# Quick Start Guide
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/easy-savings-specials/documentation/quick-start-guide/index.md

## Overview {#overview}

The Easy Savings Specials Merchant Offers API allows issuers to embed and promote a localized merchant offers program for SMEs on their website, application, or other channels. This section guides you through getting started with the Mastercard Developers Platform.
Tip: We recommend that you begin testing in the sandbox environment. Tip: Postman Collections Quick Start: If you are ready to start making API calls, you can visit our [Postman collection](https://developer.mastercard.com/easy-savings-specials/documentation/postman-collection/index.md) section to use both sandbox and production environments without needing to write code.

## Getting started {#getting-started}

### Before you start {#before-you-start}

**Pre-requisites:**
> * [Mastercard Developers Account](https://developer.mastercard.com/account/log-in)
> * [Java 8+](https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/javase-jdk8-downloads.html)
> * [Apache Maven 3.3+](https://maven.apache.org/download.cgi)

### You can follow this guide to learn: {#you-can-follow-this-guide-to-learn}

* How to create a project for the service.
* How Mastercard Developers approach authentication.
* How to generate your credentials and API client.
* How to get access to sandbox and production environments.

## Accessing the API {#accessing-the-api}

  1. Navigate to [Mastercard Developers](https://developer.mastercard.com/), click **Sign up** , and create an account.   
  2. Activate your account by clicking the link sent to your email address, then log in.

### Generate your credentials {#generate-your-credentials}

* To generate your sandbox and production credentials, you must create a new Mastercard Developers project. Generating sandbox credentials provides access to our sandbox environment, which includes rich, mocked data to help you understand the API.
  1. Create a project on your [My projects](https://developer.mastercard.com/dashboard) page. ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/uploads/gcc_001.png)
  2. Name your project.
  3. Specify whether you are creating the project for a client. Note: Click **Yes** if you are creating an API integration project for a client. For example, you might be an integrator, processor, or service provider, and the client could be a merchant, issuer, or acquirer.
  4. Provide the client company name and client company address (if applicable).
  5. Select **Easy Savings Specials Merchant Offers** for API service.
  6. Provide the commercial countries for the project. This field indicates where your client is doing business. Note: If you are creating a project for a client, the commercial countries represent where your client is doing business. ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/uploads/gc_02.png)
  7. Create a key alias and keystore password. Save key alias and keystore password for future reference. ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/uploads/gc_03a.png) ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/uploads/gc_04a.png)
  8. Download and store your PKCS#12 (.p12) keystore file.
  9. Once you complete this flow, you will be directed to the Project page. From there, take note of your consumer key and begin testing. Alert: Easy Savings Specials Merchant Offers sandbox and production keys will expire after 13 months. You will have to [generate a new set of keys](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/managing-your-account/key-management/renew-oauth-keys/) after they expire.
  10. To review project details, see the [project summary](https://developer.mastercard.com/dashboard). ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/uploads/gc_05.png)

## Integrate {#integrate}

  1. Navigate to the [API Reference](https://developer.mastercard.com/easy-savings-specials/documentation/api-reference/index.md) section.
  2. Download the API specification, [offers-api-swagger.yml](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/swagger/offers-api-swagger.yml) (18KB).
  3. Generate and configure an API client for this API. For more information refer [Integration and Testing](https://developer.mastercard.com/easy-savings-specials/documentation/integration-testing/index.md).
  4. Configure your client using our Mastercard [client libraries](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/authentication/using-oauth-1a-to-access-mastercard-apis/#client-libraries), which we recommend instead of implementing the specification yourself.
* For a detailed step-by-step guide, refer to [Generating and Configuring a Mastercard API Client](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/security-and-authentication/generating-and-configuring-a-mastercard-api-client/).
Alert: Steps 5 and 7 shown in the generic [Generating and Configuring a Mastercard API Client](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/security-and-authentication/generating-and-configuring-a-mastercard-api-client/) guide are not applicable for the Easy Savings Specials Merchant Offers API, as this API does not require payload encryption.
* After completing these steps, you can start testing in the sandbox.

## Go-live {#go-live}

* After you have tested your implementation in our sandbox environment, it is time to move to the production environment.

### Steps to move to production environment {#steps-to-move-to-production-environment}

  1. Within your project, select **Request Production Access** . ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/uploads/gc_06.png)
  2. Enter your production key alias and keystore password. ![](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/easy-savings-specials/uploads/gc_07.png)
  3. Save your key alias and keystore password for future reference.
  4. Confirm and download your production keys. Note: Production credentials are generated instantly, but you must have them approved for production environment access before going live. After your access request is reviewed, you will receive a notification confirming approval or denial.

## Next Steps {#next-steps}

* Now that you have access to the service, you can begin testing, proceed to the [Use Cases](https://developer.mastercard.com/easy-savings-specials/documentation/use-cases/index.md) section to learn about the different use cases of the service.