Service · API-Connected Apps
API-Connected Mobile App Development
Apps that pull live data from your website, a third-party API, or a custom back-end — real-time inventory, booking slots, customer accounts, and dynamic content.
Why static apps become liabilities
- Static apps that don't pull live data go stale immediately — menus, prices, availability, and inventory need to be current or the app becomes a liability.
- Connecting a mobile app to existing back-end systems requires someone who knows both sides: mobile development and API design.
- Most businesses already have data in a system (website, POS, CRM) — building an app that doesn't connect to it means managing two sources of truth.
What an API-connected build includes
- Mobile app connected to your back-end via REST API — single source of truth.
- Integration with third-party APIs: Stripe, Google Maps, weather, inventory, ERP, POS, and more.
- Real-time data sync with configurable refresh intervals or push-based updates.
- Secure API authentication (OAuth 2.0, JWT, API keys) — no plaintext credentials in the app.
- Error handling and offline fallback so the app degrades gracefully without connectivity.
- Full API documentation delivered alongside the app codebase.
How it works
1
API contract
Map what data the app needs, design endpoints if new back-end work is required.
2
Auth design
Determine what credential model works for this data + user combination.
3
Build
App + API in parallel with contract tests.
4
Integration testing
Real data, real credentials, edge cases and failure modes.
Frequently asked questions
What APIs can you connect to?
Any API with documentation and an authentication mechanism. Common integrations: Stripe (payments), Google Maps (location and mapping), Shopify or WooCommerce (product and order data), Salesforce or HubSpot (CRM data), Twilio (SMS), OpenWeatherMap, sports data APIs, custom ERP or POS APIs. If the API is documented, connecting to it is in scope.
What if my back-end doesn't have an API?
Building the API is part of the engagement. ArdinGate builds the mobile app and the back-end API endpoints together — PHP back-end and React Native or Flutter front-end from the same team. This is more efficient than coordinating separate developers for each layer.
How is real-time data handled?
Most app data is fetched on screen load with a short cache — sufficient for menus, product listings, and service info. For truly real-time data (live availability, order status, chat), WebSocket or Server-Sent Events push data to the app as it changes. The right approach depends on how fast the data changes and how much staleness is acceptable.
Who hosts the API?
ArdinGate's managed hosting covers the back-end API alongside any website on the same hosting plan. For high-traffic APIs, a separate VPS or cloud instance is appropriate. The app and API are independent deployments — you can host them wherever makes sense.