Leveraging API Integration as Part of Digital Transformation

The digital transformation is rapidly gaining momentum in today’s world. And companies are increasingly looking to implement the latest technologies to keep up with growing market demands. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) is one of the key technologies that allow organizations across industries to automate processes and access cutting-edge tech capabilities, reaching unprecedented levels of efficiency. 

What is API Integration?

Chances are, you heard about API integration regardless of your field of duty and the industry you are working in. Today APIs integrations are used to power various kinds of work processes and automate repetitive tasks everywhere across the business IT layer. According to SmartBrear’s 2020 State of API report, the interest in developing and integrating APIs has been growing rapidly in the last couple of years across industry verticals and regardless of business size.

API integration can be defined as a process of connecting two or more APIs seamlessly with each other. It allows APIs to exchange data and enable different processes and functions throughout internal and external IT systems. 

How to Use API Integration?

API integration can be implemented to power multiple business processes, providing companies with access to rich data sources, synchronizing information across systems, improving productivity and creating new revenue sources. 

Here are several examples of how companies can benefit from API integration services.

Process automation and orchestration

API technology is one of the most important components of digital transformation because API-based integration allows businesses to easily automate multiple repeatable processes inside their digital systems. Ultimately, API integration automation is the way to maximize efficiency and minimize the time wasted on redundant work processes. 

Reducing costs and complexity of IT systems 

The implementation of seamless API integration is also a proven way to optimize the internal IT systems of any organization. They allow the interconnection of various applications and databases in a simple and reliable way, reducing maintenance costs. 

Access to data and creation of data-driven stories

Data integration using APIs can be an extremely powerful business instrument, providing companies with rich data collection and analysis capabilities. This can be utilized in a number of ways, such as the creation of native content, analysis of business metrics, using audience data for better customer targeting, etc. 

Why Does API Integration Matter? 

API integration tools are increasingly used by companies across industries today. Originally, APIs were primarily a common software development technology, helping software engineers and other tech specialists. Today APIs have become much more than just a software development solution, providing organizations with capabilities of the Industry 4.0 era. 

Here are a few key reasons why API integration is so important in the modern-day business environment. 

Enables flexible and adaptive organizations

API is the technology that allows organizations to quickly adapt to changing marketing demands and unforeseeable events, such as the global COVID-19 epidemic. Thanks to API integration, thousands of companies across the world were able to shift to remote work operations and quickly respond to changing government regulations. 

Increases the value of data

Access to data is another key requirement for business success in the new era. APIs make it easier for businesses both to collect and manage their own data and utilize third-party data sources. 

Reduces operational friction

Synchronization and easy management of multiple processes is another important role that APIs play in the modern-day business environment. Implementation of integrated APIs allows businesses to make their operations more efficient and predictable. 

How to Use API Integration

API integration can have a major impact on the functionality of internal IT systems and business operations. 

Here are several key recommendations on how to do API integration. 

Define the Outcome Before Starting

APIs play a key role in enabling the communication between various software layers and computer systems, both internal and external. This is why it is important to have a clear understanding of the desired outcome, API integration patterns, and how the implementation of this project will affect company systems and work processes. 

No-Code vs. Code Solutions

When it comes to choosing an API integration platform, one of the most important factors to take into consideration is the approach to the implementation of APIs. 

No-code approach is the latest trend in software development. It is all about allowing users to build software applications and solutions without the need to write any code. Developers using no-code platforms don’t need to know any programming languages, being able to perform all the tasks in a visual interface. Traditional code-centered solutions, on the other hand, require businesses to hire high-qualified and experienced software developers in order to deliver projects and implement new technologies. 

No code API integration is not an exception. Platforms supporting no-code implementation and management of APIs make this technology accessible to a greater number of people. Thanks to the no-code approach, even non-tech savvy employees are able to create additional API connections, delivering new business benefits. 

Types of API's

Another important piece of knowledge to have in regard to API integration is the type of APIs that you want to utilize. 

There are four main types of APIs:

Public (Open) APIs

Public (also known as Open) are the APIs that have no access restriction to any parties, so they are publicly available to everyone. According to Programmable Web, the world’s largest public API directory, currently, there are over 24,000 public APIs. APIs from Google, Facebook, and Twitter are some of the most popular public APIs out there.

Internal (Private) APIs

APIs that are developed and used by organizations internally are called Internal or Private. Companies use internal APIs to interconnect different layers of their software systems and to enable new capabilities within the company applications and services.

Composite APIs

Composite APIs are the ones that combine various data and service APIs to create a custom sequence of tasks that would run simultaneously, complementing each other. 

Proprietary APIs

Finally, Proprietary are the APIs that are created to be used in one or a number of similar devices exclusively. They are used by the manufacturers of consumer electronics as well as other devices, to lock the access to internal software layers on the device to unauthorized parties. 

Ready to start reaping the benefits of API integration? 

Choosing the right tools and solutions is the key to success in API integration and other digital transformation initiatives. Data integration solution by Put It Forward is a powerful no-code data integration software that allows companies of any size to power their digital transformation initiatives by interconnecting modern and legacy systems, as well as automating work processes. 

Here are several reasons why it would be a good idea to choose the Data integration solution by Put It Forward for your automation and API integration projects.

Certified no-code data connectors

Our solution offers hundreds of pre-built connectors made for CRM to big data API integration which replaces legacy middleware.

Unified Integration + Automation solution

Our platform is designed to give users the ability to automate and trigger events across multiple cross-cloud and on-premise solutions to orchestrate business processes for cross-functional execution.

Integrated data quality and governance

The platform also has built-in quality and governance functions that ensure traceable data integrity is maintained across the entire management lifecycle.

Easy business rules and process logic management

Users can easily customize business rules or transformation logic with advanced capabilities of our platform. It allows organizations to have full control over their data integration using API, customizing the process in a way to fit their specific needs. 

Conclusion 

As you can see, there’s a handful of API integration types that can be used to empower business processes and reach a new level of efficiency. When implemented professionally and using the right tools, seamless API integration serves as a foundation for all the digital transformation projects, allowing companies to truly utilize all the power of innovative technologies. 

Want to know more about the capabilities of Data integration solution by Put It Forward? 

Check out this short 2-minute video demonstration showcasing the platform and how it helps businesses to unlock value without the need to hire multiple software engineers and the need to allocate huge budgets to finance the project.