You need applications to interact with one another, triggering actions based on set parameters or events, and to ensure a continued flow of events.\u00a0Just made a sale? Automatically create an invoice. Received a low NPS rating? Generate a ticket for your team to close the loop<\/a>. Need to check in with new clients? Trigger a follow-up survey through automated distribution<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are a few ways for applications to communicate with one another. Integrating with an API<\/a> (application programming interface) is one. But while this is a well known option, APIs require expertise to set up \u2013 and aren\u2019t ideal for all situations.\u00a0That\u2019s where webhooks come into play.<\/p>\n There are two ways for applications to communicate: polling<\/em> (asking for information and receiving an answer), which is used by APIs, and pushing<\/em> (sending over data as soon as an event occurs).<\/p>\n A webhook is the second kind. Since the communication in this case is one-way, they\u2019re often seen as “reverse APIs.”<\/p>\n To give a real-world example, an API is like calling up a store and asking if a particular product is back in stock, whereas a webhook is the store calling you<\/em> up when the product is back in stock.<\/p>\n In other words, an API retrieves information while a webhook sends.\u00a0When you use a webhook, as soon as an event occurs, the data is passed on \u2013 no questions asked.<\/p>\n In a competition-driven market space, it\u2019s essential to be able to deliver better experiences at every stage. One way to do that is to leverage automation<\/a> to improve efficiency and create a well-rounded experience.<\/p>\n Just think about when you make a purchase online. You immediately get a notification on your phone alerting you of the amount debited and an invoice via email. Are they all the same platform? No. But a single event triggered the actions.\u00a0Webhooks make that happen.<\/p>\n While webhooks are much easier to implement, they\u2019re also a lot less malleable. So if you need to tweak the code and change the process, you\u2019re likely better off creating another webhook altogether for the altered event.<\/p>\n Moreover, if you\u2019re looking to transfer large amounts of data, an API<\/a> is the better way to go since they help transition data in bulk rather than through individual occurrences.<\/p>\n Webhooks are ideal when you are working with small amounts of data and need updates in real time. Unlike APIs, they\u2019re much faster to set up. However, they might not always be able to capture nuanced information.<\/p>\n Alternately, APIs allow you to work with larger data that requires updates (ever wondered how the shipping status on parcels gets updated regularly?).<\/p>\n Both have distinct uses. So if you want to create an ecosystem that communicates, you can implement both webhooks and APIs for a more cohesive experience!<\/p>\n So, how are you automating your experience?<\/strong>\u00a0If you’re thinking about integrating Sogolytics<\/a> into your online ecosystem, connect with our team<\/a> to learn how to bring it all together!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In an interconnected world, communication is critical \u2013 especially when it comes to applications.\u00a0To ensure a seamless process, you need multiple applications to work together. That\u2019s why there\u2019s so much talk about automation. But how does automation really work? You need applications to interact with one another, triggering actions based on set parameters or events, and to ensure a continued flow of events.\u00a0Just made a sale? Automatically create an invoice. Received a low NPS rating? Generate a ticket for your team to close the loop. Need to check in with new clients? Trigger a follow-up survey through automated distribution. There are a few ways for applications to communicate with one another. Integrating with an API (application programming interface) is one. But while this is a well known option, APIs require expertise to set up \u2013 and aren\u2019t ideal for all situations.\u00a0That\u2019s where webhooks come into play. What are webhooks? There are two ways for applications to communicate: polling (asking for information and receiving an answer), which is used by APIs, and pushing (sending over data as soon as an event occurs). A webhook is the second kind. Since the communication in this case is one-way, they\u2019re often seen as “reverse APIs.” To give a real-world example, an API is like calling up a store and asking if a particular product is back in stock, whereas a webhook is the store calling you up when the product is back in stock. In other words, an API retrieves information while a webhook […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":5065,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,75],"tags":[743,581,744,742],"yoast_head":"\n![\"automation](\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-1172583737-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat are webhooks?<\/h2>\n
Why use webhooks?<\/h2>\n
Advantages of webhooks<\/h2>\n
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Things to keep in mind<\/h2>\n
![\"automation\"](\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-1253822199-1024x771.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFinal thoughts<\/h2>\n