Preface
Application programming interfaces (APIs) have become a ubiquitous part of web technologies because they provide a standard way for different systems and applications to communicate and share data and functionality. This allows for greater flexibility, scalability, innovation, and interoperability in the web ecosystem.
As more and more organizations build APIs for use both inside and outside the company, different areas of design, documentation, governance, and life cycle have become more important. However, until now, APIs have only been viewed as technical components. I want to change the way APIs are thought of by seeing them as fully qualified products.
Because “API as a product” refers to a “product,” we consider an application program to be a standalone product rather than a technical component of a larger system. This means that an API is developed, marketed, and supported in a similar way as other products, with a focus on meeting the needs of specific user groups and delivering value to them.
The “API as a product” approach lets companies sell their data and services, while also giving developers a useful tool for making new apps and services. APIs as products also have revenue-generation potential, as they can be used as products themselves, either by licensing them to a third party or charging for their usage by end users.
I have organized this methodology into four key areas:
- How to manage APIs as products
- How to build customer empathy for API products
- How to design metrics for measuring APIs from the infrastructure, product, and business perspectives
- How to identify the right key performance indicators (KPIs) for API products and build a product strategy
This book will guide you through the process of managing APIs as products, building customer empathy, designing metrics for measuring success, and identifying KPIs to inform your product strategy. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned professional, this book will provide valuable insights and best practices for optimizing the performance and profitability of your API products. Let’s dive in and discover how to unlock the full potential of your APIs.