The Embracement of API-centric Models

An API-centric approach to digital transformation helps make integration possible and easier to carry out.

The process of digitally transforming a business is a multi-year development, which can often be thwart with unnecessarily tedious and complex migration decisions. An API-centric approach to digital transformation may be able to reduce the complexity while accelerating the process, and also provide businesses with the tools to unlock the true value of data and assets. 

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are the digital glue connecting all of an organization’s components together, letting the frontend and backend communicate with each other.

SEE ALSO: How ‘APIfication’ Changes the Way Businesses Innovate

An API-centric approach to digital transformation properly utilizes the power of APIs to improve the collection, collaboration, management and security of an organization’s digital portfolio. 

1. Taking data out of silos

A lot of organizations collect and store data, but do not properly process or analyze it, leading to data silos. An API is able to take the data and connect it to visualization and analytics platforms, which can provide an organization with actionable insights. 

Business decisions can be implemented at a faster rate and new products can be trialed, because of the streamlined process of data collection. 

2. Quicker and easier software development 

The use of APIs can improve the speed and ease of software development, by reducing the amount of new code that needs to be added to an organization’s digital platform. If an organization is using a third-party provider for its digital transformation, the use of APIs makes the transition from third-party to in-house development easier as well, as APIs are device agnostic. 

3. Improved digital collaboration 

As mentioned in the previous point, APIs are often friendlier to non-code or low-code environments, especially with API management solutions provided by IBM, AWS, Microsoft, Oracle and others, improving usage and collaboration. 

APIs can also be used as a bridge for legacy systems that are still seen by workers are integral to the organization. APIs can leverage legacy systems, while importing data to new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

4. Secure workflow and easier to troubleshoot

APIs can operate as a security layer, reducing the potential threats created by human error or validation/authentication errors. For the Internet of Things (IoT), APIs are the most common way for these microservices to communicate, and integration of security at these vulnerable end-points is important to ensure a safe network. 

The use of APIs also makes it easier for security teams to troubleshoot problems. Through the use of open standards, technicians can more quickly identify the issue with an API and move to resolve it, without harming the workflow.  

SEE ALSO: Center for Automated Integration

Conclusion

An API-centric approach can yield lots of positive results for an organization, with proper consistency and governance by a business in the process of a digital transformation. It isn’t a fix-all solution that will dramatically reduce the time spent migration, but with proper implementation it can speed up and simplify the process.