An API (application programming interface) is a set of protocols that allow software applications to interact with each other. While users are used to working with a graphical user interface (GUI), APIs make that possible for software. This can be a huge advantage for your organisation, allowing users to access and transfer data, as well as automating tasks that would otherwise involve repetitive data entry.
What is an API?
API stands for application programming interface. APIs can provide a huge leap forward in improving efficiency and productivity. However, they may not be the magic bullet you’re looking for. It’s important to assess whether they provide the right capabilities for your team – and whether you have the power to make the most of them.
What does an API do?
The central appeal of an API is how it allows you to access backend capabilities. Instead of manually extracting and processing data, an API gives you the power to automate the process and simplify this kind of process. This can be a game-changer for providing quality data visibility, which is vital for reliable decision making.
APIs are also the starting point to build reliable and robust integrations. In the modern world of work, it’s common to be working across a range of tools on a daily basis. This necessarily invites inefficiencies. APIs can bridge the gap between different solutions, creating a cohesive digital environment to work in. Being able to share data and automate updates across the different platforms you are using allows you to cut out repetitive admin that eats into your workday.
The most important part of this capability is how flexible APIs can be. By giving you the power to build your own capabilities, you have the opportunity to use APIs to create customised workflows that reflect the needs of your organisation and your users. This is vital to ensure that you are making the most of the opportunity to increase efficiency, as well as making greater differentiation possible.
In a cloud-first world, database access is becoming rare as an option. This makes it more difficult to access backend capabilities, limiting the kind of operations that can be carried out. APIs restore this capability in SaaS and cloud-based systems, restoring this kind of functionality.
What are the limitations of APIs?
While APIs provide great potential, it’s important to remember that they are not out-of-the-box solutions. Unlike packaged software, APIs need to be configured and integrated into your existing systems after installation. Simply having an API does not mean you will have access to all the capabilities you are looking for.
While APIs allow you to build custom integrations, they are definitely not the same thing. In order to make the most of an API, you will need to build your own integration on top of the existing infrastructure. This is what makes APIs so flexible; they can be customised to the needs of your organisation, but that means you will need to make that possible.
And that is the biggest challenge to consider. In order to makethe most of API capabilities, you will need to have expertise within your organisation to build out the integrations you need. It falls to skilled developers to design, implement and maintain integrations built using APIs – which not all organisations have access to.
Is an API right for you?
Before investing in an API-capable solution, it’s important to make an accurate assessment of their value to your organisation. They can provide you with significant advantages to improve your efficiency and productivity, but there are also challenges which need to be overcome. The ability to integrate and streamline your workflows is offset by the challenges of implementing and maintaining one.
It's important to assess your organisation’s capabilities to understand whether you can effectively implement that kind of system. Without significant development expertise, it will be difficult to implement and maintain the solution effectively. This will reduce the return on your investment.
As you go through the process of assessing the suitability of an API for your needs, you need to find the right answers to your questions. This can include finding the right resources to support you and asking the right questions to your suppliers. Think about the problems you are particularly trying to solve, what access an API can give you, and what the requirements are likely to be to use the API.
APIs can make a huge difference to productivity and efficiency, but it’s important to remember that they don’t make a difference on their own. You need to be ready to leverage APIs effectively, being informed and prepared with quality insights. You can learn more about APIs in our latest blog.