Intelligent CIO North America Issue 18 | Page 55

FEATURE : SOFTWARE easier as APIs entail a single and standardized approach to security .
Perhaps the most significant technological selling point of an API-led approach is the potential for reuse . With APIs , IT assets and capabilities become easily consumable and reusable across the business , as well as for partners and other third-parties . This will lead to enterprises that are fully composable in the future , enabling businesses to accelerate the launch of new applications and services , while reducing the workload upon IT teams . customer experience or become more operationally efficient , they should drive home how reusability in connectivity reduces costs , increases productivity and drives revenue .
The gift that keeps on giving
When developing an argument for a new integration strategy , it will become apparent that the technological and business benefits offered by an API-led approach go hand in hand , helping to reduce maintenance overheads and improve the business ’ bottom line .
How do you convince the board ?
Having identified the technological benefits of a new approach , IT needs to communicate the advantages on offer to the business . Primarily , it ’ s important to emphasize that APIs can underpin the organization ’ s plans for transformation .
For example , if a business wants to improve its realtime inventory management capabilities , IT should highlight how APIs support this by enabling data to flow seamlessly between different supply chain systems , both internal and external . Or if the organization ’ s goal is to build a platform for omnichannel engagement , IT teams can point to the ability for APIs to support the creation of a 360-degree view of the customer .
Whatever outcome the business hopes to achieve , IT leaders should demonstrate why a new approach to integration will power these initiatives .
Essentially , the IT team needs to prove the tangible value that a composable approach to integration can offer to the business . Whether the aim is to improve
One organization that reaped the benefits of this virtuous cycle is Los Angeles-based City National Bank , which aimed to improve customer experience with an omnichannel strategy .
The board , of course , prioritized the final outcome without giving too much thought to the technologies needed to get there . The IT team used APIs to connect the business ’ various customer data sources and applications .
The result was a direct improvement to the end-user experience , which provided the board with clear proof of the benefits a new integration strategy could offer . Essentially , the IT team was able to demonstrate one advantage of APIs to sell other benefits to the board , and were therefore able to secure the support needed to establish a new , longer-term API strategy .
Ultimately , every business will have its own goals and planned initiatives , each of which will be powered by different technologies and strategies . Whatever initiative the business puts first , integration should always be the foundation for delivering innovation . p
Lila Dorato , Senior Director , Solutions Engineering at MuleSoft
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