Public APIs give developers access to flash sales data about current and upcoming items

Public APIs give developers access to flash sales data about current and upcoming items

Gilt Groupe, an online ‘flash sales’ shopping site, late yesterday announced has built its new suite of application programminng interfaces (APIs) on the Apigee Enterprise API platform.

The new APIs are designed to make it easy for developers to create and monetise innovative applications that integrate real-time data about Gilt’s upcoming and current online sale items. The API development platform used provides analysis and control of their usage.

Spreading community net

To promote development of third-party applications that offer access to Gilt across a wide range of devices, the company is now exposing its data model via a new suite of public APIs. These APIs provide access to Gilt’s active and upcoming sales, either en masse, or store by store. For example, the publicly available Atom feeds shows all the sales on gilt.com and that are active or coming soon. By signing up for the Gilt developer programme, more detailed data models are made available.

The release of these public APIs is in conjunction with the widespread rollout of a Gilt affiliate marketing programme, which gives application programmers an opportunity to earn a percentage on purchases made by customers referred to Gilt's site through their application.

Engaging application development

“Gilt’s members are increasingly accessing our online sales through multiple platforms and we are very excited to engage more closely with the software developer community,” said John Quinn, technology vice president at Gilt Groupe. “Apigee has provided helpful guidance – both through its API platform, developer tools and unmatched expertise – to help us deliver and manage this important new suite of APIs.”

“Gilt Groupe has been a runaway success in the private sales market, and providing public APIs to the developer community will only fuel further growth and expand its online presence,” added Chet Kapoor, Apigee chief executive.

Gilt offers its members special access to the most inspiring merchandise, culinary offerings and experiences every day, many at reduced prices. Its daily flash sales contain a limited amount of inventory and last roughly 36 hours. Gilt members can shop and purchase from the Gilt Groupe website and on Gilt’s mobile website through iPad, iPhone and Android applications.