ERP API Integration Explained: REST, Webhooks, Auth and Idempotency
A plain-English explanation of ERP API integration: REST APIs, webhooks, authentication methods, idempotency, pagination, rate limits and error handling.
Integration · Payments
Overview
We integrate PayPal using its REST APIs, webhooks and settlement reports to post every movement correctly.
01Data
| Entity | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Payments | App → ERP | Captured payments matched to orders or invoices. |
| Refunds | ⇄ Both | Refunds mirrored between PayPal and ERP credit notes. |
| Fees | App → ERP | Transaction fees posted to expenses. |
| Currency conversions | App → ERP | Conversions recorded with exchange differences. |
| Transfers to bank | App → ERP | Withdrawals matched to bank deposits. |
02Use cases
PayPal orders reconciled with ERP sales.
Foreign currency balances accounted for correctly.
Disputes visible to finance and service.
03 — Architecture
Webhooks report payment and refund events in near real-time. Transaction search and settlement reports provide the complete record for reconciliation, including fees and conversions.
A PayPal clearing account per currency in the ERP holds balances until transfers to the bank are recorded.
04Reliability
OAuth 2.0 client credentials for a REST app scoped to the account, stored securely. Webhook events are verified via PayPal's verification mechanism.
Events processed idempotently by transaction ID; unmatched payments queued for finance review.
API calls retry with backoff. Daily reconciliation compares PayPal transaction totals against ERP postings.
05 — Data mapping
| PayPal | ERP |
|---|---|
| Transaction ID | Payment reference |
| invoice_id / custom_id | ERP order or invoice |
| Fee amount | Fees expense |
| Currency | Clearing account per currency |
| Withdrawal | Bank transfer |
06 — Automation
07 — Security
Credentials stored in a secrets manager, webhooks verified, and buyer data limited to what operations require.
Related
Other integrations
Insights
A plain-English explanation of ERP API integration: REST APIs, webhooks, authentication methods, idempotency, pagination, rate limits and error handling.
How to integrate an ERP with eCommerce, CRM, payments and other systems: data ownership, integration patterns, middleware, error handling, monitoring and common failure modes.
How to integrate RFID readers with Odoo inventory: middleware design, mapping EPCs to products and serials, receiving and counting flows, performance and what to build vs buy.
FAQ
Yes, with clearing accounts per currency and conversion entries.
The store handles checkout; the integration handles ERP reconciliation.
Disputes flag the related order and customer and can trigger accounting entries if funds are held.
Next step
Tell us your volumes, channels and data rules. We will outline the architecture and the risks before anything is built.