The “Ugly Duckling” API syndrome

As an advisor and a digital strategist, part of my role is to talk to customers about their APIs, IoTs, and their overall digital strategy. After conversations with a lot of them, one thing stands out: Almost everyone thinks their API is awesome. While a good portion of them are very impressive, and some are moderate to good, I do see a bunch of ugly ones too. However, if you are a producer — whether it is a movie, a baby, or an API – it will be hard for you to realize, admit, and come to terms with your “Ugly Ducklings.” Obviously, the amount of sweat and tears that went into your initiative causes you to look at your APIs through beer goggles, which makes them look good in your eyes, even if the APIs are mediocre.

What powers the mobile economy?

Recently, my colleague Claus wrote a blog on whether you need API management if you already have a decent mobile initiative. The topic was so good that I thought I would pile on and provide my opinion on it as well.

One of the points he established was that if you are deploying very few mobile apps on a few selected devices, for one or two LOBs (Line of Business or Business Units), then it is a wash. You might do better without having an API initiative. I completely agree. Problems begin to pile up when you have multiple mobile apps and want to have a common baseline across them.

[Image Courtesy: https://pandawhale.com/]

Multiple silos of Mobile initiatives

A major issue that I keep hearing from many executives is the proliferation of mobile initiatives with or without IT approval and/or oversight. Unfortunately, given the excitement, need and necessity to produce mobile apps quickly, the IT departments can’t cope with the demand from LOBs. There are times mobile initiatives are run by LOBs, in parallel, without the knowledge and oversight of IT. Unfortunately, most of these haphazardly-built apps access your enterprise data without proper controls. This is when your mobile apps (and APIs) become liabilities instead of assets. Read my article on this topic here: Is your API an asset or a liability?

How APIs Fuel Innovation

– By Andy Thurai (Twitter: @AndyThurai)

This article originally appeared on ProgrammableWeb.

There has been so much talk about APIs and how they add additional revenue channels, create brand new partnerships, allow business partners to integrate with ease, and how they help with promoting your brand. But an important and under looked aspect, which happens to be a byproduct of this new paradigm shift, is the faster innovation channel they provide. Yes, Mobile First and the API economies are enabled by APIs.