The API-First Transformation book

Every day, we are exposed to a digital firehose of information shaping our decisions. The shift to all things digital has been 50 years in the making, and the technologies precipitating it have taken many twists and turns along the way. But if you examine them closely, you will find that beneath the surface, they all have one thing in common—APIs.

APIs are the connectors that give meaning to long strings of ones and zeroes, translating disparate applications into products and services that bring value and convenience to customers—and, sometimes, riches to their creators. Consider these examples, a few of many:

• According to Fortune Business Insights, the global smartphone market size is projected to reach $792.51 billion in 2029, at a CAGR of 7.3%.¹
• eBay's Buy APIs, which allows customers to place orders on third-party shopping sites, have generated $5 billion dollars of revenue.²
• Amazon Web Services generated revenue of $62.2 billion in 2021.³

All of these results were achieved through the skillful use of API technology. And the opportunities for creating value are by no means over—in fact, the API economy is still in the early stages.

Every organization stands to gain value from APIs, whether that means making internal processes more efficient, creating more innovative products, delivering better customer experiences, or all of the above. Only you can decide how to use the technology to your best advantage. What this book will do is equip you with the tools you need to get it done.

While we will delve into technical concepts, the book is certainly not written solely for technology experts. We will purposely provide high-level information at every turn to help you fly over the dogma, tribalism, and vendor influence that often dominates API discussions. Neither will we dwell on any single technology or stage in the API life cycle. As a business leader, you need a broad perspective to make the right decisions for your company.

Despite what you frequently hear across the technology sector, there is no single strategy, technology, or operational approach to “doing APIs.' Managing APIs well means ensuring your teams are equipped, educated, and incentivized to address the needs of your specific domain. While we have strong opinions on a handful of topics, such as governance and the API life cycle, our goal is not to convince you that we're right but to give you the ability to design solutions that meet your organization's needs.

The book is organized into three sections, which will help you:

• Create your API strategy,
• Assemble the right technology for your purposes, and
• Put the solutions to work in your operations.

The book is meant to be read, scanned, and picked up again after you have researched your design plans and bounced ideas off your teams. Information is often presented in easily-digestible, itemized lists that you can refer to again and again.

You will also find detailed descriptions of challenges and solutions, as well as references, guides, and other tools to help you plan the work you have ahead. And the narrative is interspersed throughout with real-life stories from top business and technology leaders, showing you how to apply their lessons to your own business, no matter what industry you are in.

Despite its comprehensiveness, this book is not—and cannot be—a custom blueprint for your organization's API-first transformation. Only you can create that. Our goal is to arm you with knowledge and provide hundreds of ideas and examples to inspire you as you carve your own path in this promising, wide-open frontier.

NOTES

1 “Smartphone Market Worth USD 792.51 Billion in 2029 | 7.3% CAGR,” Global Newswire, 2022.

2 “How Ebay's Buy APIs Hit $5 Billion in Gross Merchandise Bought,” eBay blog, 2021.

3 Amazon Reveals Its Most Profitable Business, Forbes contributor blog, 2022.