This slide deck focuses on how an organization would work on a successful API strategy that aligns with the business vision. We use best practices and case studies from WSO2 deployments as well as public case studies in this interactive session. Learn more: https://wso2.com/library/conference/2018/08/wso2con-asia-2018-apis-technology-that-can-transform-your-business-into-a-platform/

1. APIs: Technology That Can Transform
Your Business into a Platform
Senior Lead Solutions Engineer
WSO2
Nadeesha Gamage

2. ● Business pipes vs business platforms
● The platform business model and why it works
● APIs as your unit of innovation and IP
● API marketplaces as business platforms
● Governance in platforms - Rise of the mega platforms
● Incentives, monetization and business models
● Lessons learned in running and supporting sustainable new
business platforms
Agenda

3. Business “Pipe”
● Value produced upstream and
consumed downstream
● Straightforward user
acquisition
● Product design focused on
consumers
● Monetization focused on
consumers
E.g. Walmart, General Electric. Ford

4. Business “Platform”
● Users create value for other
consumers
● Product design focused on
stakeholders (producers,
consumers, etc.)
● First few users have minimal value
● Extend platform functionality via
APIs
● Innovative business models,
revenue share
E.g. Wikipedia, Youtube, Facebook

5. “Software alone is a commodity.
There is nothing stopping
anyone from copying the
feature set, making
it better, cheaper, or faster.”
FRED WILSON, FOUNDER – USV – MODERN MONOPOLIES

6. Every company
is a technology
company

7. Unicorn Businesses

8. http://www.innovationtactics.com/platform-business-model-complete-guide/

9. API
3rd Party
Apps
Mobile
B2B
Cloud Apps
Web Portal
API
Company Assets
& Services
API
API
API

10. APIs are an encapsulation of
intellectual property

11. Business value of APIs
● Streamline
internal assets
○ Reuse
○ Innovate
○ Facade
● Better or newer
customer reach
○ Channels
○ Compliance

12. How do APIs help to transform your business to
a platform?
Source: Rakuten RapidAPI

13. What does an API marketplace provide?
API MARKETPLACE
Exposure
Governance
Collaboration
Monetize
Reusability
Incentivise
Control

14. Platforms provide
the power of
network effects

15. Platforms and
feedback loops
Source: David Sacks, Yammer on Uber’s business model valuation

16. Platforms and
feedback loops
Source: David Sacks, Yammer on Uber’s business model valuation
More
Demand
More
Drivers
More
Geographic
Coverage |
Saturation
Faster
Pickups
Lower
Prices
Less Drive
Downtime

17. https://www.ideabiz.lk/store/

18. Define
API
Strategy
Define
Technology
Strategy
Facilitate
Consumers
Engage
and
Empower
Producers
Evangelize
Incentives
Monetize
and
Analyze
Govern
and
Manage

19. “What was once a rich selection of
blogs and websites has been
compressed under the powerful
weight of a few dominant
platforms. This concentration of
power creates a new set of
gatekeepers, allowing a handful of
platforms to control which ideas
and opinions are seen and
shared.”
Tim Berners-Lee
https://webfoundation.org/2018/03/we
b-birthday-29/

20. WSO2 Agile Integration Platform
Open source, hybrid API and endpoint connectivity
ANALYTICS &
STREAMING
IDENTITY
& ACCESS
MANAGEMENT
DEVELOP
REUSE
RUN
MANAGE
ENTERPRISE
INTEGRATION
API
MANAGEMENT
Reference
architecture and
best practices for
digital-native
organizations
WSO2
Architecture
for Agility
Maturity model
and delivery
approach that
transforms any
organization to be
integration agile.
WSO2
Methodology
for Agility
WSO2 MATURITY MODEL FOR AGILITY
Monolithic → Fast Waterfall → API-Driven → Early Agility → Integration Agile
SOLUTIONS: Telco | Open Banking | Healthcare | GDPR | Serverless
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21. Summary
● How business platforms are different from business pipes.
● APIs: your unit of innovation and IP.
● API marketplace, enabling businesses to build platforms.
● Platform and feedback loops.
● Platform governance.
● How WSO2 can help to build a platform business.
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22. THANK YOU
wso2.com