--- title: "API Integration & Custom Development" date: 2026-03-04T11:39:00+01:00 author: Santiago Melluso canonical_url: "https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/api-integration-custom-development/" section: Services --- [Services](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/)[Back to listing](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/)Development # API Integration & Custom Development There is no eCommerce without integrations. ERP, CRM, PIM, marketing automation, analytics, fulfillment — the modern ecommerce stack is a web of systems that need to talk to each other. We design and build the integrations that make that happen, cleanly and reliably. When off-the-shelf solutions don’t cut it, we build custom. Our development team has solved problems for companies in manufacturing, distribution, photography, media, and more — problems that required thinking beyond the plugin catalog. **This is for you if:** - Your systems don’t talk to each other and your team is filling the gaps manually. - You need functionality that no plugin offers — custom logic, unusual workflows, industry-specific requirements. - You’ve inherited integrations built by someone else that are fragile, undocumented, or breaking regularly. **What you’ll get from this:** - A clean integration architecture connecting your key systems with clear data flows. - Custom-built functionality scoped precisely to your requirements. - Documented, maintainable code with error handling and monitoring built in. - A technical foundation that won’t become a liability six months down the road. [Get in touch](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/contact/) ## Frequently Asked Questions We inherited a set of integrations from a previous agency and they keep breaking. Can you just fix them, or do we need to start over?It depends on what’s actually broken: sometimes the integrations are salvageable, sometimes the architecture underneath is the real problem. We review what you inherited and tell you honestly which situation you’re in before proposing a full rebuild. Fragile, undocumented connections can often be stabilized with proper error handling and monitoring; ones fighting the systems they connect usually can’t. How long does a custom integration take to build?A single integration between two systems typically takes three to six weeks, including testing. That covers designing the data flow, building the connection, and delivering documented code with error handling and monitoring built in, so it doesn’t turn into a liability six months later. More systems or unusual workflows extend the estimate, and we scope that upfront. Our systems are pretty standard. Do we still need custom development, or is there a plugin for this?If a plugin covers exactly what you need, we’ll say so rather than build something custom to justify the engagement. Custom development earns its cost in the gaps: custom logic, unusual workflows, or industry-specific requirements that nothing in the plugin catalog handles. We make that call by looking at your actual workflows, not at what’s easiest to sell. Could a freelance developer handle a single integration like this?For a narrow, well-defined integration, a freelancer can possibly handle it, and we won’t pretend otherwise. Where it gets risky is documentation and monitoring: an integration that runs silently until it breaks, with no error handling and no docs, becomes your team’s problem at the worst moment. We build both in from the start so the work stays maintainable. We're not in retail, we're in manufacturing or distribution with unusual workflows. Does that matter?It matters in your favor: unusual workflows are where custom development earns its keep, because off-the-shelf connectors assume a generic retail flow. Our development team has solved integration problems for companies in manufacturing, distribution, photography, and media, exactly the cases the plugin catalog ignores. Bring the strange requirements; that’s the interesting part of the job. We're planning a headless rebuild. Does the integration work happen before, during, or after that?Alongside it, ideally: integrations are part of the new architecture, not an afterthought once the frontend ships. Running this work in parallel with a [Headless / Composable Commerce](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/headless-composable-commerce/) project means every system connects against clean APIs from day one. Sequencing it afterward usually means paying twice for the same plumbing. ## You might also like #### Headless / Composable Commerce Headless is not a trend. It's the architecture for brands that need more speed, more flexibility, and more control than a traditional storefront can give them. [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/headless-composable-commerce/) #### CDP Integration & Data Unification Fragmented data means fragmented decisions. A CDP gives you a trustworthy view of every buyer. We handle integration, mapping, and cleanup. No more guesswork. [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/cdp-integration-data-unification/) #### b2Matic Your wholesale buyers want self-serve. Your sales reps want visibility. Your ERP wants to talk to something. Get a fixed-scope fully functional B2B portal built on BigCommerce. Live in under 100 days. [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/solutions/b2matic/) ![](data:image/png;base64,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)![Elinchrom case study cover image featuring a surfing action photo with a blue wave](https://takefortytwo-new.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/media/Brands/ELINCHROM/ELINCHROM-cover.webp?w=2028&h=1140&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1774787705&s=7c947e94d1db8a0fe299f88d2c9bc63a) #### Elinchrom How we built a modern, beautiful, flexible BigCommerce website that led to record-breaking sales in its first month [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/case-studies/elinchrom/)