Appian API Integrations enable seamless, secure connectivity between Appian applications and external systems using REST, SOAP, JDBC, and other protocols. This low-code approach empowers developers and business users to build reusable system integrations with granular security and governance.

Appian integrations support bidirectional connectivity. Integration objects enable Appian to call external systems, while Web APIs expose Appian data and services to outside systems. The platform includes prebuilt connectors to popular platforms including:

• Salesforce

• Google

• Microsoft SharePoint

• DocuSign

• AWS, and more, plus an Integration SDK for custom connections.

Integrations can be called from expression rules, interfaces, or process models, enabling end-to-end workflow orchestration across your technology ecosystem. Organizations can apply granular security, dedicated governance, and reusability across use cases while breaking down data silos and accelerating digital transformation initiatives.

Appian natively supports both REST and SOAP protocols through Integration Objects and Connected Systems. Integrations should be the primary way to connect to REST services, while SOAP connections use the Call Web Service Smart Service or webservicequery() and webservicewrite() functions. Appian REST API support includes modern JSON and XML data exchange, while SOAP APIs support WSDL versions 1.1 and 2.0 and SOAP versions 1.1 and 1.2.

For modern integrations, Appian recommends RESTful web services when possible due to their flexibility and performance benefits. However, Appian connectors maintain robust SOAP support for enterprise and legacy systems requiring structured XML communication. Both protocols benefit from Appian's low-code approach, enabling developers to configure secure, governed appian APIs with minimal coding while leveraging prebuilt appian connectors for popular systems.

Yes, Appian API integration fully supports bidirectional communication through complementary integration objects. Integration objects enable Appian to call external systems, while Web APIs expose Appian data and services to outside systems. This dual approach enables comprehensive integration in Appian for real-time data synchronization and automated workflow orchestration.

Appian Web APIs can be invoked by other systems or users to query or modify data within Appian, start a process, or download documents. Simultaneously, Integration Objects allow Appian to push data to external systems, retrieve information, and trigger actions across the technology ecosystem.

Once built, integrations can be called from expression rules, interfaces, or process models, creating seamless bidirectional workflows. This enables sophisticated scenarios like customer data flowing from CRM to Appian for processing, while Appian simultaneously updates external systems with enriched information and process status updates in real-time.

Appian integrations support extensive system connectivity across enterprise landscapes. There are hundreds of prebuilt connectors available on the Appian AppMarket for:

• CRM Systems (Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics)

• ERP Platforms (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)

• Cloud Services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)

• Document Management (SharePoint, Box)

• HR Systems (Workday, SuccessFactors), 

• Financial Platforms (QuickBooks, Xero)

• Databases via JDBC connectivity 

• and More!

The Integration SDK enables building new, reusable, low-code integrations with any system or API beyond prebuilt options. This flexibility ensures appian API integration can accommodate custom enterprise applications, legacy systems, and emerging technologies through standardized REST, SOAP, and database protocols.

Yes, Appian integrations excel at connecting legacy systems through multiple approaches: 

• Appian supports SOAP through the Call Web Service Smart Service and webservicequery()/webservicewrite() function for systems requiring traditional XML-based communication

• For external databases that support the JDBC protocol, use custom JDBC connected systems and SQL integration objects to bridge older database technologies

• SOAP APIs support WSDL versions 1.1 and 2.0 and SOAP versions 1.1 and 1.2, ensuring compatibility with enterprise-grade legacy systems

• Additionally, process models can be published as web services to create WSDL for other systems to invoke, providing legacy systems with familiar integration patterns

Alternatively, Appian RPA is ideal for systems that lack any available APIs, creating a bridge where one wouldn't otherwise be possible.

Yes, Appian API scheduling is comprehensively supported through process models and timer events. Timer events can be used to schedule process activities, with recurring options for daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or custom interval scheduling, enabling automated data retrieval or action execution.

Integrations can be called from expression rules, interfaces, or process models, allowing scheduled execution within timer-triggered processes. Advanced scheduling includes timezone configuration, weekend exclusions using process calendars, and conditional execution based on business rules. This enables robust automation scenarios like nightly data imports, periodic system health checks, and scheduled integration maintenance across enterprise systems.

Appian REST API implementations respect external system rate limits through configurable timeout settings and retry logic. Connector functions include built-in error handling capabilities that indicate whether operations were successful, enabling developers to implement custom throttling logic within process workflows.

Integration objects support timeout settings and HTTP request/response logging for troubleshooting when integrations fail. While Appian doesn't impose outbound rate limits, developers can build proactive throttling into appian API integration workflows using timer events to space API calls, conditional logic to monitor response patterns, and exception handling to manage rate limit responses.

When target systems have rate limits per user, organizations can connect as separate users instead of a single integration user to avoid limits. This approach ensures reliable API consumption while maintaining system performance and respecting

Key Appian integration use cases include customer onboarding (connecting CRMs with identity verification and compliance systems), claims processing (linking policy systems with fraud detection and payment APIs), and supply chain automation (integrating ERPs with logistics and inventory systems).

• Customer Onboarding: A prime example of modernizing customer onboarding is State Street. While their initiative was broad, it began with the goal of improving the customer onboarding process. This project involved connecting and automating workflows across various systems, a core function of API integration. The case study video explains how they used Appian to orchestrate data and processes, which is foundational to connecting CRMs, compliance systems, and other onboarding-related applications. 

  • Link: Workflow Automation Connects People, Process, & Data: State Street Case Study

• Claims Processing: In the insurance industry, Appian serves as a central hub for claims by leveraging API integrations to connect disparate and legacy systems. As detailed in a collaboration with PwC, an insurer's claims handlers were struggling with disconnected systems and manual data entry from paper records. The Appian-based solution acts as an integration layer, using APIs to pull data from various sources into a single, automated workflow. This API-driven process automation eliminates manual errors, provides a unified view of each claim, and connects all necessary data points to accelerate claim resolution and improve customer outcomes.

  • Link: PwC: Leading global professional services firm committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory, and tax services

• Supply Chain Automation: Ryder leveraged Appian to modernize its supply chain and fleet management operations by creating a unified, mobile-first experience. To achieve this, Appian's platform served as an integration layer, using APIs to connect Ryder's new mobile applications—like the Rental Signature Capture and Accident Claims apps—with its core backend systems. This API-driven architecture was essential for replacing disconnected, manual processes (email, fax, phone calls) with real-time data exchange. By integrating data on vehicle status, customer signatures, and damage claims directly from the field into their central systems, Ryder automated its end-to-end process, from incident creation to invoicing, dramatically accelerating retrieval of information and reducing rental transaction times by 50%. 

  • Link: Ryder Case Study

• Government Procurement: The U.S. Army leveraged Appian to modernize its acquisition lifecycle with the Army Contract Writing System (ACWS). This solution replaced outdated legacy systems with a unified platform that integrates directly with essential federal databases like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) for reporting and SAM.gov for vendor data. This seamless connection to federal and internal ERP systems creates a fully automated and compliant acquisition process from start to finish. 

  • Link: United States Army Process Automation Case Study

Additional use cases span employee onboarding, invoice processing, automated financial reporting, and regulatory compliance. These appian API integration scenarios demonstrate streamlined multi-system process automation across industries.

API integration is fundamental to Appian's agentic automation, enabling AI agents to interact dynamically with enterprise systems. Appian's agentic AI can dynamically update records, send communications, and respond to changing workflows, all while adhering to business logic and compliance requirements.

With Appian data fabric, organizations can build and deploy AI agents that have access to any enterprise data, including external systems, letting AI agents make smart, contextual decisions without requiring human input. Integration in Appian allows agents to trigger API calls, retrieve real-time data, and execute multi-step processes across connected systems.

AI agents might perform many actions, such as assigning work to a human, updating a database directly, or calling a system API, providing powerful end-to-end automation beyond simple task execution. This creates intelligent workflows where Appian integrations feed contextual data to AI decision-making, while agents autonomously orchestrate responses across the technology ecosystem, adapting to changing conditions in real-time.

Appian APIs implement enterprise-grade security through multiple authentication layers and protocols. OAuth 2.0 is the industry-standard protocol for authorization and should generally be used when possible, with Appian implementing OAuth 2.0 Client Credentials grant as defined by IETF RFC 6749 standard.

API keys provide several advantages including security (randomly generated and can't be used to log into Appian), performance (work up to 10x faster than username/password), and longevity (don't expire automatically). Mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication verifies the identity of both clients and Appian, using X.509 v3 client certificates for enhanced security.

External systems require Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.2 or above for all connections. All API interactions include granular access controls through service accounts and group management, ensuring appian API integration maintains enterprise security standards with comprehensive logging, encrypted data transmission, and role-based authorization across all integration touchpoints.