Last month at GPS-Trace, we introduced two business updates for registered GPS-Trace Console users: our REST API and Stripe integration. These tools help dealers, service providers, and fleet owners/operators connect GPS tracking data, client accounts, billing, and internal business systems.
Companies that provide GPS tracking services often use several tools at once: an online store, accounting software, billing tools, warehouse systems, and customer databases. When these systems are not connected, data has to be copied manually, which can lead to delays and errors.
API
An Application Programming Interface is a set of rules that allows one software system to exchange data with another. A REST API is a common type of API used to send and receive data through the internet. In GPS-Trace, the API can help dealers automate repeated actions, such as creating accounts, adding units, requesting statistics, and connecting platform data with external tools.
With API integration, dealers can connect GPS-Trace data with other business systems. For example, an online store can pass order details to GPS-Trace Console, create the required units, and send account information to the client without manual data entry.
If you sell GPS tracking devices online, you may need to connect your store with accounting, billing, and warehouse systems. The GPS-Trace API can support this workflow by passing data between your store, GPS-Trace Console, and the tools you already use.
Stripe
Billing is another important part of this process. Many clients expect to pay for services online by card or through a payment link. Stripe integration in GPS-Trace Console allows dealers to generate payment links and receive payment status updates through Stripe.
GPS-Trace Console includes a tool that allows dealers to generate payment links for clients to pay via Stripe. Dealers can also check payment statuses and use this information to block or unblock client access when required by their service terms.
The API and Stripe integration help connect GPS-Trace Console with external systems used by dealers, service providers, and fleet owners/operators.
Example use case for a GPS tracking device dealer
Imagine that you run an online store selling GPS tracking devices, local SIM cards, and related services. Your catalog includes 10–50 tracker models. Here is how the customer journey can work:
- A customer selects GPS trackers, adds them to the shopping cart, and specifies the number of units, such as vehicles, that should be connected to one user account.
- A Forguard account is created through the GPS-Trace API with the required units and IMEIs. An IMEI is a unique identifier of a tracking device.
- The customer receives a welcome email with an activation link for the Forguard account and sets up an email address and password.
- Your content management system, or CMS — the software used to manage your online store — receives information about the activated account through the API and creates a pre-payment invoice using the Stripe-integrated tool.
- The customer receives a Stripe payment link and pays the invoice. The payment status is updated in both GPS-Trace Console and your Stripe account.
- After payment confirmation from Stripe, your CMS updates the invoice status to “paid”.
- The customer receives a receipt, and the order can be prepared for shipping.
- After receiving the GPS tracking devices and SIM cards, the customer can install the trackers independently or with help from technicians.
This workflow reduces manual work for the dealer and gives the customer clear steps from purchase to account activation.
Before launching this workflow, the dealer can upload new batches of GPS tracking devices and their IMEIs to GPS-Trace Console through the API. This prepares the units for account creation and order processing.
If you want to connect your online store with GPS-Trace Console, payment tools, and internal business systems, visit GPS-Trace to learn more about the API and Stripe integration, or contact us.