Turning the tide: Why business really should love APIs too
API is a three-letter acronym that has many businesspeople scratching their heads. Tech talk, they think. And yet, with Application Programming Interfaces, they can do amazing things for their business. Even in difficult times. Tom Hendrix lifts the veil on one of the best-kept secrets in the IT world. And tells us why business really should love APIs too.
API economy
Smartphones, wearables and the Internet of Things (IoT) have introduced a lifestyle of instant updates. Countless apps and services cater to the needs of the consumers. Behind the scenes, APIs are holding everything seamlessly together. They ensure that digital services can work together and exchange data with each other efficiently and securely. They connect older business systems to new apps. They lead information flows from the IoT directly to ERP and other platforms. Welcome to the API economy.
API is a three-letter acronym that has many businesspeople scratching their heads. Tech talk, they think. And yet, with Application Programming Interfaces, they can do amazing things for their business. Even in difficult times. Tom Hendrix lifts the veil on one of the best-kept secrets in the IT world. And tells us why business really should love APIs too.
API economy
Smartphones, wearables and the Internet of Things (IoT) have introduced a lifestyle of instant updates. Countless apps and services cater to the needs of the consumers. Behind the scenes, APIs are holding everything seamlessly together. They ensure that digital services can work together and exchange data with each other efficiently and securely. They connect older business systems to new apps. They lead information flows from the IoT directly to ERP and other platforms. Welcome to the API economy.
"An API is a bundle code that forms a bridge between digital services," says Tom Hendrix, Country Lead BeLux at AppyThings. "This gives an application access to information or features of another application. The great thing is that with one API, you can link several services and systems. New integrations can be added quickly via an API management platform."
APIs and your business today
Why is having an understanding of the potential of APIs important for your business today? "Many companies will most likely need to organise parts of their business differently in the coming weeks and months. Make their supply chain more responsive. Really commit to e-commerce. Work more efficiently with partners. Simplify a tangle of complex vendor systems. Implement new revenue models. APIs are an essential part of this endeavour."
API strategist at work
"Consider APIs as the centre of a mind map," Tom continues. "Mind mapping is a visual thought technique that stimulates depth, productivity and creativity. You develop and connect ideas around a certain theme – way beyond the usual framework. These often open up surprising lines of thinking. That’s actually what API strategists do for your company too: connect services and systems, so that you can do better business without having to make major investments."
Examples
An ever-growing number of companies are making their services and data accessible to others. They earn back their API investment many times over. "For example, a pram retailer integrates a weather API into their online shop. This allows them to adapt their list of options based on what the weather is like in the customer’s geographical location."
"Here’s another example. A travel agency works with several airlines. When booking a flight via their application, you enter your destination, date and several other options. Via the APIs of the airlines, you are shown flight results that match your criteria. Along every step in the booking process, the API enables the communication between the systems of the travel agency and those of the airlines. A win-win for all parties concerned."
What AppyThings can do for you
As a premium partner of Apigee/Google, SAP and Azure, AppyThings is the number one in the Benelux in terms of experience and knowledge of API management. AppyThings designs and implements API-first architectures. These enable us to give your organisation a big leg up in the network economy. We are active in 50 organisations in 9 EMEA countries.
"An API is a bundle code that forms a bridge between digital services," says Tom Hendrix, Country Lead BeLux at AppyThings. "This gives an application access to information or features of another application. The great thing is that with one API, you can link several services and systems. New integrations can be added quickly via an API management platform."
APIs and your business today
Why is having an understanding of the potential of APIs important for your business today? "Many companies will most likely need to organise parts of their business differently in the coming weeks and months. Make their supply chain more responsive. Really commit to e-commerce. Work more efficiently with partners. Simplify a tangle of complex vendor systems. Implement new revenue models. APIs are an essential part of this endeavour."
API strategist at work
"Consider APIs as the centre of a mind map," Tom continues. "Mind mapping is a visual thought technique that stimulates depth, productivity and creativity. You develop and connect ideas around a certain theme – way beyond the usual framework. These often open up surprising lines of thinking. That’s actually what API strategists do for your company too: connect services and systems, so that you can do better business without having to make major investments."
Examples
An ever-growing number of companies are making their services and data accessible to others. They earn back their API investment many times over. "For example, a pram retailer integrates a weather API into their online shop. This allows them to adapt their list of options based on what the weather is like in the customer’s geographical location."
"Here’s another example. A travel agency works with several airlines. When booking a flight via their application, you enter your destination, date and several other options. Via the APIs of the airlines, you are shown flight results that match your criteria. Along every step in the booking process, the API enables the communication between the systems of the travel agency and those of the airlines. A win-win for all parties concerned."
What AppyThings can do for you
As a premium partner of Apigee/Google, SAP and Azure, AppyThings is the number one in the Benelux in terms of experience and knowledge of API management. AppyThings designs and implements API-first architectures. These enable us to give your organisation a big leg up in the network economy. We are active in 50 organisations in 9 EMEA countries.
Next Turning the Tide read: How do you give customers that first-class online experience?
Tune in on Thursday 24 April!
Next Turning the Tide read: How do you give customers that first-class online experience?
Tune in on Thursday 24 April!