API-Led Connectivity | Dreamfactory

When many CIOs look at their technology assets they often see a random collection of applications, legacy systems, microservices and hardware. It can be difficult to make sense of an organisations technology-stack and how these seemingly disparate components are integrated and connected.

At first, it may look like a wealth of technology contributes to efficient business processes and options to enhance user experience. In reality though, it becomes clear that many old and new technologies do not communicate well with each other reducing functionality, productivity and employee satisfaction. API-led connectivity gives you an opportunity to correct these issues and develop a plan that incorporates emerging technologies into your current system.

What Does API-Led Connectivity Mean?

For years, users have relied on service-oriented architecture (SOA) that makes it possible for two applications to communicate with each other. SOA works fine when you only need to integrate a couple of tools. Today’s businesses use much more technology. About 10 percent of businesses indicate more than 200 apps employed within their organisation.

API-led connectivity gives you API connections that you can reuse. The reusability means that your IT team writes fewer integrations for essential tools. It also makes it possible for employees to choose the apps that work best for them without worrying about whether the tools will integrate with existing system APIs.

API-Led Connectivity Is Essential Digital Transformation

API-led connectivity has become essential to digital transformation, especially for enterprise organizations that use hundreds of apps, databases, IaaS and other services. API orchestration was difficult enough when businesses wanted to connect their databases to SalesForce, SAP analytics software, and tools to generate reports. Today, an integration strategy would need to include multiple data sources, existing core systems, new systems and apps written in a variety of languages.

When business stakeholders see the costs of traditional API management, they will reconsider whether they want to invest in new tools that could make your company more efficient while improving user experience.

API-led connectivity solves these problems with reusable APIs made for specific types of connections. With the right solution, your team can create:

• Experience APIs (aka purposeful APIs) that configures data and sends it to the right user without relying on point-to-point integrations that only work for independent channels.
• Process APIs that break down data silos by working across systems or within a single system. The process API doesn’t depend on the data source or who consumes the information.
• System APIs that connect users to core systems and protect them from complexities that would create confusion.

Related content: Digital Transformation: What Does It Mean for Developers

The Benefits of an API-Led Connectivity Approach

The technological benefits of API-led connectivity lead to benefits throughout your organization. Some benefits you can expect include:

• Less time spent adapting to technologies like IoT and SaaS.
• Reduced time IT employees spend replying to unnecessary emails.
• Fewer endpoints that employees need to manage.
• Faster API development that requires less time working on the backend of systems.
• Improved security by managing API connections through a single gateway.
• Lower overall IT costs that let you dedicate more money to improving security.

DreamFactory Makes API-Led Connectivity Easier Than Ever

Your integration strategy needs a platform that makes API-led connectivity quick and simple. Depending on your needs, you can choose an on-premises solution or an IPAAS (integration platform as a service).

DreamFactory stands out as the best API-led solution because it has exceptional flexibility that grows with your business. You can connect to a massive range of source systems, convert JSON requests into SOAP, and automatically generate REST APIs.

The DreamFactory admin console provides flexibility in automating repetitive tasks, assigning user roles, and cataloging REST APIs. The no-code environment requires little technical experience and your IT team will enjoy the comprehensive API management features that will optimize the manner in which your organisations APIs are deployed. You also benefit from the ability to run DreamFactory anywhere, including on the cloud and your legacy stack.

Get a free, 14-day trial of DreamFactory to see how it makes digital transformation and API-led connectivity easier for everyone in your organization!