The API Economy: API Provider Perspective / European Identity Summit 2012

3scale
3scaleMarketing Programs Manager at 3scale
The API Economy:
API Provider Perspective
                                  3scale
                         Steven Willmott
              EIC 2012/ Munich, Germany
One of the top API Infrastructure
     Providers Worldwide
3
Out of the Box Control

                        Internal and External
                        Audiences

                        Access Control, Rate
                        Limits, Developer
                        Portal, Monetization
http://www.3scale.net
                        Plug-and-play Setup

                        Get Traffic running
                        immediately

                        Scale quickly and efficiently
                                                   4
The Talk will cover 3 things




                 How the
 API Economy     Economy       Examples
                  Works
API ECONOMY




              6
The Value of an API

                                                         Revenue
                                                        Ecosystem

               Amazon.com            Mobile Apps




                                                        Affiliate Sites
           + API




             Ancillary Services   Internal Developers


                                                                          7
Projected Growth: APIs

         Programmable Web API                                            CAGR: 100%
            Directory Growth

                                                                         Project 250k
                                                                         APIs by 2016


                                                                        Adding Approx
                                                                       100 APIs a week


                                                                       10% API Traffic
                                                                      growth / quarter(*)

e.g. Think of this as 10% of the Alexa 2.5 Million top
                       Websites
                                                                                           8
                                               (* source – 3scale customer base average)
Massive Diversity
                                                         Wide range of industries
                                                            starting with APIs

                                                           Companies large and
                                                                 small

                                                         APIs driving success for
                                                             early adopters



  B2C APIs   B2B APIs                 Partner APIs                Internal APIs

                                                                                  …




                                                                                      9
              (image source: http://www.programmableweb.com)
APIs will become the major way of doing
           business on the web




                                      10
Enterprise Inside-Out




                        11
COMMON MODELS




                12
Broad classes of business APIs
First it’s worth thinking about the different functional roles of an API



                                                                           e.g


     The API is the product


     The API projects the product


     The API promotes the product


     The API powers and feeds the product
Digging
Deeper                  Direct revenue
                               Utility / Pay per transaction
                                   Tiered Pricing Bands
 is the product
                                               Reach more places
                                                    Provide more utility
                                                           Enable Mobile
 projects the product
                                                       Allow deeper integration


                                                   Biz Development Lead Gen
 promotes the product
                                                                User Acquisition
                                                               Advertising
                                                         Brand promotion
 powers and feeds                                   Affiliate Programs
 the product
                                                Content Acquisition
                                        Partner tie-in
                         Internal Innovation
The API Openess Cycle
      Internal Re-Use
      Inter Dept, Dashboards, Processes
                                           Raw Service
                                           Measure, Collate, Analyze

Customer
Re-use                           Core
Apps, Integration                Assets
                                          Open to
                                          Anybody
                                          1000 Flowers, Market
                                          Extension
      Partners and Distribution
      New Revenue, New Reach, Ecosystem
DRILL DOWN
The API IS the product
 Core value is tied up in the API




                                           Others
API is core value




                                                           Direct Customer Usage
                                    API                         Encourage Resellers
 Amazon AWS                                                        Build Tech Knowledge
                                                    Ecosystem
                                                     Strategy        Build Switching Costs
                        e.g
                                                                   Enable new Services
Huge Growth                                                     Encourage 3rd Party Tools

      API >> Websites
                                    $ If   core service sees usage growth
The API Projects the product
   Extends availability of functionality to new places



Mobile apps / 3rd
                                               Others
Parties / Added Utility
Added to a product



                                                               Encourage partner ecosystem
                                       API                         Innovation opportunities
   Salesforce.com                                                      Build Tech Knowledge
                                                        Ecosystem
                                                         Strategy        Build Switching Costs
                          e.g
                                                                       Enable new Services
 50k + devs                                                         Encourage 3rd Party Tools

         Thousands of value
                                               increasing customer spend (primary)
         add apps                       $ If
                                               and numbers (secondary) for core product
The API Promotes the product
   Secondary function and indirect revenue impact



Secondary (non core) service
Designed to drive                           Others
Leads / traffic



                                                            Distribute “Teaser” Information
                                     API                          Brand Diffusion
   Amazon.com                                                      Promote to niches
                                                     Ecosystem
                                                      Strategy       Cultivate Partners
                        e.g
                                                                   Improve Partner Impact
 Widgets to
 Whole sites powered
    10’s 1000’s of affiliates        $ If
                                            increasing customer numbers (primary) and
                                            spend (secondary) on core product
The API Powers and Feeds the product
   Content acquisition via the API



Content, User information,
Ratings, comments                           Others
Etc. into the service



                                                            Reach all relevant producers
                                     API                        Facilitate Access
   Twitter.com                                                     Virtuous circle data in/out
                                                     Ecosystem
                                                      Strategy
                         e.g

 75% of traffic
 By API
    250,000 Apps                     $ If
                                            when UGC brings appreciable value to the
                                            central product.
Hybrid Models
Many APIs combine these models


        Support                   The API often starts by serving a
        different                 particular need and is repurposed over
       audiences                  time.
        Multiple
        revenue
                                  The API separates Data from Business
        streams                   Logic and presentation to make this
                                  possible.

e.g



      • Started to power affiliates         • Core P2P Infrastructure an API
      • Evolved to running auctions         • “Skype as a platform”
      • 60% of listing now via API          • Third parties embed Skype
      • Core part of revenue stream         • End user uniform experience
      • Entrenched market power             • Huge reach as a result
Entities (and Identities Involved)
Managing Ecosystems, not closes silos




     Internal                           Customers


       • Developers                         • Apps
       • Business Units                     • Integrations


    Partners                            Wider World


       • Suppliers                          • Independents
       • ISVs                               • End Users
       • Contractors                        • Aggregators
       •Affiliates                          • Resellers
ZOOM OUT
Think of it as MVC


Model – View - Controller
MODEL = DATA

VIEW = FORM
                     Model



              View               Controller


                     CONTROLLER = BUSINESS LOGIC
Think of your business as MVC

• Are you…
  – Model: Data, Content, Core Service, Raw Material
  – View: Audience, Market
    Access, Visualisation, Presentation
  – Controller:
    Transformation, Recombination, Logic, Value Add
  – More than one?

• What are the interfaces between these things?
  – Partners that could grow the whole?
  – Can you build an ecosystem around your strength?

                                                       26
APIs are the Glue which makes
          this happen
The API Economy is Upon Us!


                         APIs are Key to
                         Unlocking
                         This Data Value

                         Look Ahead in the
                         Cycle

                         Derive Value from
                         Every Step
Thank you and QA
                                            3scale




Contact: info@3scale.net
Web: http://www.3scale.net and @3scale
Offices: San Francisco, Barcelona, London
Speaker: @njyx or steve@3scale.net
Credits & More Resources

• 3scale: http://www.3scale.net
• More on API Business Models and Development
  Models
  – http://www.slideshare.net/3scale/apis-for-biz-dev-20-
    which-business-model-9672038
  – http://www.slideshare.net/3scale/apis-power-mvc-for-
    the-web
• Images:
  – Flickr & iStockphoto
Resources: Commercial

• http://www.programmableweb.com
• http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hinchcliffe/open-apis-reach-new-high-
  water-mark-as-the-web-evolves/215
• http://www.sexywidget.com/my_weblog/2008/11/api-business-
  mo.html
• http://www.3scale.net/wp-content/uploads/api_ecommerce.pdf
• http://www.3scale.net/wp-
  content/uploads/api_media_companies.pdf
• http://www.slideshare.net/sanjayjhawar/apis-20-presentation-at-the-
  telco-20-conference-in-orlando-11-december-2009
Resources: Commercial

• http://www.slideshare.net/fedecarg/open-platforms-and-apis
• http://www.slideshare.net/openplatform/op-commerciallaunchv2
• http://www.slideshare.net/samramji/darwins-finches-20th-century-
  business-and-apis
• http://www.slideshare.net/jmusser/pw-glue-conmay2010
• http://www.slideshare.net/3scale/apis-the-glue-of-cloud-computing
• http://www.slideshare.net/Mashery/api-leader-mashery-captures-
  application-developer-trends-with-developer-pulse
• http://www.slideshare.net/Mashery/the-business-of-apis-2009-
  programmablewebcom
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The API Economy: API Provider Perspective / European Identity Summit 2012

  • 1. The API Economy: API Provider Perspective 3scale Steven Willmott EIC 2012/ Munich, Germany
  • 2. One of the top API Infrastructure Providers Worldwide
  • 3. 3
  • 4. Out of the Box Control Internal and External Audiences Access Control, Rate Limits, Developer Portal, Monetization http://www.3scale.net Plug-and-play Setup Get Traffic running immediately Scale quickly and efficiently 4
  • 5. The Talk will cover 3 things How the API Economy Economy Examples Works
  • 7. The Value of an API Revenue Ecosystem Amazon.com Mobile Apps Affiliate Sites + API Ancillary Services Internal Developers 7
  • 8. Projected Growth: APIs Programmable Web API CAGR: 100% Directory Growth Project 250k APIs by 2016 Adding Approx 100 APIs a week 10% API Traffic growth / quarter(*) e.g. Think of this as 10% of the Alexa 2.5 Million top Websites 8 (* source – 3scale customer base average)
  • 9. Massive Diversity Wide range of industries starting with APIs Companies large and small APIs driving success for early adopters B2C APIs B2B APIs Partner APIs Internal APIs … 9 (image source: http://www.programmableweb.com)
  • 10. APIs will become the major way of doing business on the web 10
  • 13. Broad classes of business APIs First it’s worth thinking about the different functional roles of an API e.g The API is the product The API projects the product The API promotes the product The API powers and feeds the product
  • 14. Digging Deeper Direct revenue Utility / Pay per transaction Tiered Pricing Bands is the product Reach more places Provide more utility Enable Mobile projects the product Allow deeper integration Biz Development Lead Gen promotes the product User Acquisition Advertising Brand promotion powers and feeds Affiliate Programs the product Content Acquisition Partner tie-in Internal Innovation
  • 15. The API Openess Cycle Internal Re-Use Inter Dept, Dashboards, Processes Raw Service Measure, Collate, Analyze Customer Re-use Core Apps, Integration Assets Open to Anybody 1000 Flowers, Market Extension Partners and Distribution New Revenue, New Reach, Ecosystem
  • 17. The API IS the product Core value is tied up in the API Others API is core value Direct Customer Usage API Encourage Resellers Amazon AWS Build Tech Knowledge Ecosystem Strategy Build Switching Costs e.g Enable new Services Huge Growth Encourage 3rd Party Tools API >> Websites $ If core service sees usage growth
  • 18. The API Projects the product Extends availability of functionality to new places Mobile apps / 3rd Others Parties / Added Utility Added to a product Encourage partner ecosystem API Innovation opportunities Salesforce.com Build Tech Knowledge Ecosystem Strategy Build Switching Costs e.g Enable new Services 50k + devs Encourage 3rd Party Tools Thousands of value increasing customer spend (primary) add apps $ If and numbers (secondary) for core product
  • 19. The API Promotes the product Secondary function and indirect revenue impact Secondary (non core) service Designed to drive Others Leads / traffic Distribute “Teaser” Information API Brand Diffusion Amazon.com Promote to niches Ecosystem Strategy Cultivate Partners e.g Improve Partner Impact Widgets to Whole sites powered 10’s 1000’s of affiliates $ If increasing customer numbers (primary) and spend (secondary) on core product
  • 20. The API Powers and Feeds the product Content acquisition via the API Content, User information, Ratings, comments Others Etc. into the service Reach all relevant producers API Facilitate Access Twitter.com Virtuous circle data in/out Ecosystem Strategy e.g 75% of traffic By API 250,000 Apps $ If when UGC brings appreciable value to the central product.
  • 21. Hybrid Models Many APIs combine these models Support The API often starts by serving a different particular need and is repurposed over audiences time. Multiple revenue The API separates Data from Business streams Logic and presentation to make this possible. e.g • Started to power affiliates • Core P2P Infrastructure an API • Evolved to running auctions • “Skype as a platform” • 60% of listing now via API • Third parties embed Skype • Core part of revenue stream • End user uniform experience • Entrenched market power • Huge reach as a result
  • 22. Entities (and Identities Involved) Managing Ecosystems, not closes silos Internal Customers • Developers • Apps • Business Units • Integrations Partners Wider World • Suppliers • Independents • ISVs • End Users • Contractors • Aggregators •Affiliates • Resellers
  • 24. Think of it as MVC Model – View - Controller
  • 25. MODEL = DATA VIEW = FORM Model View Controller CONTROLLER = BUSINESS LOGIC
  • 26. Think of your business as MVC • Are you… – Model: Data, Content, Core Service, Raw Material – View: Audience, Market Access, Visualisation, Presentation – Controller: Transformation, Recombination, Logic, Value Add – More than one? • What are the interfaces between these things? – Partners that could grow the whole? – Can you build an ecosystem around your strength? 26
  • 27. APIs are the Glue which makes this happen
  • 28. The API Economy is Upon Us! APIs are Key to Unlocking This Data Value Look Ahead in the Cycle Derive Value from Every Step
  • 29. Thank you and QA 3scale Contact: info@3scale.net Web: http://www.3scale.net and @3scale Offices: San Francisco, Barcelona, London Speaker: @njyx or steve@3scale.net
  • 30. Credits & More Resources • 3scale: http://www.3scale.net • More on API Business Models and Development Models – http://www.slideshare.net/3scale/apis-for-biz-dev-20- which-business-model-9672038 – http://www.slideshare.net/3scale/apis-power-mvc-for- the-web • Images: – Flickr & iStockphoto
  • 31. Resources: Commercial • http://www.programmableweb.com • http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hinchcliffe/open-apis-reach-new-high- water-mark-as-the-web-evolves/215 • http://www.sexywidget.com/my_weblog/2008/11/api-business- mo.html • http://www.3scale.net/wp-content/uploads/api_ecommerce.pdf • http://www.3scale.net/wp- content/uploads/api_media_companies.pdf • http://www.slideshare.net/sanjayjhawar/apis-20-presentation-at-the- telco-20-conference-in-orlando-11-december-2009
  • 32. Resources: Commercial • http://www.slideshare.net/fedecarg/open-platforms-and-apis • http://www.slideshare.net/openplatform/op-commerciallaunchv2 • http://www.slideshare.net/samramji/darwins-finches-20th-century- business-and-apis • http://www.slideshare.net/jmusser/pw-glue-conmay2010 • http://www.slideshare.net/3scale/apis-the-glue-of-cloud-computing • http://www.slideshare.net/Mashery/api-leader-mashery-captures- application-developer-trends-with-developer-pulse • http://www.slideshare.net/Mashery/the-business-of-apis-2009- programmablewebcom

Editor's Notes

  1. These four categories have distinct revenue models. Some APIs combine elements of several classes.
  2. This breakdown is not 100% comprehensive, but many currently public APIs can be classified against it. We use this at 3scale to identify the primary areas of value being created by an API.
  3. Key point/focus here is charging directly for the operation on the API (1-1 relationship between operations ordered and payment): “utility computing” can apply to messaging, CPU time, storage, transaction processing etc. – primarily used for “Infrastructure as a Service” type APIs. Twitter arguable fits here also since it charges for access to it’s full data feed.
  4. This category is for APIs which enable and extend a product in a significant way – making those products more useful, integrating them more tightly with customer systems, third parties, mobile devices etc. Here there may be a direct revenue relationship which can be calculated between how much the API is used and the revenue generated by the main product. The category can increase both depth of use and breadth of reach for a product. The Salesforce API allows both third party applications to run on top of Salesforce (or on dedicated hosting such as Appirio) and connection from customer/third party server applications.
  5. This category uses the API as a dynamic promotion channel – providing useful but limited content / features to third parties in order to promote usage of the core service. eBay, Amazon and others engage in this through affiliate programs – the API “supports” the affiliate program by allowing third parties to “suck out” exactly the right product meta data to display to their users. Amazon also exposes valuable product popularity data in order to help partners what to display.
  6. This category is often combined with others but essentially uses the API as a way to generate value back into the core product by capturing data rather than releasing it. Twitters traffic is free on the API to write but in turn creates huge value for twitter in republishing back to it’s user base, the youtube API similarly allows for video upload, Foursquare gathers check-in data. How the data is monetised after collection is not connected to the API in general.
  7. Most APIs combine a number of elements
  8. Most APIs combine a number of elements
  9. - Model is your data- Controller is the business logic- View is how you experience it