An application programming interface (API) is a specific type of interface that allows different applications to communicate with each other and exchange data. An API interface defines a set of rules, protocols, and tools for exchanging information between different applications or systems.
An API interface allows developers to access a specific functionality or data from another system without having to understand the system directly. APIs are often standardized and can be used by third-party vendors and developers to extend or integrate their applications.
API interfaces are often used to facilitate integration between different applications and systems, enable data access and usage, perform automated processes, or provide a platform for developers to build their own applications.
Platoyo has a very rich API infrastructure based on GraphQL. This allows partners to access all data and extend the system with their own applications, mobile apps, marketing and analytics tools.
An Automated Online Shop (by Platoyo) is a full-fledged e-commerce store that is largely automated to make the buying process seamless for customers and save time and resources for store operators. This means that most of the processes in the store are fully automated, including order processing, shipping, payment, and customer support.
An Automated Online Shop uses a variety of tools and technologies to achieve more and more automation, such as CRM systems, email marketing software, chatbots, and automated order processing tools. This typically allows online retailers to respond to orders faster, respond to customer inquiries quickly, and increase efficiency in the operation of the store.
The Platoyo platform can play out individual online stores for sellers under their own domain. This is very exciting for chain stores, for example, who want to play out their individual stores or markets own online stores.
Business as a Service (BaaS) is a concept that, similar to Software as a Service (SaaS), is based on the idea that companies can obtain their business processes and systems as a service from an external provider.
Essentially, this means that companies contract not only the technical facets, but the entire project to a service provider in the background. This includes the legal components, data protection, accounting, support but also SEO, marketing and communication.
The customer pays a monthly or annual fee for the provision of services and does not have to assign any employees to this themselves.
In addition to the cost savings, BaaS offers the advantage that companies can concentrate on their core business instead of worrying about overhead processes.
Overall, BaaS offers an innovative way for companies to manage their business processes and reduce their costs at the same time.
Platoyo offers its customers not only to provide technical services, but also to take care of the legal operation of the platform, accounting, support, communication with suppliers as well as SEO and marketing activities.
An operator of an online platform is a person, company or organization that operates a digital platform through which products or services can be traded or brokered online. The operator organizes the technical infrastructure and provides the platform through which sellers can offer their goods or services and buyers can purchase them.
The operator determines the terms and conditions for the use of the platform, including the fee structure for sellers and, where applicable, for buyers. The Operator may also be responsible for monitoring the products and services offered on the Platform, as well as for customer support and dispute resolution.
Platoyo customers have a choice. Either the customer itself becomes the legal operator of the platform or Platoyo assumes this role under an additional service agreement.
Click & Collect refers to a concept where customers can shop online and then collect their order from the shop. The customer places an order online, selects the shop where they want to collect the order and provides their contact details. The order is then prepared in the shop and the customer can pick it up in person without having to wait at the checkout. The conclusion of the purchase contract and the payment have already been done online.
A less binding form of ordering for the customer with in-store collection is Click & Reserve.
For Platoyo platforms, Click & Collect functionalities are a matter of course.
In SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), "codeless" usually means that the platform or system can be used without the need for programming skills. A codeless SaaS system provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to create applications and workflows by dragging and dropping pre-built building blocks and functions. These building blocks can be databases, forms, tables, or reports, for example. In this way, the development of applications or processes can be accelerated and simplified, as users do not have to program from scratch.
Platoyo is "codeless" for customers, which means that all settings are either configured or implemented by the Platoyo team for the customer.
A multi-vendor marketplace is an e-commerce platform on which various independent sellers can offer their products or services. Unlike a traditional online store where a single vendor offers its products, a multi-vendor marketplace offers a variety of products from different vendors sold through the same platform.
In a multi-vendor marketplace, sellers can upload, manage and sell their own products. The marketplace operator provides the platform and handles payment processing, customer service and marketing activities to promote the marketplace and attract customers.
Platoyo is a multi-vendor platform software that can be used as a marketplace or as a platform for Automated Online Shops or both. Example Bagmondo: On this platform for bags & suitcases retailers sell tens of thousands of bags together, but each retailer also gets its own online store under its own domain with its own logo, without any additional effort.
Order Splitting is a method of dividing an order into several parts in order to split the order among different sellers or to optimize the delivery of the order.
For example, a customer orders three items through a marketplace that are stored by different vendors at different storage locations. Each item is delivered from its respective storage location. This allows the customer to receive their items faster than if they had to wait for the entire shipment. Order splitting can increase customer satisfaction and reduce the cost of storing and shipping products.
For Platoyo, order splitting is routine: the platform is a "real" marketplace, where sales contracts are concluded directly between merchants and buyers. At the same time, the customer can order from several merchants at the same time. In the background, the system then splits the order into the individual purchase contracts.
PaaS stands for "Platform as a Service." PaaS is a cloud computing service that provides a platform on which applications can be developed, run and managed. Essentially, PaaS provides a complex software infrastructure on which developers can build and deploy applications without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. PaaS services typically include tools and services such as development environments, databases, web servers and other application frameworks. By using PaaS, developers can save time and resources and focus on building applications instead of worrying about managing the underlying infrastructure.
Attention: Platoyo is less PaaS and more SaaS, meaning features are fully implemented and ready to go without any prior intervention from developers. Special feature and design requests are implemented by the Platoyo team within a short period of time.
Platform Economy refers to an economic system based on digital platforms. These are online marketplaces that bring together supply and demand and facilitate the exchange of goods, services and information.
In the Platform Economy, digital platforms are used to create business models that aim to facilitate interactions between different groups of users, such as buyers and sellers, customers and service providers, or employers and employees. These platforms can be used in a variety of industries, such as transportation (e.g., Uber, Lyft), retail (e.g., Amazon, Alibaba), or lodging (e.g., Airbnb).
Companies operating in the Platform Economy can achieve high scalability and quickly adapt their business models to meet the needs of users and consumers.
Platoyo supports the Platform Economy by providing new platforms in an uncomplicated and fast way in order to be able to conquer new markets quickly.
With Reserve and Collect, a customer reserves a product online and then picks it up in person at the store. The customer submits a reservation request online, selects the store where they want to pick up the product, and provides their contact information. The product is then reserved in the store for the customer until he picks it up. Payment and the conclusion of the purchase contract take place in the store.
In contrast, "click and collect" refers to a concept where customers can shop online and then pick up their order in the store. The customer places an order online, selects the store where they would like to collect the order and provides their contact details. The order is then prepared in the store and the customer, without having to wait at the checkout, can pick it up in person. The conclusion of the purchase contract and payment have already been completed online.
The ROPO effect (Research Online, Purchase Offline) refers to the behavior of consumers who research products or services online and then purchase them offline in a physical store or store.
The ROPO effect shows that the online channel has a significant impact on offline sales. Consumers often use the Internet to gather information about a product or service before making a purchase decision. Even if the actual purchase is made offline, online research can have a decisive influence on the buying process.
The ROPO effect is particularly important for retailers, as it shows that a strong online presence and a good online experience can help drive offline sales. Conversely, a poor online presence or experience can cause potential customers to avoid buying from a physical store.
Platoyo platforms especially support the combination of online and offline to create ROPO effects, e.g. with
near real-time inventory synchronization
detailed display of stores
connection to Google My Business
Features like the offline coupon or the voucher system, which allows recharges and redemption online as well as offline
SaaS stands for "Software as a Service" and refers to cloud-based provision of software applications. In SaaS models, the software is not installed on the user's local computer or server, but is instead delivered as a service over the Internet. The user can access the software application through a web application or client software access without worrying about infrastructure, maintenance or updating the software. Instead, the SaaS provider takes responsibility for operating and maintaining the software application, while the user pays only for accessing the application and using the available features. SaaS models are popular with businesses and individuals because of their scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
As already mentioned under "PaaS", Platoyo considers itself a SaaS provider, as all features are already implemented and ready for the licensee to use.
A white label solution refers to a product or service that has been developed and manufactured by one company but is used or distributed by another company under its own brand name. This means that the end customer is unaware of the original manufacturer's involvement.
A white label solution can take various forms. In software, a white label solution refers to software that is developed by one company and used or distributed by another company under its own brand name. In retail, a white label solution can be a product produced by a manufacturer and sold by a retailer under their own brand name.
White label solutions are a popular way for companies to expand their offering and increase their reach without having to invest in developing or manufacturing a product or service themselves. By using a white label solution, businesses can quickly and cost-effectively bring new products and services to market while maintaining their branding and customer relationships.
Platoyo provides its partners such as marketplace operators or agencies with the multi-vendor platform as a white label solution on request, which means that users cannot see that the software is developed by Platoyo.