One of the most exciting things happening in our industry right now is the convergence of automation, AI, and open integration. But for AI to be successful, it needs data. At Wolters Kluwer, our CCH Axcess™ API strategy is all about giving firms access to their data so they can unlock new efficiencies, build smarter workflows, and ultimately deliver more value to their clients.
The three pillars of our API strategy
When I think about our API strategy, I break it down into three tiers:
1. Direct API licensing
Many firms choose to license our APIs directly to build their own custom solutions. We offer APIs for tax data, client and staff data, e-filing, return printing, roll-forward automation, and more. These APIs allow firms to access data and functionality without needing users to be in the application.
For example, I’ve worked with a firm that processes over 50,000 returns a year. They were spending 20–30 minutes per return just assembling PDFs. By implementing our Print APIs, they cut that down to about 2,000 hours annually, a massive time savings. What used to take a full day now takes minutes, and reviewers get returns back while the details are still fresh.
2. Prebuilt tools that leverage our APIs
Not every firm has in-house developers, and that’s okay. We’ve built a toolbox of utilities, many in collaboration with firms, that handle common tasks like K-1 imports, batch roll-forwards, e-filing extensions, and even creating training returns in bulk. These tools use the same APIs but require no development effort from the firm.
3. The CCH Axcess Marketplace
This is where we partner with key vendors that our customers already use, whether it’s for data ingestion, document management, or return delivery. Rather than asking every firm to build their own integration with these vendors, we work directly with them to create standardized, supported integrations. That way, firms can plug into the tools they already rely on, without reinventing the wheel.
The developer portal: your API command center
All of this is tied together through our developer portal. It’s where your developers can explore documentation, test API calls, and see exactly how data flows in and out of the system. It’s a centralized, hands-on resource that makes it easier to get started and scale up.