API Development & Integration

RESTful APIs, third-party integrations, and payment gateways. Connecting your systems together seamlessly.

At its core, API development and integration is about making your software converse with other systems in a way that is clean, secure and dependable. My job is to construct well-documented REST APIs and link UK firms to the payment, accounting, CRM and shipping services they need. The aim is for data to move of its own accord, rather than having to be transcribed from one screen to another.

Why connect your systems?

You may wonder why system connectivity matters. The typical business operates on an assortment of disparate tools: a website in one place, an accounting package in another, a CRM elsewhere. Staff are left to shuttle data between them by hand, which is not only slow and prone to error but will not hold up as the company expands. An API takes the friction out of that process. When an order comes in on the site, it can put an invoice in your accounts and a file in your CRM without anyone having to do a thing. Over time the savings add up; every enquiry or payment that is handled automatically is one less piece of admin for your team to worry about.

What can you integrate?

If there is an API on offer, I can generally make the connection. I work with the sort of tools you would use on a daily basis to put an end to the copy-and-paste that wastes time and invites mistakes. This includes:

Payment gateways like Stripe for checkout flows, subscriptions and one-off transactions.
Xero and similar accounting programs to ensure invoices and figures are in sync.
CRM solutions to keep customer and lead data uniform.
Fulfilment and shipping companies for tracking, labels and live rates.
Any number of third-party email or calendar services your workflow requires.

How do you design an API?

When the task is to design an API for your own product, be it for a front end, a mobile app or a partner, I adhere to REST principles. You get sensible authentication and predictable endpoints with responses that are clear and consistent. I see good documentation as part of the final deliverable, not something to be tacked on at the end, so there is no guesswork for your team or any third party. It makes for an interface that is easy to extend and a pleasure to work with.

How do you keep integrations reliable?

Reliability is non-negotiable. A silent failure in an integration is worse than having none, so I build for the realities of the real world. I put in place proper authentication and retry logic, and use webhooks to respond to events in real time. If a third party is being uncooperative or slow, I will design around it. Before anything goes live it has been put through its paces, and I log all activity and set up alerts so that if a connection does fail, you will be made aware of it.

How long does an integration take, and what does it cost?

As for time and cost, a straightforward integration might be done in a couple of weeks, a more involved project tying several systems together will take longer. I am not one to rush when third-party APIs can be unpredictable, so testing is built in. Once I have a firm grasp of what needs to be done, I will put together an itemised quote for you. You will find some examples of this kind of custom web application in my portfolio.

Do you own the code and the credentials?

Yes, completely. You retain complete ownership of the code, the credentials and the hosting. There is no lock-in to me or any platform. You have full control over every connection. Should you have systems that ought to be working in tandem and are not, drop me a line via the contact page and we can work out how to put that right.

Frequently asked questions about :service

How much does API development cost?

Integrations are quoted individually based on the systems, authentication, data mapping and error handling involved. A small connection does not have a £3,500 minimum simply because that is a website package price. We agree the scope and fee before implementation.

Can you integrate my existing systems and third-party services?

Yes. I connect payment gateways, CRMs, accounting tools, shipping providers and other services so your systems share data automatically. I handle authentication, webhooks and error handling properly, so the integration is reliable rather than something that quietly breaks in the background.

Do you build APIs for other developers to use?

Yes. I build clean, well-documented RESTful APIs with sensible authentication and clear responses, so your own team or a third party can integrate quickly. Good documentation is part of the deliverable, not an afterthought.

How long does an integration take?

A focused integration usually takes two to three weeks, while a larger project connecting multiple systems runs four to six weeks or more. Third-party APIs can add variables outside my control, so I build in proper testing and error handling from the start.

Do I own the code?

Yes, completely. The code, the API keys and the hosting accounts are all yours, with no lock-in to me or to any platform. You keep full control of every credential and connection, so nothing you rely on depends on my continued involvement.

Where are you based, and do you work remotely?

I operate out of Watford, Hertfordshire, and deliver integration work for clients across the UK. Because API projects are naturally remote, most of ours will be too, with in-person meetings available whenever you are local and prefer them.