Digital Integration for Real Operational Value
Digital integration is evolving and companies that connect their systems seamlessly gain efficiency while eliminating manual steps to be able to focus on high-value tasks. With our API‑based integration, your ERP can connect directly to the GF ERP, enabling real‑time data exchange, one-click order submission and higher data confidence across all departments.
This automated setup ensures complete transparency, clean data flows and high process stability, empowering procurement and finance teams to work more efficiently, more accurately and more strategically than ever before.
Benefits
What’s in it for YOU as a customer?
Value tailored to your role – clear and immediate.
For the CEO
Goal: Drive efficient and sustainable operational performance.
| Goal: Drive efficient and sustainable operational performance. |
| Challenge: Limited transparency and time‑consuming processes slow down strategic decision‑making. |
| “The minimization of time‑consuming procurement steps, frees up my resources for more high-value tasks.” |
For Procurement Managers
Goal: Purchase materials quickly, reliably, and at the best possible conditions.
| Goal: Purchase materials quickly, reliably, and at the best possible conditions. |
| Challenge: Manual ordering and scattered information reduce speed and increase errors. |
| “With the automated API solution, I can save approx. 20 minutes per order and can communicate real time delivery dates to my own customers” |
For the Finance Department
Goal: Ensure cost control and full financial visibility through connected ERP data.
| Goal: Ensure cost control and full financial visibility through connected ERP data. |
| Challenge: Real time budget tracking with consistent and reliable data. |
| “Up‑to‑date and trustworthy product and financial data directly in my ERP—and no running fees for the API connection.” |
Implementation Efforts and Costs
- We do not charge any cost from our side for the onboarding process.
- There are also no fee charges for the usage of our live API connections.
- Estimating the precise cost on each company is challenging, as it depends very much on the company setup and the IT department.
- Generally, the implementation costs are higher if you have outsourced the IT solution to an external company, compared to having an own in-house IT department.
- As a rough timing estimate, we anticipate that your IT development efforts may be approximately 3-10 days (it may take longer if it is the very first REST API integration for you).
FAQs
For which customers is CONNECT API usable?
We recommend CONNECT API if you have an ERP system within your organization, submitting regular orders with more or less 500 order lines annually and are interested in making your processes more efficient.
Do I need a big IT team in-house to implement CONNECT API?
According to our experience, the implementation is cheaper and faster if your IT department is in-house compared to an outsourced IT solution provider, but the implementation of API is clearly possible for both options.
How will we know if there are any issues with an order?
In case of an error, there will be an error message directly showing in the API management tool and no order will be created until the issue (usually wrongly entered data) is corrected.
How will I know if the order has been successfully placed?
After the initial technical validation is completed successfully by the API management system, you will also receive an email confirmation from a support inbox within a few hours to confirm we have received your order. In addition to that, you will receive another email within 1-2 business days which will include your GF order confirmation ID, confirming that the order has been successfully placed.
How do I get the updated order data back into my ERP?
By using the full CONNECT API Ordering Module, you can install the endpoint “getOrderDetails” and define your own timing concept as to when updated data should be retrieved from GF and be mirrored back into your ERP.
How can I get started with CONNECT API as new customer?
Reach out to your local sales company or use the get in touch functionality included in this website to schedule your free introduction meeting
How can I get access to the Developer Portal?
Reach out to your local sales company or use the get in touch functionality included in this website to get your access to the portal.
Are API orders and their status also displayed in the CONNECT Store? If so, how long does it take for the order to appear?
Yes, API orders are visible in the CONNECT Store as soon as they have been successfully processed. Once you receive the confirmation email with the GF order confirmation ID, the order—including its delivery status and related details—will be available in the CONNECT Store, provided you have a valid login.
Will there be new credentials for the live API once testing is complete?
Yes. The Test and Production environments use separate APIs, each with its own credentials (such as subscription keys). Once your implementation is successfully completed, you will receive the Production credentials to go live.
What happens if there are changes to the API?
If changes are made to the API, your local GF Sales company will contact you to explain the updates and assess together whether a version upgrade is beneficial. GF will support you throughout any required upgrade process.
For non-mandatory enhancements—such as additional fields—GF will proactively reach out to selected customers to introduce the new features and discuss the benefits of upgrading.