Supplier members can establish a connection between their product management software and ASI’s product database. The ESP Updates API enables suppliers to make on-demand real-time changes and additions to their product data.
Step 1: Request a Test Account
To request access to our ESP Updates API, send an email to Integrations@asicentral.com containing:
- Your full name
- Your email address
- Your ASI number
Step 2: Your Development Team Establishes Connection in Test Environment
The development team at your company will need to build the connection to the ESP Updates API utilizing a REST client of your choice and ASI’s sandbox/test environment guided by documentation provided by ASI. The test (sandbox) environment contains a recent copy of your products as they currently appear in the ESP database.
For development assistance, please reference the ESP Updates API Reference page.
You will need to synchronize the External ID (XID) for each product. You can either incorporate ASI’s automatically generated XIDs or make the change to utilize a XID specific to your company. ASI can assist with updating their XIDs if needed.
The ESP Updates Data Standards are available for reference here.
Accessing the sandbox and testing will not affect any data that is currently live in the ESP database, nor will the information be visible to distributors.
A minimum of either ten percent (10%) of your total products or 30 products – whichever is greater – will need to be successfully updated via the ESP Updates API, please reach out to ASI to move onto the next step.
Step 3: Data Review and Approval
After product updates are successfully displayed in the sandbox environment via the API, the ESP Updates Team, who are data specialists here at ASI, will review your product data to ensure it meets ESP Data Guidelines. If any issues arise, the Integration Team will consult with you to resolve the conflict. Your data must pass this approval process before moving the service into Production.
Step 4: Utilizing the ESP Updates API for Data Management
Once the approval process is complete, your company can begin utilizing the ESP Updates API to update product data in Production. Updates can be pushed as often as needed and there is no scheduled wait period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who at ASI can I contact for more information about the ESP Updates API?
If you have questions at any time, please feel free to contact Integrations@asicentral.com.
Can my company use the ESP Updates API to onboard our catalog(s)?
Products must be added by utilizing the options available in ESP Updates or uploading your catalog. Once your company has at least 10% of your anticipated products within the ESP Database, you can establish a connection via the ESP Updates API.
How is the Material Intake tab in ESP Updates different from the ESP Updates API?
There is a substantial difference in these two processes:
- The Material Intake tab enables you to send catalogs and data files for the ESP Information Team here at ASI to review and update in the ESP database.
- The ESP Updates API (Application Programming Interface) is an automated connection that enables software applications to communicate with each other. This means that if your company updates the information within your product management system, you will be able to push those updates directly through to update the information in the ESP database.
How often does the ESP Updates API process run?
As often as you need! There is no standard schedule, so you can run the API as needed.
Can my company use the ESP Updates API to push inventory and orders information in addition to product data?
The ESP Updates API can be used solely for product data updates. If you are interested in establishing an API for transactional information in addition to product data, please refer to PromoStandards.