Apps are everywhere!
And the number of apps keeps growing.
We are living in a connected world,
where nearly all devices have one or more apps to access remote data and services.
Let's give me a few examples.
You can use a web app to access and compare airline fares and to book airline tickets.
You can use a mobile app to access your bank account and to check your account balance.
You can use a smartwatch app to access and check the weather forecast.
You can use a terminal app to access your bank or credit card issuer for authorization
and pay with your debit or credit card.
And you can use an ATM app
to access your bank deposit or credit accounts to withdraw cash or check your balance.
And each time an app is accessing remote data and services, the app is using an application programming interface.
Apps are the way how data and services are consumed.
And application programming interfaces are the way
how apps access remote data and services.
APIs are the entry doors to access data and services
and specify how they can be accessed.
It is obvious that APIs are important and must be secure.
Finally, you don't want each one can access your data.
Let's give me an example of how an app is using an API to access your data.
Let's assume you have opened your mobile banking app to check the balance of your bank account.
Before the app can display your account balance, the app must first request this information from your bank.
For that, the app sends through an account information API a request to a service in your bank.
The service then responds with your account balance, so that the app can display it.
Each API provides a set of functions.
For example, an account information API also provides the functions to display the transaction history data or beneficiaries.
Apps often require more than only one API.
For example, a mobile banking app also uses an API to authenticate a user.
And to allow payment request submissions.
Good APIs are like building blocks that allow a developer to put an app together.
Good APIs make it easy to develop an app by providing all the functions an app requires.
Good APIs are reusable.
With the reuse of APIs, you can develop new apps quicker, which helps to reduce time to market
so that you can reach consumers with new apps before others do.
The reuse of APIs also helps to develop different apps with the same functionality
to reach the consumers on all channels
and to provide the omnichannel experience which they expect.
For example, many banks offer next to the mobile banking app also an online banking and tablet banking app.
With good APIs, you can help your partners to develop valuable apps, which is beneficial for you too.
For example, most banks provide their partner and API to submit credit- or debit card payments.
Or APIs to authorize payouts.
Some banks even offer APIs for accounting- or other partner apps.
Since APIs are the entry doors to access data and services, it is vital that the APIs are secure.
But at the same time, companies need to make sure their APIs are very easy for developers to use.
They need to ensure a great developer experience and that the developers want to use their APIs
so that they can build new apps and update them quickly.
This is vital for their survival and to remain competitive in today’s fast-changing markets.
If you are a technology leader looking for a predictable way to bring your API mission to early success,
you are in the right place.
I work with technology leaders to put a system in place to reduce time to market,
improve customer experience, accelerate innovation,
increase efficiency and open new revenue sources with the leverage of APIs.
Next time you think API, think apiguru.
I am here to help.
Don’t hesitate to contact me.