Applications Programming Interfaces (APIs) are computing interfaces that connect applications, allowing them to communicate and share information. They have significantly impacted how applications are developed, how much time it takes to develop an application and the capabilities and integrations that an application can have.
This, in turn, has pushed businesses in different industries to invest in and adopt the use of APIs to streamline their business operations. Today, customers change their demands now and then. They (customers) do not want to spend time trying to access a service or struggling to find how they can access it. They need everything to be straightforward. This is something that businesses can address through the adoption of APIs.
However, not every business adopting APIs has seen this amount of success. This is because they rush into adopting an API platform without looking at what they need and what they need it for. To adopt the right API platform, businesses need to look at many things, among them;
On-Premise or the Cloud
There are businesses whose regulatory requirements might force them to have their API platform on-premise. This means that they host the platform on their servers. Even though this might sound like a good idea, it requires a lot of resources and personnel to manage and monitor the platform.
Having your API platform on the cloud is more accessible. Here, the API integration platform is taken care of by the host, the servers are managed for you, and you get technical support to address any issues. This gives organizations enough time to concentrate on other essential aspects of their business.
Budget
Most businesses have limited budgets that affect how much they can spend on technological solutions. Depending on an organization’s budget, one should look at the model of payment that an API platform provider offers.
The best one, which is the most popular today, is the Pay As You Go (PAYG) model that allows organizations to pay for the services that they use. Smart organizations avoid the old payment model, which means that you could pay for services you did not even use.
Skilled Personnel
Some organizations might find themselves in a situation where they have skilled personnel in the office but lack the budget to invest in an API platform. This does not mean the end of the road for such an organization.
In such a situation, organizations can consider adopting an open-source API platform. This platform does not have support, but the organization can do all the work on its own with skilled personnel.
Developer Portal
APIs lack a user interface, meaning that they are not visible to the user, or rather, they do not have a physical interface that a user can use to interact with it. Due to this, organizations need to look at the developer portal offered by an API platform before adopting it.
The developer portal makes it possible for the APIs to be easily discovered. It also offers the API consumers instructions on how they can effectively use the APIs. With all the functions performed by the developer portal, organizations need to meet all their requirements with ease.
Monetization
Some organizations implement an API platform to sell their data through different APIs but do not monetize their APIs. Such organizations need to make sure that they choose an API platform with the right monetization capabilities. The platform should offer insights into the different ways they can use to generate revenue with their APIs.
Some API platforms come with built-in monetization techniques that can manage all the monetization efforts of the organization. Such platforms set the plans, record transactions, and have different payment options.
Conclusion
Adopting an API platform does not always mean that a business is on the right path to success. Success is determined by how the business chooses the platform, how the platform and all APIs are managed, and how consumable the APIs are. Therefore, it means that every business needs to ensure that they have chosen a platform that works for them and meets their requirements and those of their customers.
