The Shopware 6 Interfaces Guide
What are Shopware 6 interfaces and what can they be used for? In this article we would like to give you an overview of the interfaces to Shopware 6. Here you will learn for which systems Shopware interfaces can be used and which interfaces already exist. This gives you the opportunity to improve your business processes, expand your sales channels and generally expand the functionality of your e-commerce business.
Reading time 10 min
- What is Shopware and what are Shopware interfaces?
- Shopware interface vs. Shopware plugins
- Our conclusion
- FAQ
What is Shopware and what are Shopware interfaces?
Shopware 6 is the latest version of the Shopware platform and has been designed to be highly customizable and extensible, with a new modular approach that makes it easier for developers to create custom solutions.
In addition, Shopware 6 has been optimized to effortlessly support complex workflows, allowing merchants to quickly set up their online store and start selling products. The software also offers a number of development tools and extensibility options that allow developers to create custom solutions for their stores. There are also numerous interfaces that can be used to connect existing programs to Shopware and integrate them into your Shopware store, such as marketplaces, accounting software or merchandise management systems.
With an interface, two software systems can be connected with each other. Thus data of the Softwares can be exchanged among themselves. The interface is therefore usually data-oriented in order to exchange information. In other cases, the interface can also be functional. In this case, it is usually referred to as a plug-in. We will explain the differences between data-oriented and functional interfaces in the following section.
Shopware interfaces vs. Shopware plugins
For the Shopware store system, there are both plugins and suitable interfaces to extend the functionality of your online store. But what is actually the difference? Interfaces, as they are used in Shopware, are data-oriented interfaces that are used for communication between Shopware and another system. They are usually non-functional. The plugins are also interfaces, but they are functional interfaces, so they can also perform functions themselves. However, there are also plugins that "only" act as an interface to an existing system. They then offer the functions in Shopware itself, but access the existing system in the background. The plugins cannot simply function on their own and require the Shopware store system, for example, as in this case. If you still have questions about Shopware , we at EXWE will of course be happy to help you in word and deed.
You can use these interfaces with Shopware
Interfaces for Shopware and other systems can be easily developed by developers themselves. For this reason, there are now countless interfaces and agencies that offer interfaces for online retailers. For a holistic IT landscape, the use of interfaces, but of course also plugins is essential. This way, you can link all business processes with each other and automate them as much as possible. In addition, you can automatically synchronize item data and documents between two systems. If you want to know more about Shopware plugins, we recommend our article "The best Shopware 5 and 6 plugins for your online store".
Examples for Shopware interfaces
If you want to link your online store with other systems already in use, interfaces to Shopware will help you. Interfaces can be created individually for your ERP system, for marketplaces, various web services, price search engines and more. For some systems, there are already existing interfaces that you can simply use to create a link. For example, you can already connect to these systems without having to program a new interface (they are available either as a pure interface to the system or as a plugin):
- DHL Paket, myparcel.com and Droppery are already available for shipping your products.
- Email marketing is possible with the interfaces to Mailchimp or Newsletter2Go
- With Händlerbund and Avale you can directly clarify legal details
- HubSpot, a CRM system, can also be easily connected, more info on this can be found in our HubSpot article "Our HubSpot Plugin: Hand in Hand with Shopware".
- Payment providers like Paypal, Amazon Pay and Klarna
- and many more
Other pure interfaces must first be programmed by a Shopware agency to your needs. The custom-fit development of a data-oriented interface is important so that all relevant data can be reliably transferred between the Shopware store system and the other system.
ERP systems: The structure of ERP systems can be very complex. Therefore, creating a functional Shopware interface is also difficult. This is because ERP systems can bundle and collect a lot of data and enable the management and initiation of numerous business processes. In order for the master data from Shopware to get to the right place in the ERP system, the interface must be programmed extensively and with all the details.
Merchandise management: A merchandise management system is essential for most online shop owners to manage inventory and sales without errors. Therefore, it is quite useful if there is a data exchange between Shopware store and merchandise management. The interface must be able to deliver a lot of data to the right place, but this is usually not as complex as an interface for an ERP system.
Marketplaces or price search engines to expand the sales channels: You have the option to offer the products from your online store on another marketplace as well, so that your products are not only offered on one sales channel. To avoid the hassle of maintaining all your products and product details, there are suitable interfaces that transfer the data automatically. Marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay or price search engines such as Idealo are ideally suited for this. For eBay, for example, there is the "eBay Order Import", a plugin that serves as an interface to eBay.
Other web services that are relevant for your online store: Interfaces can also be useful for other web services. Depending on you may want to connect to a payment service provider, a newsletter tool, etc.
What a Shopware interface must be able to do
Four different aspects are important for interfaces between, for example, an ERP system and Shopware. If these aspects are present, nothing stands in the way of a successful connection. The Shopware interface should fulfill the following aspects:
Functionality: essential for the success of the interface is that all these data can be transferred flawlessly between Shopware and the system to be connected. Relevant data can vary depending on the purpose of the system. As a rule, it is all article and customer data.
Security: Of course, all data must be transferred securely. It must not be possible for third parties to view it. To ensure this, the interface should be able to regularly adapt to emerging updates.
Adaptability: In order for the interface to fulfill all your wishes and serve the purpose you have chosen, the interface must be able to adapt to your store and the system.
Automation: The connection of a system usually has the background to automate certain processes. You no longer have to manually transfer important data such as price lists, receipts, item data and order status or initiate certain workflows yourself. This should be taken over and imported fully automatically by the interface.
Our conclusion
All in all, interfaces are a very good way to make your everyday work much easier. They are an essential step towards automating your online store and help you to pass on all data correctly to other systems without having to do a lot of work each time. We can only recommend you to use interfaces to build your IT environment around your online store seamlessly.
As an experienced Shopware agency, we offer our clients the best in custom online store integrations and layouts. Our expertise extends to fulfilling all individual wishes required for an optimal web presence. This includes extending functionality through APIs that can streamline various processes. We develop individual interfaces that complete the functionality of your online store. For more information, feel free to contact our experts.
FAQ: Questions and answers about Shopware interfaces
Last but not least, we will answer a few questions about Shopware 6, which will help you to get an overview of the store system. If your questions about Shop ware have not yet been answered, or if you still have questions in general, we at EXWE will be happy to help you at any time.
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Which technologies does Shopware use?
The following technologies are used for Shopware 6: Symfony 5.4, Twig, Bootstrap 4 and Vue.js. They ensure very good performance and are easy to update and maintain. In addition, the Shopware store system is based on PHP. PHP is a programming language that is best suited for web applications and websites.
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What kind of system is Shopware?
Shopware is a powerful and versatile modular online store system that was released in 2004 by Shopware AG as open source software. Its users get a wealth of features that allow them to design their own online store with maximum flexibility and creativity. Since then, the platform has been continuously developed thanks to the support of a large community that provides an incredible range of modules and themes - from e-commerce solutions to marketing tools. In addition, Shopware also offers various payment methods and even personalized customer service. Thanks to its intuitive design and advanced architecture, merchants can quickly create an interactive shopping experience for customers that can be accessed from any device. In addition, Shopware's comprehensive reporting tools provide necessary insights into customer behavior and product performance, helping merchants make informed decisions to maximize their profits and efficiency.
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What is an API?
An API is a programming interface. It allows data to be exchanged from one software system to another target system. API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is an important tool for companies that have several systems in use at the same time that need to interact with each other or are dependent on each other. In principle, programming interfaces are useful for many different areas and usually bring a great advantage as well as time saving. For example, if you use Shopware and Datev, you can exchange information about orders or invoices via the API and thus perform an import of the data into the system. But APIs can also be used for other systems, for example to transfer product information or orders from the webshop to another system.
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What is middleware?
Middleware is used when there are several software and cloud solutions that need to communicate with each other and automatically exchange and match data records via interfaces. To ensure that this does not lead to confusion, a middleware can be used. The middleware is either cloud-based or on-premises software. It is effectively the central interface for all requests from the deployed systems. It receives the requests and forwards them to the application required for that request. In this way, all the required data can be transmitted correctly.
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How can you use Pickware with Shopware and what is Pickware anyway?
Pickware is an extension for the e-commerce system Shopware, which was developed specifically for use in warehousing and shipping. It provides a set of features and modules that simplify the process of order processing, warehouse management and shipping optimization in Shopware.
To use Pickware with Shopware, you must first install the Pickware extension in your Shopware store. This can be done via the Shopware Community Store or directly via the Pickware webshop. Once the extension is installed, you can configure and use the various Pickware modules in your Shopware backend.
Here are some of the main features of Pickware:
Warehouse management: Pickware allows you to centrally manage your inventory. You can manage your products, storage locations, inventory and suppliers, and monitor stock levels in real time.
Order processing: Pickware simplifies the order process by allowing you to enter orders directly in your Shopware backend. You can process orders, create invoices, print shipping labels, and track shipping status.
Mobile Warehouse App: With the Pickware Mobile App, you can manage inventory, orders, and shipments right on your smartphone or tablet. You can update inventory, pick orders, track deliveries, and take inventory.
Shipping optimization: Pickware offers shipping optimization features, such as automatically generating shipping labels for different shipping providers like DHL, UPS or DPD. You can also set shipping rules to automate the shipping process and save costs.
Returns management: With Pickware, you can easily manage returns and efficiently handle the refund process. You can also process returns, create refunds and monitor returns status.
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Are programming skills required to use interfaces in Shopware?
Yes, programming skills are usually required to use interfaces in Shopware. If you want to use interfaces in Shopware, the system offers several options for integration that may require knowledge of programming.
One option is to use the REST API. Through this API, external applications can communicate with Shopware and access various functions and data of the system. To use the API, you should have knowledge of programming RESTful web services.
Another option is plugin development. Shopware allows you to create your own plugins to implement additional features or integrations. By developing your own plugin, you can create custom interfaces and communicate with external systems. Plugin development requires knowledge of PHP, the programming language used to develop Shopware plugins.
Shopware also offers built-in import and export features that let you import or export data in various formats. This allows integration with other systems such as ERP or inventory management systems. However, for complex data structures or specific requirements, it may be necessary to create custom import or export scripts, which requires programming skills.
The complexity of interface integration depends on your specific requirements and the approach you choose. For basic integrations, you may be able to use pre-built solutions or plugins that don't require extensive programming skills. However, for more specific or sophisticated integrations, programming is usually required.
It is recommended to consult the official Shopware documentation, tutorials or the Shopware developer forum for more detailed information and guidance on integrating interfaces with Shopware.
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Hello, my name is Meike. I take care of the EXWE back office and am responsible for our social media channels. All of our articles are meant to make your life easier and help you make decisions. Nevertheless, it can happen that something remains unclear, so: If you have questions about this article you can easily reach me at +49 231 93149827.
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