Executive briefing on rationale and considerations for launching a digital business strategy based on a cloud-based, on-demand API platform foundation.

1. API Strategy for Connected Business
Executive Briefing Series
Jeffrey Hasan, Enterprise Architecture

2. The API Economy
• Business transactions are rapidly shifting to cloud-based
digital revenue channels powered by APIs.
• APIs connect customers to your business products and
services.Via mobile/social/Web apps or direct consumption.
• APIs are the foundation of your digital strategy.
• APIs can (and should) be monetized: Salesforce.com
generates equivalent revenue between its SaaS product and
its APIs.

3. Building an API Foundation
• Commoditization of IT is lowering the cost and complexity
of building cloud-based, on-demand APIs.
• Wide vendor support for building, publishing and managing
APIs. Highlights:
• CA’s Layer 7 API Gateway supports mobile applications
built on APIs. Provides security, message handling,
integration with internal systems.
• SOA Software’s API lifecycle management product
supports API development and management.
• API initiatives require proper planning, technology
architecture, governance and quality assurance.
• APIs are a key customer-facing channel for your business and
must be built on quality and trust.

4. Planning an API Strategy
• APIs are a key customer-facing channel for your business and
must be built on quality and trust.
• API releases are like application releases only they are being
consumed across multiple applications and channels. Planning
is critical!
• Build the right technology team of architects, developers and
systems engineers.
• Invest in the right infrastructure.
• Lifecycle management and governance are critical.
• Proper planning, investment, quality and management will
create a strong API platform foundation to power your digital
business strategy goals.

5. IT Transformation Supports API Strategy
• An API strategy requires a corresponding IT transformation
strategy .
• Investment in an API strategy requires a commitment to IT
transformation to achieve the right level of internal alignment
to support the API platform.
• An API platform is not simply a layer that can paper over
dysfunction in the backend systems. It requires a rational
application and information architecture backend.
• Enterprise system silos do not easily support rapid
integration and sharing of data with services.
• Enterprise integration and data architecture strategies can
address the silo effect: build new system interfaces and move
the data to centralized databases where it can be more easily
consumed.

6. Decision Planning
• No business can function today without a digital business
strategy.
• Identify target business transaction and revenue objectives
over digital channels.
• Calibrate the API strategy, roadmap, timelines and investment
according to business objectives.
• Future is now: mobile applications became a dominant
customer channel in just a few short years. You need a
strong digital foundation to be competitive today and
prepared for what comes next.