Cost engineering has always been about precision. But in many companies, cost engineers still work in isolation - managing Excel spreadsheets, manually duplicating BOMs and updating target prices across disconnected systems. It's a process that is prone to possible human errors and inefficiencies.
Now imagine a scenario where your cost data automatically synchronizes with your PLM and sourcing tools. There’s no need for copy-pasting or manual versioning - just consistent, accurate data exactly where you need it. This is the promise of the Open API economy.
The API Economy Is Already Here
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the connectors that enable systems to talk to each other. APIs are not a future trend; indeed, they’re already powering automation in nearly every digital process.
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71% of digital-first companies rely on third-party APIs to run critical workflows, according to a Gartner survey.
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The global API management market reached 8.94 billion in 2024 and is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 14.57%, reaching USD 20.28 billion by 2030.
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Companies using API-driven workflows report up to 30% lower operational costs.
Falling behind this curve means relying on outdated processes while competitors automate.
Unlike closed, vendor-specific integrations, Open APIs allow teams to freely build their own workflows without gatekeeping or long IT backlogs. For cost engineers, this opens up powerful possibilities:
- Integrate product costing software like Tset directly into your existing digital system landscape
- Automate data syncing between PLM, ERP, and costing platforms
- Build custom connections tailored to your workflow without patch jobs or workarounds
Inside Tset’s API-First Architecture
The next level in cost engineering lies in integration - specifically, integrating your costing processes into your broader system landscape. By combining cost data with information from surrounding systems, you can unlock deeper intelligence, streamline workflows, and improve decision-making.
At Tset, we’re committed to supporting this shift. That’s why we follow a clear development philosophy: API-first.
Every feature we build is developed directly on our cloud platform and published via a documented, standards-based API. This ensures that as we expand the functionality of our software - across browser clients today and potentially also via tablet and smartphone apps in the future - we remain integration-ready. These APIs are not reserved for internal use. They are accessible to our users and form the backbone of a rich, integration-friendly ecosystem.
Compared to Excel-based setups or ad hoc tools, Tset allows for professional-grade integration with other applications. Our APIs are structured and well-documented, covering all major data objects in the system. If it can be done through the user interface, it can also be done via the API.
This API ecosystem supports two core capabilities:
1. Full data access and control (CRUD) via industry-standard APIs
You have complete authority over your data - including master data, calculations, projects, folders and much more. You can read, update, delete, and create content directly through the API.
2. Command execution for automation and scale
Beyond data access, you can also execute actions programmatically. You can perform bulk edits, restructure BOMs, and refresh master data in active calculations. These commands mirror what is possible in the interface, thereby supporting the automation of repetitive tasks and the development of scalable workflows.
This foundation makes Tset more than just a product costing tool - it becomes the backbone for cost engineers looking to build smarter, connected, and future-ready processes.
Real-World Use Cases
Here are just a few ways teams are putting Tset’s APIs to work:
- Automating the generation of Excel or PDF cost breakdown reports
- Syncing supplier QAFs directly into Tset from SCM portals
- Pushing target prices into PLM tools for early design-stage awareness
- Triggering recalculations of cost modules when BOMs change in ERP
A Fully Managed Integration Experience
In additional to the benefits of API-first approach, Tset is offered as a full-service SaaS solution. That means:
- No internal IT footprint or maintenance burden
- Hosting, security, performance, and uptime are fully managed
- Weekly updates deliver new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes
- Updated cost content (e.g. material prices, wages) is maintained for you
With Excel, you're responsible for everything. With Tset, we handle the complexity, so your team can focus on value, not version control.
Conclusion
Open APIs shift cost engineering from a siloed task to an integrated, strategic capability. They enable transparency, automation, and responsiveness that spreadsheets simply can't match. Tset’s API-first approach puts that power in your hands. If you're ready to move from isolated tools to intelligent, connected workflows - Tset is ready to support you.