Rippling is a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) that facilitates various business operations, including managing payroll, benefits, and employee data. The text explains how to retrieve employee data from Rippling's API using Python, specifically through the OAuth 2.0 protocol for authentication and authorization. It details the use of an authorization token in HTTP requests, emphasizing the importance of secure API key management and the necessity of using HTTPS for all API requests. The process involves a Python function that uses pagination to fetch employee data from the API endpoint, incrementing the offset to retrieve subsequent pages until an empty page is encountered. Additionally, the text highlights Merge’s Unified API as a solution for integrating multiple HRIS platforms, offering a streamlined approach to managing customer integrations across various systems like Workday and Namely.