- Features > Api First CPQ
API-First CPQ
Every CPQ capability in Mercura is API-native. Configure products, calculate prices, generate quotes, and submit orders programmatically — from any application or workflow.
REST API
Full CPQ capability accessible
< 200ms
Median API response time
Any system
ERP, CRM, portal, or custom app
The Challenge
CPQ Systems Are Closed — Integration Requires Workarounds
Most CPQ platforms were designed as standalone applications — the API was added later, covers only a subset of functionality, and is underdocumented. Integration teams building connections between CPQ and other business systems spend months navigating API limitations, workarounds, and field mapping inconsistencies.
The result is CPQ integrations that are brittle, difficult to maintain, and that break when the CPQ vendor releases updates. IT teams end up owning complex middleware to bridge CPQ with ERP, CRM, and other systems — a cost that compounds over time.
API limitations also constrain what is possible in product development. Teams that want to build custom configurator experiences, automate quoting workflows, or integrate CPQ with IoT or product lifecycle systems find themselves blocked by capabilities the CPQ vendor has not exposed.
For developers, working with a poorly designed CPQ API is one of the most common sources of project overrun and frustration — a problem that begins at integration and never fully resolves.
How It Works
How API-First CPQ Works in Mercura
Mercura is designed API-first — every operation performed through the Mercura UI is also available as an API endpoint. The UI and the API are not separate implementations — they share the same underlying service layer, ensuring that API behaviour is always consistent with application behaviour. The API is documented via OpenAPI specification, versioned to protect against breaking changes, and includes comprehensive request/response examples. Rate limits and authentication are managed through standard OAuth 2.0. Development teams building on Mercura's API have access to a developer sandbox, API test console, and dedicated technical documentation.
What's Included
Key Capabilities
- REST API covering 100% of CPQ functionality — not a subset
- OpenAPI specification with full endpoint documentation and examples
- Versioned API — breaking changes managed with advance notice
- OAuth 2.0 authentication with scoped access control
- Developer sandbox environment for integration development and testing
- Webhook support for event-driven workflows triggered by CPQ events
- Idempotent endpoints for safe retry in distributed system integrations
- SDKs for common languages — Python, JavaScript, Java, and .NET
The Difference
Before and After API-First CPQ
- CPQ API covers only a subset of features — workarounds required for the rest
- API documentation incomplete — integration requires reverse engineering
- Brittle integrations break with CPQ vendor updates
- Custom development blocked by API gaps
- Integration maintenance a persistent IT cost
- 100% of CPQ capability accessible via well-documented REST API
- Full OpenAPI spec — integration development begins on day one
- Versioned API — integrations protected from breaking changes
- Custom development unrestricted — build anything on top of Mercura
- Integrations stable — no ongoing middleware maintenance required
Real-World Application
Example Use Case: Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
A heavy equipment manufacturer needed to integrate their CPQ system with a custom dealer ordering portal, their SAP ERP instance, and a third-party logistics platform. Their previous CPQ vendor's API covered quoting but not configuration — the configuration logic was only accessible through the UI. Building a workaround required a middleware layer that parsed screen data, a solution that was fragile and broke with every CPQ update. After migrating to Mercura, their integration team used the full Mercura API to connect configuration, pricing, quoting, and order submission to all three downstream systems in a single 8-week project. Middleware was eliminated entirely. The integration has required zero maintenance work in two years of operation.
Quote turnaround dropped from 3 days to under 4 hours.
Business Impact
Why API-First CPQ Matters
An API-first CPQ platform treats integration as a first-class use case, not an afterthought. When every CPQ capability is API-accessible, organisations can build exactly the workflows, interfaces, and automations they need without constraint. This is the foundation of a modern commercial technology stack — where CPQ functions as an intelligent service that any application can query, rather than as a standalone tool that requires manual operation.
Build on a CPQ Platform Designed for Integration
Book a demo to see how Mercura's API-first architecture makes CPQ integration fast, reliable, and maintainable.
Let’s build together.
We empower manufacturers to master product modeling, streamline quoting process, reduce errors, and ultimately deliver the tailored solutions that customers demand.