What is a Unified API?

Add hundreds of third-party integrations into your product with a single API

Key Concept

Introduction to Unified APIs

Unified APIs normalize hundreds of APIs into one data model, streamlining the work of connecting to multiple systems within a similar software category such as HR and payroll, accounting, ticketing, or file storage.

2.

Normalize data

 across software providers' APIs to GET, POST, and PATCH data in a standard and consistent format.

3.

Offer standard endpoints and methods

 to simplify data retrieval.

4.

Securely sync data

 in a normalized format.

5.

Access data

 with normalized webhooks to power your product features.

How Unified APIs Work

How Unified APIs Work

  • Authenticate and authorize the integration between your product and each of your customers' accounts via Merge Link.

  • Normalize data across software providers' APIs to GET, POST, and PATCH data in a standard and consistent format.

  • Offer standard endpoints and methods to simplify data retrieval.

  • Securely sync data in a normalized format.

  • Access data with normalized webhooks to power your product features.

Normalize Data Across Every Integration

Unified APIs normalize data across third-party integrations into one data model.

{
    "env:Envelope": 
    {
      "@xmlns:env": "http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap
      envelope/",
...
    {
    "@wd:Descriptor": "Greg Hirsch", 
    "wd:ID": [
        {
          "@wd:type": "WID",
          "#text": "00000000000000000000000000"},
          {
            "@wd:type": "Employee_ID",
            "#text": "111222"
...
            "@wd:Reporting_Name": "Hirsch, Cousin Greg",
            "wd:Country_Reference": 
            {
              "@wd:Descriptor": "United States of America", 
              "wd:ID":[{
              "@wd:type": "WID", 
              "#text": "1234abcd"}, 
...
{
...
    "name": "Greg Hirsch", 
    "jobTitle": "Test Manager, Platform", 
    "position": "11112222", 
    "timezone": "US/Pacific", 
    "company": "Merge", 
    "department": "000000", 
    "lastModifiedBy": "11222", 
    "createdBy": "11222", 
    "location": "3333",  
    "startDate": "/Date(-1111222233334)/", 
    "parent": null, 
    "name_ro_RO": null, 
    "description_th_TH": null, 
    "endDate": "/Date(1111222233334)/", 
    "name_cs_CZ": null, 
    "name_ko_KR": null, 
    "createdDateTime": "/Date(1111222233334+0000)/", 
    "name_fi_FI": null, 
    "name_pt_BR": null, 
    "description_nl_NL": null, 
    "name_sv_SE": null, 
...
{
...
  "employeeId": "999620399",
  "coEmpCode": "S2222-999620399",
  "firstName": "Greg",
  "lastName": "Hirsch",
  "ssn": "000-00-0000",
  "currency": "USD",
  "taxSetup": {
    "suiState": "VA",
    "taxForm": "W2",
  },
...
  {
  "salary": 0,
  "primaryStateTax": {
    "amount": 0,
    "exemptions": 0,
    "exemptions2": 0,
    "filingStatus": "S",
    "percentage": 0,
    "taxCalculationCode": "D",
    "taxCode": "VA",
...
[
  {
    "id": "00u5uh4u3zIwW32NS5d7",
...
    "profile": {
      "profileUrl": "www.google.com",
      "lastName": "Hirsch",
      "zipCode": "10003",
      "manager": "Test Manager",
      "city": "New York",
      "displayName": "cousingreg",
      "secondEmail": null,
      "title": "Platform",
      "login": "greg@merge.dev",
      "employeeNumber": "4321",
      "firstName": "Greg",
      "primaryPhone": "1234567890",
      "mobilePhone": "1234567890",
      "streetAddress": "102 5th Ave",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "state": "New York",
      "credentials": "0958cbc6-6040-430a-848e-aafacbadf4ae",
      "emails": “greg@gmail.com”,
...
{
"id": "0958cbc6-6040-430a-848e-aafacbadf4ae",
"remote_id": "19202938",
"employee_number": "2",
"company": "8d9fd929-436c-4fd4-a48b-0c61f68d6178",
"first_name": "Greg",
"last_name": "Hirsch",
"display_full_name": "Cousin Greg Hirsch",
"username": "cousingreg",
"groups": [
"21a54124-397f-494d-985e-3c5b330b8a68"
],
"work_email": "greg@merge.dev",
"personal_email": "greg@gmail.com",
"mobile_phone_number": "+1234567890",
"employments": [
"17a54124-287f-494d-965e-3c5b330c9a68"
],
"home_location": "d2f972d0-2526-434b-9409-4c3b468e08f0",
"work_location": "9efbc633-3387-4306-aa55-e2c635e6bb4f",
"manager": "0048ea5b-911e-4dff-9364-92070dea62ff",
"team": "249c9faa-3045-4a31-953b-8f22d3613301",
"pay_group": "ad1264e2-39be-4787-b749-f1aade9e3405"
...
Impact

Why Use a Unified API

Unified APIs simplify the process of building integrations.
Instead of chasing API requirements across many software providers, you can integrate once, save developer time, and increase your product value.

1

Drive customer acquisition and retention by offering more integrations

2

Focus development time on your core product roadmap

3

Provide a seamless integration experience and reduce churn

Explore Unified APIs

ATS
Beta
Applicant Tracking System
ATS
Accounting
Beta
Customer Financial Data
Accounting
CRM
Beta
Customer Relationship Management
CRM
File Storage
Beta
Document Management
File Storage
HR & Payroll
Beta
HR, Payroll, and SCIM Directory
HR & Payroll
Ticketing
Beta
Project Management and Help Desk
Ticketing
Marketing Automation
Beta
Campaign Management
Marketing Automation

Key Unified API Features

Common Models

Read and write normalized data

Common Models

Developer Tools

Built around developers for easy onboarding

Developer Tools

Real-Time Data

Fresh data with syncs and webhooks

Real-Time Data

Platform Architecture

Scalable, secure, and reliable integrations

Platform Architecture

Integration Observability

Automated error detection and efficient triage for product, engineering, and customer success

Integrations Management
Build with merge

Unified API Case Studies

Learn about how Merge customers are using Unified APIs and Integrations Management to better serve their users, skip development hurdles, and increase revenue.

How Ramp uses Merge’s HRIS integrations to improve the user experience for thousands of customers

How Ramp uses Merge’s HRIS integrations to improve the user experience for thousands of customers

HRIS
How Drata increases customer value and spends 80% less time managing integrations

How Drata increases customer value and spends 80% less time managing integrations

HRIS
Ticketing
How Causal sped up their self-serve time-to-value by 20% with Merge

How Causal sped up their self-serve time-to-value by 20% with Merge

Accounting
HRIS
CRM
ATS
Merge

Guide to building product integrations with Unified APIS

Download now