Understanding BigCommerce Order APIs: A Comparison of V2 and V3

APIs are highly important for developers to create streamlined processes for a business. BigCommerce provides 2 options of APIs to select from hence one question that always arises is which BigCommerce API v2 vs v3, a developer should go for.

Therefore, in this blog, we’ll take a look at the BigCommerce Order API and compare BigCommerce API v2 vs v3 to understand the differences between them. We will also talk about their benefits to conclude the best from both.

• BigCommerce has a total of 0.4 percent market share in worldwide eCommerce platforms.
• BigCommerce’s v2 and v3 both can be used at the same time within the same systems.
• As a result of the simplicity of the API integrations offered by BigCommerce, over 37 percent of websites have switched from Shopify to using it.

BigCommerce API in a Nutshell

BigCommerce is a popular e-commerce platform that provides a range of APIs to integrate with different systems. One of the most crucial APIs for any e-commerce platform is the order API, which enables developers to manage orders, shipping, and payment information. In order to discuss BigCommerce API v2 vs v3 we have to list out the benefits and uses of V2 and V3 to highlight the main difference and deduce the better one.

BigCommerce Order API V2

The BigCommerce Order API V2 was released in 2016 and provides access to order information, such as order details, customer information, and shipping details. It enables developers to perform actions like creating, updating, and retrieving orders.

One of the key features of V2 is its simplicity, making it easy for developers to get started quickly. However, it has its limitations, such as limited support for custom fields, limited filtering options, and limited support for complex shipping and payment scenarios.

Benefits of API v2

In this section, we will discuss the benefits of API version 2 for the comparison of BigCommerce API v2 vs v3 from a business point of view:

Improved Performance

API v2 has been designed with performance in mind, with faster and more efficient data retrieval and processing compared to the previous version. This can help developers create applications that are more responsive and perform better, which can lead to a better user experience for merchants and their customers.

Better Data Management

API v2 offers a more comprehensive set of data endpoints, which can help developers manage data more effectively across an entire BigCommerce store. This can include product data, order data, customer data, and more, all of which can be accessed and managed through a single API.

Enhanced Security

The new API uses OAuth2 authentication, which is a more secure authentication method than the previous version. It also supports SSL encryption, which can help to protect data in transit. These security features can help merchants and developers to rest assured that their data is safe and secure when using the BigCommerce API v2.

Read Also BigCommerce API Documentation

More Flexible Integration

API v2 offers more flexibility when it comes to integrating with third-party applications and services. This can include custom integrations with specific business tools or integrating with other e-commerce platforms to offer a wider range of features and capabilities to merchants.

Improved Documentation

BigCommerce has improved the documentation for API v2, making it easier for developers to understand and work with the API. This can help to reduce development time and errors, allowing developers to create more effective integrations and applications for BigCommerce merchants.

Support for GraphQ

API v2 also includes support for graphQL, a modern query language for APIs. This can make it easier for developers to retrieve the data they need from the BigCommerce platform, with a more flexible and powerful query language that can help to streamline development and improve overall performance.

Read Also Bigcommerce GraphQL Explorer

BigCommerce Order API V3

The BigCommerce Order API V3 was released in 2020 and offers a range of enhancements over V2. It provides better support for complex shipping and payment scenarios, improved filtering options, and better support for custom fields.

Benefits of API V3

Some of the important benefits of API V3 over businesses and development are stated below:

More Control Over Order Fulfillment

With the order API v3, developers can now manage individual items within an order, allowing them to track and update the fulfillment status of each item. This can help merchants fulfill orders more accurately and efficiently, improving the customer experience. Developers can also integrate with third-party fulfillment providers to automate the fulfillment process.

Customizable Order Workflow

The order API v3 includes features that allow developers to create custom order statuses, automate order processing based on specific rules and conditions, and define custom workflows for managing orders. This can help merchants streamline their order management processes, reduce manual effort, and improve the overall efficiency of their operations.

Improved Inventory Management

In order to keep track of stock at multiple warehouses and in real-time, developers can take advantage of features provided by the Order API v3. This helps stores keep from running out of products and reduces the possibility of overselling. In addition, developers can streamline inventory management across multiple channels by integrating with external inventory management systems.

Seamless Integration With Other APIs

The order API v3 is designed to work seamlessly with other BigCommerce APIs, including the catalog and customer APIs. This can help developers build more comprehensive applications that can manage all aspects of a BigCommerce store, from product catalog management to order fulfillment and customer support. This can help merchants avoid the need for custom integrations and reduce the complexity of their technology stack.

Reduced Development Time and Cost

With the comprehensive set of endpoints provided by the order API v3, developers can build custom order management applications and integrations more quickly and efficiently. This can help merchants avoid the need for custom development, reducing the time and cost of building and maintaining custom order management functionality.

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In summary, the BigCommerce order API v3 provides developers with a powerful toolset for building custom order management applications and integrations that can help merchants streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience.

In-Depth Comparision

Features

The v3 Order API offers a number of new features compared to v2, including the ability to manage order refunds, manage order coupons, and retrieve order shipping addresses. The v2 Order API is limited to retrieving and updating order information such as order status, shipping information, and payment information.

Performance

The v3 Order API is optimized to handle a higher number of requests and has improved error handling compared to v2. This means that v3 is more efficient and reliable for managing orders at scale.

Endpoint Structure 

The v3 Order API has a different endpoint structure compared to v2, with more specific endpoint URLs for different types of order-related actions. This allows for a more intuitive and structured approach to managing orders.

Data Format

The v3 Order API returns data in a different format compared to v2, using JSON instead of XML. This makes the data easier to process and work with for many developers.

Security

The v3 Order API supports OAuth 2.0 authentication, which is more secure and flexible compared to the basic authentication used in v2.

Keep This In Mind

BigCommerce Order API V3 offers significant improvements over V2, including better support for complex shipping and payment scenarios, improved filtering options, and better support for custom fields. Its support for GraphQL and asynchronous processing makes it a better choice for developers looking to build a modern e-commerce application.

However, if you are already using V2 and are satisfied with its functionality, there may be no need to switch to V3. It ultimately comes down to the specific needs of your project and the trade-offs between simplicity and functionality.

Whether you are just getting started with e-commerce or are an experienced developer, understanding the BigCommerce Order API is an important step in building a successful e-commerce application.

Conclusion

The BigCommerce order APIs, both V2 and V3, offer a powerful set of tools for developers to build custom integrations and applications for managing orders. While the V2 API provides a solid foundation for basic order management, the V3 API takes it to the next level, offering improved performance, enhanced security, and more comprehensive functionality.

As developers continue to build more sophisticated and complex e-commerce applications, the BigCommerce order API V3 will undoubtedly become an essential tool in their toolkit. However, when it comes to BigCommerce API v2 vs v3 we will suggest you opt for V3 because it’s new and updated.