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How to load data from Flexport to JSON File Destination

Learn how to use Airbyte to synchronize your Flexport data into JSON File Destination within minutes.

TL;DR

This can be done by building a data pipeline manually, usually a Python script (you can leverage a tool as Apache Airflow for this). This process can take more than a full week of development. Or it can be done in minutes on Airbyte in three easy steps:

  1. set up Flexport as a source connector (using Auth, or usually an API key)
  2. set up JSON File Destination as a destination connector
  3. define which data you want to transfer and how frequently

You can choose to self-host the pipeline using Airbyte Open Source or have it managed for you with Airbyte Cloud.

This tutorial’s purpose is to show you how.

What is Flexport

Flexport is a full-service worldwide carriage forwarder and logistics platform using modern software to fix the user experience in worldwide trade and this platform is your supply chain source of truth. It makes managing global logistics as simple, maleable, and programmable as modern business demands. Flexport is completely full-service global freight forwarder and logistics platform using modern software to fix the user experience in global trade. Flexport is a certified freight forwarder that uses people and software to manage the complexity of international trade.

What is JSON File Destination

JSON File is a tool that is used to store and exchange data in a structured format. JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, and it is a lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. JSON files are commonly used in web applications to transfer data between the server and the client, and they are also used in many other programming languages and platforms. JSON files consist of key-value pairs, where each key is a string and each value can be a string, number, boolean, array, or another JSON object. The syntax of JSON is similar to that of JavaScript, but it is a separate language that can be used independently of JavaScript. JSON File is a tool that allows users to create, edit, and view JSON files. It provides a user-friendly interface for working with JSON data, and it can be used by developers, data analysts, and anyone else who needs to work with structured data. With JSON File, users can easily create and modify JSON files, and they can also validate the syntax of their JSON data to ensure that it is well-formed and error-free.

Integrate Flexport with JSON File Destination in minutes

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Prerequisites

  1. A Flexport account to transfer your customer data automatically from.
  2. A JSON File Destination account.
  3. An active Airbyte Cloud account, or you can also choose to use Airbyte Open Source locally. You can follow the instructions to set up Airbyte on your system using docker-compose.

Airbyte is an open-source data integration platform that consolidates and streamlines the process of extracting and loading data from multiple data sources to data warehouses. It offers pre-built connectors, including Flexport and JSON File Destination, for seamless data migration.

When using Airbyte to move data from Flexport to JSON File Destination, it extracts data from Flexport using the source connector, converts it into a format JSON File Destination can ingest using the provided schema, and then loads it into JSON File Destination via the destination connector. This allows businesses to leverage their Flexport data for advanced analytics and insights within JSON File Destination, simplifying the ETL process and saving significant time and resources.

Step 1: Set up Flexport as a source connector

1. First, navigate to the Flexport source connector page on Airbyte.com.
2. Click on the "Create a new connection" button.
3. Enter a name for your connection and click "Next".
4. Enter your Flexport API key and secret in the appropriate fields.
5. Click "Test connection" to ensure that your credentials are correct and the connection is successful.
6. Select the data you want to replicate from Flexport by choosing the appropriate tables and fields.
7. Click "Next" to review and confirm your settings.
8. Click "Create connection" to finalize the setup process.
9. Your Flexport source connector is now connected and ready to replicate data to your destination.

Step 2: Set up JSON File Destination as a destination connector

1. Open the Airbyte platform and navigate to the "Destinations" tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
2. Scroll down until you find the "JSON File" destination connector and click on it.
3. Click on the "Create new connection" button.
4. Enter a name for your connection and click on the "Next" button.
5. Fill in the required fields for your JSON File destination, such as the file path and format.
6. Test the connection by clicking on the "Test" button.
7. If the test is successful, click on the "Save & Sync" button to save your connection and start syncing data to your JSON File destination.
8. You can also schedule your syncs by clicking on the "Schedule" button and selecting the frequency and time for your syncs.
9. To view your synced data, navigate to the file path you specified in your JSON File destination and open the file in a text editor or JSON viewer.

Step 3: Set up a connection to sync your Flexport data to JSON File Destination

Once you've successfully connected Flexport as a data source and JSON File Destination as a destination in Airbyte, you can set up a data pipeline between them with the following steps:

  1. Create a new connection: On the Airbyte dashboard, navigate to the 'Connections' tab and click the '+ New Connection' button.
  2. Choose your source: Select Flexport from the dropdown list of your configured sources.
  3. Select your destination: Choose JSON File Destination from the dropdown list of your configured destinations.
  4. Configure your sync: Define the frequency of your data syncs based on your business needs. Airbyte allows both manual and automatic scheduling for your data refreshes.
  5. Select the data to sync: Choose the specific Flexport objects you want to import data from towards JSON File Destination. You can sync all data or select specific tables and fields.
  6. Select the sync mode for your streams: Choose between full refreshes or incremental syncs (with deduplication if you want), and this for all streams or at the stream level. Incremental is only available for streams that have a primary cursor.
  7. Test your connection: Click the 'Test Connection' button to make sure that your setup works. If the connection test is successful, save your configuration.
  8. Start the sync: If the test passes, click 'Set Up Connection'. Airbyte will start moving data from Flexport to JSON File Destination according to your settings.

Remember, Airbyte keeps your data in sync at the frequency you determine, ensuring your JSON File Destination data warehouse is always up-to-date with your Flexport data.

Use Cases to transfer your Flexport data to JSON File Destination

Integrating data from Flexport to JSON File Destination provides several benefits. Here are a few use cases:

  1. Advanced Analytics: JSON File Destination’s powerful data processing capabilities enable you to perform complex queries and data analysis on your Flexport data, extracting insights that wouldn't be possible within Flexport alone.
  2. Data Consolidation: If you're using multiple other sources along with Flexport, syncing to JSON File Destination allows you to centralize your data for a holistic view of your operations, and to set up a change data capture process so you never have any discrepancies in your data again.
  3. Historical Data Analysis: Flexport has limits on historical data. Syncing data to JSON File Destination allows for long-term data retention and analysis of historical trends over time.
  4. Data Security and Compliance: JSON File Destination provides robust data security features. Syncing Flexport data to JSON File Destination ensures your data is secured and allows for advanced data governance and compliance management.
  5. Scalability: JSON File Destination can handle large volumes of data without affecting performance, providing an ideal solution for growing businesses with expanding Flexport data.
  6. Data Science and Machine Learning: By having Flexport data in JSON File Destination, you can apply machine learning models to your data for predictive analytics, customer segmentation, and more.
  7. Reporting and Visualization: While Flexport provides reporting tools, data visualization tools like Tableau, PowerBI, Looker (Google Data Studio) can connect to JSON File Destination, providing more advanced business intelligence options. If you have a Flexport table that needs to be converted to a JSON File Destination table, Airbyte can do that automatically.

Wrapping Up

To summarize, this tutorial has shown you how to:

  1. Configure a Flexport account as an Airbyte data source connector.
  2. Configure JSON File Destination as a data destination connector.
  3. Create an Airbyte data pipeline that will automatically be moving data directly from Flexport to JSON File Destination after you set a schedule

With Airbyte, creating data pipelines take minutes, and the data integration possibilities are endless. Airbyte supports the largest catalog of API tools, databases, and files, among other sources. Airbyte's connectors are open-source, so you can add any custom objects to the connector, or even build a new connector from scratch without any local dev environment or any data engineer within 10 minutes with the no-code connector builder.

We look forward to seeing you make use of it! We invite you to join the conversation on our community Slack Channel, or sign up for our newsletter. You should also check out other Airbyte tutorials, and Airbyte’s content hub!

What should you do next?

Hope you enjoyed the reading. Here are the 3 ways we can help you in your data journey:

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Take the first step towards extensible data movement infrastructure that will give a ton of time back to your data team. 
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Talk to a data infrastructure expert
Get a free consultation with an Airbyte expert to significantly improve your data movement infrastructure. 
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Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and get the community’s new enlightening content along with Airbyte’s progress in their mission to solve data integration once and for all.
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Tags

What should you do next?

Hope you enjoyed the reading. Here are the 3 ways we can help you in your data journey:

flag icon
Easily address your data movement needs with Airbyte Cloud
Take the first step towards extensible data movement infrastructure that will give a ton of time back to your data team. 
Get started with Airbyte for free
high five icon
Talk to a data infrastructure expert
Get a free consultation with an Airbyte expert to significantly improve your data movement infrastructure. 
Talk to sales
stars sparkling
Improve your data infrastructure knowledge
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and get the community’s new enlightening content along with Airbyte’s progress in their mission to solve data integration once and for all.
Subscribe to newsletter

Tags

Frequently Asked Questions

What data can you extract from Flexport?

Flexport's API provides access to a wide range of data related to global logistics and supply chain management. The following are the categories of data that can be accessed through Flexport's API:

1. Shipment data: This includes information about the shipment, such as the origin and destination, carrier, mode of transportation, and estimated time of arrival.  
2. Customs data: This includes information about customs clearance, such as the customs broker, customs clearance status, and any duties or taxes owed.  
3. Inventory data: This includes information about the inventory, such as the quantity, location, and status of goods.
4. Purchase order data: This includes information about purchase orders, such as the supplier, order status, and delivery date.  
5. Financial data: This includes information about invoices, payments, and other financial transactions related to the shipment.  
6. Analytics data: This includes data related to shipment performance, such as transit times, delivery accuracy, and cost analysis.  

Overall, Flexport's API provides a comprehensive set of data that can be used to optimize logistics and supply chain operations.

What data can you transfer to JSON File Destination?

You can transfer a wide variety of data to JSON File Destination. This usually includes structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data like transaction records, log files, JSON data, CSV files, and more, allowing robust, scalable data integration and analysis.

What are top ETL tools to transfer data from Flexport to JSON File Destination?

The most prominent ETL tools to transfer data from Flexport to JSON File Destination include:

  • Airbyte
  • Fivetran
  • Stitch
  • Matillion
  • Talend Data Integration

These tools help in extracting data from Flexport and various sources (APIs, databases, and more), transforming it efficiently, and loading it into JSON File Destination and other databases, data warehouses and data lakes, enhancing data management capabilities.