Integrate TikTok Shop API with 3rd Party Applications

Introduction

Hey everyone, welcome to "The Automation Guy" channel. Today, I'm going to simplify the TikTok Shop API for you so that you can start coding your integration right away without getting lost in thousands of pages of its API documentation. In this tutorial, I assume you know the basics of REST API documentation and OAuth 2.0. The main aim of this tutorial is to get you started quickly to develop TikTok Shop integration.

Getting Started with TikTok Shop API Integration

First and foremost, you need to register on the TikTok Shop Partner Portal. Now, there are two different TikTok Shop Partner Portals, and there's a lot of confusion around who needs to sign up where. Let's simplify this by considering three different scenarios:

Scenario 1: US-Based Registered Companies Targeting US TikTok Shops

If you are a US-based registered company that wants to target only US-based TikTok shops, you can simply sign up at the US TikTok Partner Portal, and you're good to go.

Scenario 2: US-Based Registered Companies Targeting Global TikTok Shops

If you are a US-registered business that also wants to target TikTok shops outside the US, you will need to sign up for both the US Partner Portal and the Global Partner Portal. You will have to repeat all the steps mentioned in this video for the Global Partner Portal as well.

Scenario 3: Non-US Registered Companies

If you are a non-US registered company wanting to target TikTok shops either in the US or outside the US, you can simply sign up for the Global Partner Portal, and you should be good to go.

Registration Steps and Initial Setup

Once you have signed up, you'll see a simple dashboard where you can click on the "Get Started" button. You will be presented with a screen where you need to input the registration place of your business. Be cautious while selecting this, as you won't be able to change it later on. Then, you'll select the target shops you want to build the integration for, selecting the countries and user demographics.

Next, select the business category that applies to you. If you are an in-house developer of a TikTok Shop owner, select the "In-House Developer" option, then verify your TikTok Shop admin email. Upon successful verification, your partner account will get approved instantly. Other business categories might need additional documentation that could take about 2-3 business days for approval.

After approval, you will notice a new menu labeled "Apps and Service" on the left sidebar. Click on this, and then on the "Create App and Services" button on the top right. You will be taken to a screen to select the app type you want to build.

App Types and Further Steps

There are two options:

Public App: Choose this if you want to publish the app to the TikTok App Store.
Custom App: Choose this if you don't want to publish but still wish to distribute it to individual sellers.

TikTok doesn't discriminate based on the type of app; both types have equal data access levels and API call rate limitations. Fill out the application details like redirect URL and webhook URL for notifications.

Once the app creation form is submitted, you will receive the app ID and app secret token details necessary to start testing the API. However, before testing, you need to apply for data permissions. Click on "Manage API" to apply for necessary permissions, which get approved instantly.

Testing the API

To test the API, navigate to the "Development Kits" section on the left sidebar, then to the "API Testing Tool." Here, select the endpoint and app key selector, opting for "Use Platform App Key" to play with API endpoints using mock data. This will help you understand the structure of API responses, allowing you to code your application accordingly.

API Rate Limitations

The TikTok Shop API offers the following rate limitations:

50 API requests can be made within one second per store.
This limit applies separately to each store connected to your app.
They use the Leaky Bucket method to replenish your request limit once exceeded.

These details should serve as a good starting point for coding your integration for TikTok shops. For more detailed instructions, I've also dropped a link to this presentation in the video description. These slides include links to the relevant official documentation and other learning resources that will help you put all the pieces together.

Keywords

TikTok Shop API
OAuth 2.0
REST API
Partner Portal
Integration
API Testing

FAQs

A US-based company targeting only US TikTok shops should sign up at the US TikTok Partner Portal.

2. What additional step is required after receiving the app ID and app secret token?

After receiving the app ID and app secret token, you need to apply for data permissions by clicking on "Manage API."

3. How soon can an in-house developer's partner account get approved after verification?

An in-house developer's partner account can get approved immediately after successful verification with the admin email.

4. Is there a difference in data access levels between public and custom apps on TikTok Shop API?

No, both public and custom apps have equal data access levels and API call rate limitations.

5. What method does TikTok Shop API use for replenishing the API request limit?

TikTok Shop API uses the Leaky Bucket method to replenish the API request limit once it is exceeded.

6. Can API testing be done with mock data before going live?

Yes, API testing can be done with mock data by choosing "Use Platform App Key" in the API Testing Tool.