What is

an API?
Your guide to the
internet business
(r)evolution

Capitalize on APIs as the

cornerstone of your online
strategy.

What is an API? Your

guide to the internet
business (r)evolution
The introduction of the Internet and then the World Wide Web unveiled some of the most
dramatic transformations that the world of communications has seen. We have now embarked on
another transformation to reinforce and extend these trends the rapid, and increasing adoption
of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). This paper is meant to help executives and managers
understand what APIs are, and why they are so important. We illustrate the benefits by drawing on
an analogy of the pattern of industrialization that has been repeated many times before. While APIs
themselves are not new, we are now entering a chapter two inflection point, which opens a whole
new spectrum of possibilities. Key trends for future evolution are described, and we summarize the
immediate steps that can be taken to capitalize on APIs as the cornerstone of an online strategy.

APIs create business value on the internet

The internet continues its relentless transformation of every business; however, past investments
in web technology are not enough to ensure future success. New technology enablers are
emerging to change the playing field. Companies that miss the window to capitalize on the key
enablers will be left behind. It is time to do or die...
Among the most important trends shaping the Internet today are social networks, mobile, and
location based services. Additionally and critical in their own as the foundation for these trends
are APIs. Here we will explain what APIs are and why they are becoming so critical.
During the dotcom era of the late nineties it became mandatory for every business to
communicate to its customers via website. Any business that didnt do so quickly found itself at
a disadvantage, with declining mind share, and loss of market share. At the time it was simple to
reach an online, connected audience. All you needed was a website and your customers would
find you from their desktop with a browser.

What is an API?

The core challenges of attracting and retaining users persist, but todays world is far more
complicated and fragmented. Mobile and wearable devices are proliferating. People now access
the Internet from countless smartphones, tablets and other gadgets, not to mention the hidden
network of connected intelligent devices. The web browser is no longer an exclusive gateway to
view content on the web. Increasingly, content is accessed through new media like widgets or
mobile apps. And finally, you cant count on your audience coming to you. Instead its imperative to
ensure that digital data and services are available in the context that users choose. Since the web
is such an effective platform for serving information to the long-tail, users are more discriminating
in deciding how, when and where they view information on the web. Bringing these fragmentation
trends together means that companies must be aggressive to indirectly reach the huge untapped,
potential audience that does not come to their website.
The big change in mindset is to recognize that data and services the companys digital assets
must be unlocked from the confines of a website. Once those digital assets are free, and can be
accessed from anywhere, then the potential to grow the business can be realized.

Building blocks for powerful

solution capabilities
Before tackling the details of exactly what constitutes an API, its useful to take a step back to
understand parallels with other industries. When you consider how many industries evolve, you
notice a pattern that is repeated over and over. Every industry evolves to create more sophisticated
solutions over time through a process of modularization and standardization.

What is an API?

Its impossible to imagine how anyone would design a car today without taking advantage of
existing modules or vehicle subsystems. In the early days of the automotive industry, pioneering
engineers would craft the majority of components as a custom design. Over time, subsystems
were identified and elements like the powertrain (the engine and transmission), brakes, steering,
suspension, cockpit and body each became areas of specialization. Engineering teams would
work on the different subsystems and often entire companies would specialize in one or more
of them. So as big automotive manufacturers outsourced more work in their drive for efficiency,
their role became one of a systems integrator. Thanks to well-designed interfaces between all the
subsystems, when they are brought together at assembly time, the result is a vehicle with great
performance relative to cost.
This pattern is repeated across industries. Especially engineering-driven sectors like railways,
construction, airplanes, and robotics. Companies carefully choose the area of their core
competence, whether at the architecture or solution level, or among the subsystems. Then they
cooperate to bring the modules together into a complete product or solution. In this way industries
gain better economies of scale, maintain high levels of R&D, and deliver more innovative products.
This same pattern is evident in the software industry and is enabled with APIs. In fact, compared
to other industries, the returns for software are exponentially greater because the modularization
potential is virtually unlimited, and because the integration cost is an order of magnitude lower.

The definition of an API

Application programming interfaces (APIs) have been an important part of the computer industry
since the early days. They are fundamental to the way that computer, software, and network
architecture has evolved. Further, one can differentiate between device APIs and remote APIs.
Device APIs allow access to data or functions provided by a device or operating system locally,
whereas remote APIs are a way to let a consumer program access data or services of a provider
program via a communications network in a controlled way.
In the ebook Winning in the API Economy we define remote APIs as

An interface to a software component that can

be invoked at a distance over a communications
network using standards based technologies.

What is an API?

Obviously, the most widely used communications network is the Internet and most APIs are
designed based on Web standards, so remote APIs are also referred to as Web APIs.
A good example of why and how a company might use an API is a book distributor. They could
provide the book shops they supply with an application allowing a cashier to check on the
availability of books in the warehouse. Or it could instead provide an API to directly check on stock
availability. One benefit is that the query could be made from within the book shops standard
application rather than switching to a different application for each supplier. Another benefit
is that the distributor has the flexibility to switch its internal systems however it likes, as long as
the behaviour of the API interface remains the same. The API solution is less complex to design,
manage and use, and it provides more flexibility.

APIs: Chapter One

During the growth of the computer industry in the last few decades even before web became
ubiquitous APIs were at the heart of market dynamics. Frequent competitive battles were won or
lost on the basis of API wars. The stakes were high, and it was usually a select few, big and powerful
companies or organizations that dominated the directions for APIs. For the winners, to control an
open or proprietary standard API, would usually add rocket fuel to a companys growth path.

[Before our open API platform] we could never

deliver on our own all the ideas people have had for
using the Guardian brand and assets in the digital
world. [.] With this growing partner network we
can then expand our reach, engage users both on
and off our domain, and become more relevant as
the needs and habits of people evolve in the future.
Guardian.co.uk Open Platform blog

What is an API?

The reason that APIs were so important to growth is because of the network effect that occurs
when more applications created for a platform lead to an increase in the value of the platform
itself. As soon as a developer ecosystem takes root it becomes more costly to switch to alternatives
(because some applications may not be available on the new platform) and it is a prerequisite for a
company to become the dominant provider in its market.
Microsoft was one of the most successful companies to exploit their APIs for business advantage.
They made massive investments to attract the largest base of application developers to write apps
for MS Windows and the Windows API. Once they achieved critical mass, it became a self-reinforcing
cycle of customers choosing Windows because of the large selection of apps, which led to more
developers to write apps on this platform in order to reach the largest possible customer base.
During this period before the web was available as a distribution platform, it was extremely
hard to grow a developer ecosystem around APIs. In order to be successful, lots of distribution,
competition and complexity challenges had to be overcome. It was only at large scale that it was
feasible to solve these challenges. So it was inevitable that big companies dominated.

APIs: Chapter Two

The Internet, and in particular the rise of web APIs, has had a democratizing effect compared to the
dynamics of the first chapter. Now anyone can create an API to share data or services. Anyone can
define their module or subsystem to use the automotive analogy as a web service and it can be
integrated into other modules or applications on the connected web.
Today the commercial potential for APIs is no longer limited to a handful of big companies. Anyone
can spot an opportunity for a new service and with APIs slot it into a bigger framework. It makes
solutions more accessible, more useful, and more powerful. For developers who build on web
services its also easier than ever to take advantage of external services and data to enhance
offerings. The result is more value for end users and an explosion in the number of public web APIs.
This API explosion means it is feasible to create products that meet customer expectations and
desires more accurately for example to meet a use case in a small market niche, to have access
to data in a unique context, or to meet customers preference to interact from a smartphone
device.. It may be to meet a use case in a small market niche, or have access to data in a unique
context, or meet their preference to interact from a smartphone device. Ultimately it provides
companies with the flexibility to support existing business models or to design completely new ones.

What is an API?

Exposing APIs can lead to a combination of business benefits that include: additional revenue
channels or extension of existing channels, wider reach (e.g., increase of an organizations brand
awareness), external sources of innovation (facilitating the idea of open innovation), or increase in
efficiency. In our ebook Winning in the API Economy we describe five different use cases of APIs
for organizations including their characteristics and benefits.
Currently, we see an evolution in the role of APIs, but this is a revolution in how business can
benefit from APIs the API (r)evolution.

The Next Chapter for APIs

Where to next for APIs? They are gathering momentum, and the potential business benefits of
adoption will continue to grow.
Some key trends to watch out for include:
Standardization The effort and friction necessary to integrate web services will
continue to be reduced to approaching zero. Once an accounting web service has
been integrated via its API, it should not be necessary to rewrite the integration for a
replacement accounting service. An interesting approach to supporting standardization
is API Commons (apicommons.org) which offers re-usable API specifications and data
models.

The Internet is expanding beyond PCs and

mobile devices into enterprise assets such as field
equipment, and consumer items such as cars and
televisions. The problem is that most enterprises
and technology vendors have yet to explore the
possibilities of an expanded internet and are not
operationally or organizationally ready.
Gartner Inc. on technology trends for 2014 and beyond

What is an API?

 Automated service brokering In parallel with improved standardization, brokering will

help to make it seamless to dynamically switch service providers, for example, from one
accounting web service to another.
Service Level Agreements SLAs were often treated as best effort during the first
wave of cloud-based APIs. Increasingly services are being meshed together in more
mission critical solutions. This is driving a requirement for service providers to commit to
service level guarantees for their APIs and the need to monitor performance and keep
track of usage.
Programmer-less stitching of web services Most of the benefits of APIs are limited
to companies and individuals with the programming skills necessary to write the required
code. Yet for as long as programming languages have existed, people have envisioned
solutions to instruct computers without the need for programming skills. APIs provide
higher levels of abstraction and will help get closer to this vision.
Completely new application areas The exploitation of rich APIs from services or
devices has created entirely new categories. For example, devices beyond PCs and cell
phones, such as wearables, 3D projectors, sensor networks, grids of nano technology
based devices, and environment-aware technology can now all be accessed and
integrated into wider information systems all enabled via APIs.
Marketing targeted at developers Developer marketing or B2D is playing an
increasingly important role. Developers are the element in the chain that transform an
asset offered via an API into value that can then be captured. The notion of providing an
outstanding developer experience (DX) around an API is paramount to drive adoption.
DX includes a variety of approaches such as developer portals, API documentation,
sample code, testing possibilities, lowering barriers to entry, being present in
communities (digitally as well as physically), and working with evangelists.
API search With the growing number of APIs, findability of APIs is of growing
importance, both for API providers that want to increase adoption of their APIs, and for
API consumers (developers) as they look for APIs that help them solve a problem. APIs.io
is an open-source API search engine (maintained and supported by 3scale) which aims to
address this issue: to narrow the gap between API providers and consumers.

What is an API?

 API management for API consumers In terms of API management, we currently

see a focus on supplying the API provider side. But with the increase of available APIs,
it is getting increasingly complex for API consumers (developers) to stay on top of API
integrations from various providers. This side of the equation is currently under-supplied.
This was the inspiration for APItools.com, a solution for developers to get a better
overview of integrated APIs, which are all collected, managed and tested in one place.
APItools also provides the possibility to modify API requests or responses. It acts like a
proxy where arbitrary modifications such as translating between data formats can be
executed.
We cover and discuss these future trends and a lot more at our API Strategy & Practice (APIStrat)
series of global conferences. Although we co-organize this event with the API Evangelist Kin Lane,
the series is vendor-neutral and genuinely interested in sharing knowledge, learning from each
other and driving the API space further.

APIs: The Cornerstone Of

Your Digital Strategy
APIs are the current chapter of the Internet. Content and services are the digital assets core to any
business. This white paper has shown how an API can open new distribution and solution options
and capture more value from assets. An API unlocks the value of a firms digital assets and expands
reach well beyond a website to mobile apps, wearables, partners, developers and more. This
greater reach allows partnerships to be leveraged, and creates a multiplier effect for key assets
enabling innovation with completely new business models. Competitors stand still, while customers
access content and services exactly the way they want.

We are nearing the time when opening our supply

chains across the web isnt just a good idea, it will be
essential for competitive survival.
Dion Hinchcliffe, business strategist, enterprise architect, author

What is an API?

Get started on your action plan to boost your business with APIs today:
Identify your core digital assets and brainstorm what solutions could be created with the
help of these assets
Define a few scenarios for an API-based business strategy and business model
Scope out requirements to implement your API initiative
Start with one strategy and business model, and be ready to adapt and change
APIs are a simple way to open up a companys data or services for benefits like additional or
extended channels, wider reach, external sources of innovation, or increase in efficiency. To get the
most out of an API program, an API provider should have visibility and control over their APIs and
the assets behind them. This is exactly where API management comes into play.
At 3scale, we welcome the opportunity to help you at each step of your API program. Our API
management solution provides access control and security, usage policies like API contracts and
rate limiting, analytics and reporting, a developer portal with API documentation, and monetization
support via billing and payment processes.
The earlier you engage 3scale, the better.
The API (r)evolution is here.

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What is an API?

About
3SCALE

3scale is the leading API Management Platform built with

performance, customer control and excellent time-to-value
in mind. 3scale makes it easy to open, distribute, control, and
monetize APIs. No other solution delivers so much power, ease
and flexibility in such a cost effective way.
More APIs are powered by 3scale than any other vendor (600+)
because our unique management architecture and self-serve
approach serve all categories of APIs, and all types and sizes of
customers including Campbells, Orange, GSMA, UC Berkeley,
SITA, CrunchBase and Optimizely.
SaaS plans range from free forever to enterprise. 3scale has
offices in San Francisco, USA and Barcelona, Spain.
To learn more, please visit 3scale.net or contact us at
[email protected]. You can also find us on Twitter at @3scale

www.3scale.net
450 Townsend St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
+1 (415) 671-6432

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What is an API?