Introduction
The AutoDS API is a powerful automation tool designed for dropshipping operations that allows you to programmatically execute essential tasks through direct system integration. This feature enables developers to automate product imports, order fulfillment, sourcing requests, and product data management without requiring the use of the AutoDS platform interface.
The AutoDS API supports various business models, including personal account automation, managed service platforms, and fully integrated solutions with shared user authorization. This flexibility makes the API feature suitable for individual store owners, developers building custom solutions, and businesses managing multiple client stores.
Important: Access to the AutoDS API is subject to approval and requires a one-time activation fee. The qualification process evaluates your use case, technical readiness, and alignment with the API roadmap to ensure the feature meets your business needs.
Benefits of using the AutoDS API
The AutoDS API provides multiple advantages for automating and scaling your dropshipping operations. By integrating this feature into your workflow, you can streamline essential processes and improve overall store performance.
Automate repetitive tasks: The API feature eliminates manual work by automating order processing, product importing, inventory updates, and tracking synchronization. This automation saves time and reduces human error in daily operations.
Ensure accurate product listings: By syncing data directly from suppliers through the API feature, you maintain accurate product information, pricing, and inventory levels. This reduces customer complaints from outdated listings or out-of-stock items.
Scale your store efficiently: The AutoDS API enables you to integrate with multiple suppliers through a single connection, making it easier to expand your product catalog and manage larger order volumes without increasing manual workload.
Customize sourcing and branding: The API feature gives you full control over import settings, pricing rules, and logistics options. This allows you to create customized fulfillment strategies and implement private label branding for your products.
Improve customer experience: By maintaining real-time inventory synchronization and automated order tracking updates through the API feature, you provide customers with accurate information and faster order processing times.
Prerequisites for API access
Before requesting access to the AutoDS API, you need to meet specific requirements to ensure successful implementation and usage of this feature.
Technical knowledge: You must have intermediate or advanced technical knowledge, or access to a developer team capable of implementing API integrations. The API feature requires programming skills to create and maintain the integration between your systems and AutoDS.
Valid use case: The AutoDS API is designed for specific business models and purposes. You need to intend to use the API feature for one of the following scenarios:
Personal account automation: Automating product imports, order processing, and tracking updates for your own AutoDS account.
Managed service model: Operating a platform or service that manages dropshipping operations for multiple client stores.
Integrated platform with shared authorization: Building a comprehensive solution where users authorize your platform to manage their AutoDS accounts.
Financial commitment: The API feature does not offer a free trial period. You must be prepared to pay a one-time activation fee to access the AutoDS API.
Business alignment: Your intended use case must align with the current AutoDS API roadmap and capabilities. The qualification process evaluates whether the API feature can support your specific requirements.
Pricing and costs
The AutoDS API requires a one-time activation fee plus ongoing subscription costs to access and use this feature.
One-time activation fee: Access to the AutoDS API requires a one-time activation fee. This fee covers the qualification process, API setup, documentation access, and initial technical support.
Monthly subscription costs: After paying the activation fee, you need to maintain an active AutoDS subscription plan to continue using the API feature. The monthly cost depends on which AutoDS plan you choose, as each plan includes different features, product limits, and order volumes.
No trial period: The API feature does not offer a free trial or testing period. You must commit to the activation fee before receiving access to the API documentation and sandbox environment.
To learn more about AutoDS subscription plans and their specific features, click here or visit the AutoDS pricing page to compare available plans and determine which subscription best fits your business needs.
How to request API access
To request access to the AutoDS API, you need to submit an application that allows the AutoDS team to evaluate your use case and determine qualification.
Fill out the AutoDS API application form, available at the end of this page:
Full name.
Email.
Phone number.
Site URL.
About you.
Describe your needs.
Submit the application and wait for the AutoDS team to review your request.
Receive a response from the AutoDS team with next steps, pricing information, and further clarification questions if needed.
Complete the qualification process by providing any additional information requested by the team.
Pay the one-time activation fee once your application is approved.
Receive full API documentation, sandbox access for testing, and authentication credentials to begin implementation.
Note: The qualification process timeline varies depending on the complexity of your use case and the information provided in your application. The AutoDS team will contact you directly to discuss your specific requirements and ensure the API feature meets your business needs.
Core API features and capabilities
The AutoDS API provides four main modules that automate different aspects of your dropshipping operations. Each module addresses specific business needs and can be used independently or in combination.
Product Import module
The Product Import module allows you to programmatically add products to your AutoDS account by sending product IDs and details through API calls. This module eliminates the need to manually import products through the AutoDS platform interface.
How it works: You send API requests containing product identifiers from supported suppliers, along with your preferred import settings. The API feature processes these requests and creates product drafts in your AutoDS account with the specified configurations.
Customization options: When using the Product Import module, you can customize multiple settings, including product titles, pricing rules, markup strategies, product categories, descriptions, and image selections. This gives you complete control over how products appear in your store.
Benefits for your store: The Product Import module enables bulk product imports, automated catalog updates, and consistent product formatting across your entire store. By automating the import process, you can scale your product catalog faster and maintain standardized listing quality.
Automated Orders module
The Automated Orders module handles order fulfillment by automatically sending order details to AutoDS for processing. This module ensures orders are placed with suppliers without manual intervention.
How it works: When a customer purchases a product from your store, your system sends the order information to AutoDS through the API feature. The AutoDS platform then processes the order using either your configured buyer accounts or AutoDS fulfillment accounts, depending on your settings.
Fulfillment methods: The Automated Orders module supports multiple fulfillment approaches. You can use your own supplier accounts for order placement, leverage AutoDS accounts for specific suppliers, or combine both methods based on product availability and sourcing preferences.
Benefits for your store: This module reduces manual order processing time, minimizes fulfillment errors, and ensures automatic tracking number updates for customers. By automating order fulfillment through the API feature, you can handle higher order volumes while maintaining fast processing times.
Product Sourcing module
The Product Sourcing module helps you find better sourcing alternatives for existing products in your catalog. This module enables you to improve supplier options based on price, shipping speed, or additional services like branding.
How it works: You submit sourcing requests through the API feature for specific products in your catalog. The AutoDS system searches for alternative suppliers that offer better pricing, faster shipping, or additional fulfillment options for those products.
Sourcing criteria: The Product Sourcing module evaluates multiple factors when finding alternatives, including product cost, shipping times to your target markets, branding and customization options, supplier reliability, and inventory availability.
Benefits for your store: This module gives your store a competitive advantage by optimizing your supply chain. You can improve profit margins through better pricing, increase customer satisfaction with faster shipping, and add value through private label branding options.
Product Data module
The Product Data module retrieves comprehensive product information directly from suppliers through the API feature. This module provides real-time access to product specifications, pricing, and availability.
How it works: You send API requests for specific products, and the AutoDS system returns detailed information, including product titles, descriptions, specifications, current prices, shipping costs by destination, inventory status, and available variants.
Data synchronization: The Product Data module enables real-time synchronization between supplier data and your store listings. You can automate regular data updates to ensure your product information stays current without manual checks.
Benefits for your store: This module minimizes customer complaints from outdated information, prevents orders for out-of-stock items, and maintains accurate pricing across your catalog. By keeping product data synchronized through the API feature, you provide customers with reliable information and reduce the risk of fulfillment issues.
Supported use cases
The AutoDS API supports multiple business models and implementation scenarios. Understanding which use case fits your needs helps ensure successful qualification and implementation.
Individual store automation
The API feature enables personal account automation for dropshipping store owners who want to programmatically manage their own AutoDS account. This use case is ideal for developers running their own stores who want custom automation beyond the standard AutoDS platform interface.
Common applications: Automating product imports from custom sources, implementing advanced pricing strategies, creating custom order processing workflows, and building specialized inventory management systems.
Managed service platforms
The API feature supports managed service providers who operate dropshipping stores for multiple clients. In this model, you use one AutoDS account to manage operations for several client stores, with the API feature handling automation across all accounts.
Common applications: Providing dropshipping fulfillment services to multiple e-commerce stores, managing product catalogs for client stores, automating order processing for managed clients, and offering turnkey dropshipping solutions.
Integrated platforms with shared authorization
The API feature enables building comprehensive platforms where users authorize your system to manage their AutoDS accounts. This use case involves the most complex integration but provides the greatest flexibility for creating custom dropshipping solutions.
Common applications: Building e-commerce platforms with built-in dropshipping automation, creating marketplace solutions with integrated fulfillment, developing custom dropshipping tools for specific niches, and offering white-label dropshipping software.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What technical documentation is available for the API feature?
What technical documentation is available for the API feature?
Once your application for the API feature is approved and you complete the activation fee payment, you will receive comprehensive technical documentation covering all available endpoints, authentication methods, request/response formats, rate limits, and integration best practices. Additionally, you receive sandbox access for testing your integration before deploying to production environments.
Can I use the API feature to manage multiple stores or client accounts?
Can I use the API feature to manage multiple stores or client accounts?
The AutoDS API feature supports multiple business models, including managing several stores or client accounts. You can use the API for personal automation of a single store, operate a managed service platform handling multiple client stores through one AutoDS account, or build an integrated solution where multiple users authorize your platform to access their individual AutoDS accounts. The specific implementation approach depends on your business model and should be discussed during the qualification process.
Does the API feature work with all AutoDS suppliers?
Does the API feature work with all AutoDS suppliers?
The AutoDS API feature works with all suppliers currently supported by the AutoDS platform. This includes major suppliers for dropshipping operations, and the available supplier list continues to expand as AutoDS adds new integrations. Specific supplier capabilities and data availability may vary, so you should verify that the API feature supports your required suppliers during the qualification process.
What happens if I need technical support with the API feature?
What happens if I need technical support with the API feature?
After receiving access to the AutoDS API feature, you can contact the AutoDS technical support team for assistance with integration issues, documentation clarification, and troubleshooting. The level and type of support available depends on your AutoDS subscription plan and the specific technical issue you encounter. During the initial implementation phase, the AutoDS team provides guidance to ensure successful integration.
How much does the API feature cost?
How much does the API feature cost?
The specific cost for the API feature varies based on your use case, technical requirements, and business model. To receive detailed pricing information for the activation fee and monthly costs, you need to submit the AutoDS API application form, and the AutoDS team will provide you with the exact fee amount during the qualification process.