For digital transformation to succeed, technologies need to work together seamlessly. To ensure success, companies are embracing a new level of integration, led by Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
Let’s uncover how APIs can bring positive changes to business and the benefits of API-led integration.
What are APIs and API-led Integration
APIs are software mediators that allow applications to communicate with each other. It’s an approach that exposes and connects the data asset from one system to another, or multiple systems and applications. A critical aspect of APIs is that they don’t compromise security – they enable the connectivity of systems and applications without making any changes to the original application or system.
Here is a simple example.
When a user operates an application on a mobile phone, before sending any data to its server, the mobile application first connects with the internet. In response, the server fetches the data, translates or converts the data that the user wants, and performs other required actions before sending it back to the user.
The application also analyses the data received by the server and interprets it into a readable form. APIs work in the same way. They act as a mediator between the server and application, apply security protocols, and take other necessary actions before the server and application can communicate.
Why is API-Led Integration Necessary?
API-led integration has emerged as a critical and valuable integration strategy for many businesses. The use of different data sources and applications has increased the complexity of IT infrastructures in several industries. These applications are hosted in the cloud or on-premises, depending on the requirements of the company. API-led integration enables interoperability across the ecosystem of an enterprise and reduces the differences that exist across the information assets. This technique increases the interconnection of information assets across the organization.
Reasons to Consider API-Integration
APIs allow businesses to respond to changes using a multi-tier approach, making integration among applications easier. This ensures that any changes made to a layer will only reflect in that specific layer. APIs are all about reusing, and its integration allows enterprises to introduce new features and reuse existing integrations. Based on API features, here’s why businesses should consider API-led integration.
Improved Productivity
Enterprises can start integrations and build a suite of APIs that can be reused across departments, improving efficiency and overall productivity.
Easy Maintenance
It’s easy to maintain, change, and test APIs. Enterprises can break down complex integration segments into APIs, and in the long term, it’s easy to maintain.
Operational Visibility
API-led integration offers better flexibility and control of the infrastructure. It allows organizations to apply protocols and access restrictions to specific APIs using a gateway.
The Advantages of API-Led Integration
There are multiple benefits of APIs. Let’s unwrap five of them and understand how API-led integration can be an advantage for businesses.
Integration of Anything
When integrating applications and data assets, many organizations follow conventional methods, such as point to point. This method tightly integrates applications, making changes challenging. API-driven connectivity introduces a loosely linked design in which components can be added, modified, or replaced as needed without any modifications.
Reusability of Assets
By implementing only minor changes based on a project, organizations can reuse a single API across multiple applications and systems. This prevents any duplication of efforts and helps improve productivity.
Security
With the help of API-led connectivity, organizations can determine who can request data access from their systems and how much data can be transferred without compromising data security.
Easy Deployment
API-driven connectivity allows organizations to define and deploy their APIs on devices, cloud or on-premises, across different channels.
Business Growth
One of the primary reasons to adopt API-driven integration is to connect systems internally (to improve efficiency within the enterprise) and externally (to expand the business - B2B). APIs can contribute to business growth by reaching out to new clients and markets
