Cutting Through API Complexity: A Guide to GraphQL

Published on Jun 14, 2024

Updated on Jun 27, 2024

Have you ever felt frustrated fetching data from an API and ending up with a bunch of information you don’t need? Enter GraphQL, a game-changer in the world of server-side APIs! This blog post takes you on a journey to understand GraphQL, from its core concepts to practical development steps.

What is GraphQL?

Imagine an API that caters to your specific needs. With GraphQL, that’s exactly what you get! It’s a querying language specifically designed for server-side applications. There will be a single API endpoint. Users can request the required details and the system will send a response as per the requests with a precise answer.

The Building Blocks of GraphQL:

Everything in GraphQL revolves around three key concepts: Schema, Queries, and Mutations.

Schema: Think of the schema as the blueprint for your data. It defines the main structure of the data that can be queried or modified, ensuring consistency and clarity for developers. The schema structure is created using fields and types.

Queries: These are used to fetch the data from the GraphQL API. You define the specific data you need in a structured format, and GraphQL gets it for you efficiently. This is a similar use case like a “GET” request in RESTful APIs.

Mutations: Need to insert, update, or delete data? Mutations are your answer. They are used to modify (Insert, Update, Delete) the data in the GraphQL API. This is a similar use case like “POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE” requests in RESTful APIs.

Understanding the GraphQL API Architecture:

Architecture plays a crucial role in achieving efficiency. But what exactly goes on behind the scenes? Let’s break it down!

The above diagram represents the 3-tier architecture diagram of GraphQL. Here’s what’s happening:

Clients send the requests with only the required parameters in the query string using JSON format
GraphQL server handles the requests with appropriate actions and interaction with the data layer,
After that send back the responses with only requested data as payload JSON to the Clients for further process.

The Role of GraphiQL IDE:

GraphiQL is a graphical interface specifically designed for GraphQL. It allows you to build, test, and debug your queries and mutations in a user-friendly environment.

Benefits of GraphQL:

Precision is key: Getting exactly what we need is the primary goal for GraphQL. It delivers only the data your application needs for faster performance.

One request, many answers: Get multiple distinct details in a single request instead of sending multiple requests.
Structure for clarity: Structured type referencing request and response detail, making it easier for developers to understand and maintain the API.
Future-proof flexibility: Updates to the API become a breeze with GraphQL. You can introduce new features without depending on version control management, ensuring smooth operation.
No More Data Juggling: Easily combine multiple data sources in a single endpoint.

REST vs GraphQL:

In a traditional REST API, you might need to use multiple endpoints for different requests.

With GraphQL, a single request with a well-defined structure retrieves all the data in one go, saving time and resources.

How to get started with GraphQL?

If you are considering the technology and framework to build a web application using GraphQL, you can choose Express.js.

Development Flow Diagram in Express:

The above diagram shows the flows that give you an overall idea to develop a project using GraphQL. If you are a beginner, please check the following link.

Server-Side Application:

Include two npm packages (graphql-http and graphql) to start with GraphQL.
Build the folder structure to start the development to define the GraphQL schema.
Create the base folders in the following manner “/src/schema”.
The concept is to build module-wise schema, so it’s better to create individual folders for each module (i.e. User, Product, Order, Payment, etc.).
Each module folder should have 3 files (index.js, typedefs.js, and resolvers.js).
Use the ‘index.js’ to combine the integrations of ‘typedefs.js’ and ‘resolvers.js’ to make it centralized for that particular module.
Use ‘typedefs.js’ to define the structure of queries and mutations for that particular module.
Use ‘resolvers.js’ to build the logic to manipulate queries and mutations for that particular module.
Run the project
Test and debug the integrated API using GraphiQL IDE

Client-Side Application:

Once your server-side is set up, it’s time to connect your application:

From the client-side application, Call API from a single endpoint (/graphql) and send the query string within the ‘data’ parameter as a request to get the response for that specified query string.
Get the response as JSON payload and process it for further execution.

Conclusion:

GraphQL is a powerful tool that simplifies API development. By offering a more efficient and flexible approach to data retrieval, it empowers developers to build cleaner, faster, and future-proof applications.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting your journey, GraphQL is worth exploring. Its clear structure, streamlined data fetching, and ever-growing community make it a valuable asset for your development toolbox.

Additional Resources:

Folder Structure and Integration Reference: you can check the following link.

Video Reference on Integrations, you can check the following link.

About the Author:

Sudipta Mal is a Technical Architect at Mantra Labs. His passion goes beyond his technical expertise; he’s also fascinated by experimenting with new technologies, which further fuels his creativity and problem-solving abilities.

Further Readings: Beego is Backend Developers’ Fav for 2024; but why?

The insurance industry thrives on relationships—but it can only scale through efficiency, precision, and timely distribution. While much of the digital transformation buzz has focused on customer-facing portals, the real transformation is happening in the field, where modern sales apps are quietly driving a smarter, faster, and more empowered agent network.

Let’s explore how mobile-first sales enablement platforms are reshaping insurance sales across prospecting, onboarding, servicing, renewals, and growth.

The Insurance Agent Needs More Than a CRM

Today’s insurance agent is not just a policy seller—they’re also a financial advisor, data gatherer, service representative, and the face of the brand. Yet many still rely on paper forms, disconnected tools, and manual processes.

That’s where intelligent sales apps come in—not just to digitize, but to optimize, personalize, and future-proof the entire agent journey.

Real-World Use Cases: What Smart Sales Apps Are Solving

Across the insurance value chain, sales agent apps have evolved into full-service platforms—streamlining operations, boosting conversions, and empowering agents in the field. These tools aren’t optional anymore, they’re critical to how modern insurers perform. Here’s how leading insurers are empowering their agents through technology:

1. Intelligent Prospecting & Lead Management

Sales apps now empower agents to:

Prioritize leads using filters like policy type, value, or geography
Schedule follow-ups with integrated agent calendars
Utilize locators to look for nearby branch offices or partner physicians
Register and service new leads directly from mobile devices

Agents spend significantly less time navigating through disjointed systems or chasing down information. With quick access to prioritized leads, appointment scheduling, and location tools—all in one app—they can focus more on meaningful customer interactions and closing sales, rather than administrative overhead.

2. Seamless Policy Servicing, Renewals & Claims

Sales apps centralize post-sale activities such as:

Tracking policy status, premium due date, and claims progress
Sending renewal reminders, greetings, and policy alerts in real-time
Accessing digital sales journeys and pre-filled forms.
Policy comparison, calculating premiums, and submitting documents digitally
Registering and monitoring customer complaints through the app itself

Customers receive a consistent and seamless experience across touchpoints—whether online, in-person, or via mobile. With digital forms, real-time policy updates, and instant access to servicing tools, agents can handle post-sale tasks like renewals and claims faster, without paperwork delays—leading to improved satisfaction and higher retention.

3. Remote Sales using Assisted Tools

Using smart tools, agents can:

Securely co-browse documents with customers through proposals
Share product visualizations in real time
Complete eKYC and onboarding remotely.

Agents can conduct secure, interactive consultations from anywhere—sharing proposals, visual aids, and completing eKYC remotely. This not only expands their reach to customers in digital-first or geographically dispersed markets, but also builds greater trust through real-time engagement, clear communication, and a personalized advisory experience—all without needing a physical presence.

4. Real-Time Training, Performance & Compliance Monitoring

Modern insurance apps provide:

On-demand access to training material
Commission dashboards and incentive monitoring
Performance reporting with actionable insights

Field agents gain access to real-time performance insights, training modules, and incentive tracking—directly within the app. This empowers them to upskill on the go, stay motivated through transparent goal-setting, and make informed decisions that align with overall business KPIs. The result is a more agile, knowledgeable, and performance-driven sales force.

5. End-to-End Sales Execution—Even Offline

Advanced insurance apps support:

Full application submission, from prospect to payment
Offline functionality in low-connectivity zones
Real-time needs analysis, quote generation, and e-signatures
Multi-login access with secure OTP-based authentication

Even in low-connectivity or remote Tier 2 and 3 markets, agents can operate at full capacity—thanks to offline capabilities, secure authentication, and end-to-end sales execution tools. This ensures uninterrupted productivity, faster policy issuance, and adherence to compliance standards, regardless of location or network availability.

6. AI-Powered Personalization for Health-Linked Products

Some forward-thinking insurers are combining AI with health platforms to:

Import real-time health data from fitness trackers or health apps
Offer hyper-personalized insurance suggestions based on lifestyle
Enable field agents to tailor recommendations with more context

By integrating real-time health data from fitness trackers and wellness apps, insurers can offer hyper-personalized, preventive insurance products tailored to individual lifestyles. This empowers agents to move beyond transactional selling—becoming trusted advisors who recommend coverage based on customers’ health habits, life stages, and future needs, ultimately deepening engagement and improving long-term retention.

The Mantra Labs Advantage: Turning Strategy into Scalable Execution

We help insurers go beyond surface-level digitization to build intelligent, mobile-first ecosystems that optimize agent efficiency and customer engagement—backed by real-world impact.

Seamless Sales Enablement for Travel Insurance

We partnered with a leading travel insurance provider to develop a high-performance agent workflow platform featuring:

Secure Logins: Instant credential-based access without sign-up friction
Real-Time Performance Dashboards: At-a-glance insights into daily/monthly targets, policy issuance, and collections
Frictionless Policy Issuance: Complete issuance post-payment and document verification
OCR Integration: Auto-filled customer details directly from passport scans, minimizing errors and speeding up onboarding

This mobile-first solution empowered agents to close policies faster with significantly reduced paperwork and data entry time—improving agent productivity by 2x and enabling sales at scale.

Engagement + Analytics Transformation for Health Insurance

For one of India’s leading health insurers, we helped implement a full-funnel engagement and analytics stack:

User Journey Intelligence: Replaced legacy systems to track granular app behavior—policy purchases, renewals, claims, discounts, and drop-offs. Enabled real-time behavioral segmentation and personalized push/email notifications.
Gamified Wellness with Fitness Tracking: Added gamified fitness engagement, with rewards based on step counts and interactive nutrition quizzes—driving repeat app visits and user loyalty.
Attribution Tracking: Trace the exact source of traffic—whether it’s a paid campaign, referral program, or organic source—adding a layer of precision to marketing ROI.
Analytics: Integrated analytics to identify user interest segments. This allowed for hyper-targeted email and in-app notifications that aligned perfectly with user intent, driving both relevance and response rates.

Whether you’re digitizing field sales, gamifying customer wellness, or fine-tuning your marketing engine, Mantra Labs brings the technology depth, insurance expertise, and user-first design to turn strategy into scalable execution.

If you’re ready to modernize your agent network – Get in touch with us to explore how we can build intelligent, mobile-first tools tailored to your distribution strategy. Just remember, the best sales apps aren’t just tools, they’re growth engines; and field sales success isn’t about more apps. It’s about the right workflows, in the right hands, at the right time.

Cutting Through API Complexity: A Guide to GraphQL