Overview
Etlworks makes it easy to connect to and integrate with virtually any REST, SOAP, OData, GraphQL or custom API. Whether you need to extract and load data, transform complex responses, orchestrate API-driven workflows, or call APIs in real time or batch mode, Etlworks provides a powerful, flexible platform to do it all.
Choosing the Right Connector
Generic HTTP Connector
-
Connect to any web service
-
Supports all HTTP methods and custom auth
-
Ideal for building custom connectors
Pre-Configured API Connectors
- Easiest way to connect to popular APIs like Salesforce, HubSpot, Google, Microsoft, and more
- Simplifies OAuth2 authentication
- Auto-detects common parameters and tokens
Use Pre-Configured Connectors →
Native Connectors for SaaS
-
Prebuilt for Salesforce, HubSpot, QuickBooks, etc.
-
Query data using SQL or visual mapping
-
Abstracts away low-level API details
Connectors for selected Google and Social Media APIs
Etlworks includes dedicated connectors for a small group of popular APIs, including Google Analytics, Google Sheets, Google Ads, Facebook, and Twitter. These are referred to as well-known APIs and differ from other connectors in that they are not generic or database-based, they use their own specialized connection type.
ETL data from well-known APIs →
Get Started with Google Analytics →
Get Started with Google Sheets →
What You Can Do with APIs in Etlworks
Create API Connections
Connect to almost any REST or SOAP web service over HTTP using the flexible, built-in HTTP connector. Supports both authenticated and public APIs.
ETL with APIs
Use APIs as either sources or destinations (or both!) in your ETL flows. Etlworks handles payload creation and transformation automatically, making it easy to move and shape data across systems.
-
When an API is the source, Etlworks sends a request, parses the response, transforms the data, and loads it into the destination.
-
When an API is the destination, Etlworks transforms the source data into the required format and sends it as the request payload.
Common ETL scenarios with APIs
Bulk Operations with APIs
Etlworks makes it easy to handle large datasets by interacting with APIs directly, without requiring a full ETL transformation. You can read from or write to APIs using files, loops, or batch techniques.
Common Bulk Operations with APIs
-
Dynamically change URL parameters for each request using source data
-
Call an API endpoint with or without a custom, user-defined payload
Work with Paginated APIs
Seamlessly integrate with APIs that return paginated results. The HTTP connector supports all standard pagination strategies, including offset, page number, cursor, and time-based.
Advanced Pagination with Scripts
Use script-based looping to build flows that dynamically paginate over APIs. Combine variables, conditions, and API responses for full control.
Create Custom API Connectors
Define custom connectors using the generic HTTP connector. Configure endpoint URLs, methods, headers, authentication, and pagination logic.
Work with Connected Apps
Etlworks includes built-in connectors for platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, QuickBooks Online, and NetSuite. These are treated like databases: browse objects, build flows using drag-and-drop mapping or SQL.
Related Resources
Data exchange Formats
Etlworks supports a wide variety of structured formats used in API communication:
Use these formats to parse responses, create payloads, or map data between systems.
Working with Nested Documents
APIs often return deeply nested JSON, XML, or EDI documents. Etlworks provides multiple techniques to read, flatten, transform, and generate nested data structures. Whether you’re loading data into a flat table or composing structured payloads for API calls, Etlworks gives you full control over complex document formats.
Learn how to work with nested documents and formats in Etlworks →
Testing and Exploring API Endpoints
You can explore and test API endpoints directly from the Etlworks Explorer, no code required.
Step 1: Create an HTTP Connection to the API.
Step 2: Create a Format to parse the API response. Common formats include JSON, XML, and CSV.
Step 3: Open Etlworks Explorer, select the Connection created in Step 1, and link it to the Format from Step 2.
Read how to link Format to Connection.
Step 4:
-
Explore metadata (endpoints and fields)
-
View data in a grid or raw format
-
Run SQL-like queries over the API response
-
Discover field dependencies and relationships
This makes it easy to validate endpoints, preview data, and prototype flows before building full ETL pipelines.
Parametrization and dynamic URLs
Use tokens ({token}) in URLs, headers, and payloads. Tokens are replaced at runtime using global or flow-level variables. Great for dynamic authentication, endpoints, or request customization.
Tips and Troubleshooting
Get the most out of your API integrations with these useful tips and solutions:
-
Best practices for working with APIs:
Learn practical tips to streamline your API-based workflows and avoid common pitfalls.
-
Can’t connect to a web service?
Troubleshoot common connection errors and configuration issues.
-
Want to reuse API responses within a flow?
Store responses in memory using the Memory Connection, ideal for orchestrating multi-step logic.
Watch and Learn
VIDEO: Working with APIs in Etlworks
VIDEO: ETL with APIs
Case Studies
TriNet
TriNet, a leading provider of HR solutions for SMBs, uses Etlworks to integrate complex third-party APIs with Snowflake. With Etlworks’ automation and reliability, TriNet built zero-maintenance pipelines that run autonomously—delivering accurate, real-time data to internal systems without ongoing upkeep.
RecBi
RecBi, a business intelligence provider, powers multi-step workflows across APIs, Salesforce, MySQL, email systems, and Google Cloud using Etlworks. With flows capable of handling multiple customers in a single run, RecBi relies on Etlworks for flexibility, stability, and easy scaling as client needs grow.
Marketo
Marketo, a global marketing automation leader, partnered with Etlworks to build custom data pipelines for enterprise clients like Bank of New Zealand, Sage, and CPA. Etlworks made it easy to extract leads, opportunities, and custom objects via APIs—delivering robust, zero-maintenance solutions with fast support and seamless scaling.
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.