.
FAQ:
What are REST APIs?
REST stands for Representational State Transfer. REST defines a set of functions like GET, PUT, DELETE, etc. that clients can use to access server data. Clients and servers exchange data using HTTP.
The main feature of REST API is statelessness. Statelessness means that servers do not save client data between requests. Client requests to the server are similar to URLs you type in your browser to visit a website. The response from the server is plain data, without the typical graphical rendering of a web page.
The main feature of REST API is statelessness. Statelessness means that servers do not save client data between requests. Client requests to the server are similar to URLs you type in your browser to visit a website. The response from the server is plain data, without the typical graphical rendering of a web page.
Prior to SP-API, the process was tedious and prone to errors…It was difficult to maintain a high level of service and customer satisfaction. We also faced scalability issues when onboarding multiple users.Satya PrakashSenior Solution Architect, CedCommerce
Getting started
You must register as a Selling Partner API developer before you can register your Selling Partner API application. The procedure for registering as a developer varies slightly depending on the type of application that you plan to create. Developer applications are grouped into three types:
- All public applications. Applications that are publicly available and are authorized by sellers or by vendors using OAuth.
- Private seller applications. Applications for sellers that are available only to your organization, and are self-authorized.
- Private vendor applications. Applications for vendors that are available only to your organization, and are self-authorized.
You must register as a Selling Partner API developer before you can register your Selling Partner API application. The procedure for registering as a developer varies slightly depending on the type of application that you plan to create.
For more information, refer to Terminology, or watch the Getting Started videos.
For more information, refer to Terminology, or watch the Getting Started videos.
FAQ:
What are API integrations?
API integrations are software components that automatically update data between clients and servers. Some examples of API integrations are when automatic data sync to the cloud from your phone image gallery, or the time and date automatically sync on your laptop when you travel to another time zone. Enterprises can also use them to efficiently automate many system functions.
SP-API brings substantial time savings to the organization. Before SP-API, [managing] product data or price and inventory was a manual Excel file drag and drop.Raymond YuCEO, ZYing
Helpful resources
Videos
Keep learning through demos, on-demand webinars, and tutorials.
Get started as a developer
Over 1M Sellers worldwide use apps built with Selling Partner-APIs to automate their businesses. Join the growing community of developers using our API to power their Amazon applications.
