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What is API integration?

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Overview

API integration is the process of connecting two or more applications using their application programming interfaces (APIs) to exchange data and functionality. APIs are sets of definitions and protocols that allow different software systems to communicate and interact with each other. Think of an API as a messenger that delivers your request to the provider and then brings back a response.

API integration enables businesses to automate workflows, enhance efficiency, and create new opportunities by seamlessly connecting disparate systems. By leveraging APIs, companies can access and share data, streamline processes, and improve the overall user experience.

API Integration

Why is API integration important for businesses?

API integration has become essential for businesses of all sizes in today's interconnected world. Here's why:

  • Increased efficiency and productivity: API integration automates tasks and workflows, eliminating manual data entry and reducing errors. This frees up employees to focus on more strategic initiatives. For example, integrating your CRM with your marketing automation platform can automatically update customer information, saving time and ensuring data consistency.
  • Improved customer experience: APIs enable businesses to provide a seamless and personalized experience for their customers. By integrating different systems, companies can offer features like single sign-on, personalized recommendations, and real-time order tracking.
  • Enhanced innovation: API integration fosters innovation by allowing businesses to leverage third-party services and data. This can lead to the development of new products, services, and business models. For example, a retailer could integrate with a weather API to offer personalized product recommendations based on the customer's location and the current weather conditions.
  • Data-driven decision making: API integration provides access to a wealth of data that can be used to gain valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and operational efficiency. This data can be used to make informed decisions and drive business growth.
  • Streamlined operations: By connecting different systems, API integration streamlines operations and reduces complexity. This can lead to cost savings and improved efficiency. For example, integrating your inventory management system with your e-commerce platform can automate stock updates and prevent overselling.

How does API integration work?

API integration involves connecting different applications using their APIs. This typically involves the following steps:

  1. Identify the systems to integrate: Determine which applications need to be connected and what data or functionality needs to be exchanged.
  2. Choose the right APIs: Select the appropriate APIs for each application based on your integration requirements.
  3. Develop the integration: Write code to connect the APIs and handle data exchange between the applications.
  4. Test and deploy: Thoroughly test the integration to ensure it works as expected before deploying it to production.
  5. Monitor and maintain: Continuously monitor the integration to ensure it remains stable and performs optimally.

API integration in supply chain management

API integration plays a crucial role in optimizing supply chain operations. By connecting different systems, businesses can gain end-to-end visibility, improve collaboration, and increase efficiency. Here are some examples of how API integration can be used in supply chain management:

  • Real-time inventory management: Integrate your inventory management system with your e-commerce platform and your suppliers' systems to get real-time visibility into stock levels and automate replenishment.
  • Automated order fulfillment: Connect your order management system with your warehouse management system and your shipping carriers to automate order processing, picking, packing, and shipping.
  • Improved transportation management: Integrate your transportation management system with your carriers' systems to track shipments in real-time, optimize routes, and reduce transportation costs.
  • Enhanced collaboration: Connect your supply chain partners' systems to share information, collaborate on planning, and improve decision-making.

5 reasons you need API integration

API integration must be a core component of the IT strategy for every organization. When agility and collaboration drive innovation and business success, the speed with which you can connect disparate systems and allow the flow of information to everyone that needs it will distinguish the winners from the losers in digital business. Take a look at the five items of our short API integration checklist below.

API integration checklist   

  1. Centralized API management: API integration allows you to bring all your API activity together onto a central, enterprise-wide API integration platform. This gives you a single view of all the APIs used in your organization. It simplifies the development, management, security and deployment of your APIs. In addition, a central function can more easily identify the API integration patterns between different application APis to build quickly on the commonalities to streamline and improve the quality of your API integrations.
  2. Improved data quality: One of the biggest API integration challenges revolves around data quality. One of the most well-known API integration examples in marketing is between Salesforce CRM and Marketo marketing automation where changes in a field in one application are automatically update in the same field in the other. This means you must be assured that the data is correct before the update as this could lead to the propagation of bad data. API data integration gives the ability to enhance data quality as it exposes where data duplicated, out-dated or redundant during the API integration process. Data validation should always be built in to API integration testing.
  3. Automate tasks and workflows: API integration automates manual tasks–such as clicking between applications–that can occupy a disproportionate part of a user’s time. In addition, the API integration can call data from different systems to provide the user with the information needed at that point of their workflow. For example, within a bank API integration can allow a customer service representative to have immediate access to customer information as the API integration returns a pop-up on to the screen of the primary application with data from other back-end systems. This ability to automate tasks and workflows increases productivity and boost customer satisfaction.
  4. Easing Digital Transformation: We hear a good deal about digital disruption. Digital transformation is driven not simply by the elimination of paper-based processes but by the effective utilization of new and emerging digital technologies. This means that organizations need fast and efficient ways to implement the latest digital tech as well as integration with the apps that their customers know and trust. Traditional integration approaches will struggle to accommodate the speed and scale of these changes. Building a solid API integration architecture means new applications can be easily brought on line and new technologies fully exploited.  To improve supply chain operations, some organization are looking towards Blockchain integration API development means Blockchain can be integrated with key systems to deliver secure visibility over transactions.
  5. New product development: New product development benefits from API integration meaning that you have the ability to connect and link data to deliver new products in a more data-drive manner. In effect, we’re discussing strategic API integrations that can map information from a wide variety of systems to expose insights into what customer actually want and how products are really used. For example, using API integration tools, companies are combining apps with service-request interfaces to deliver new on-demand services such as Uber.

OpenText™ Aviator Thrust and OpenText™ Thrust APIs in application development

OpenText Aviator Thrust is a low-code application development platform that empowers businesses to rapidly build and deploy custom applications tailored to their specific needs. This platform simplifies the development process, enabling developers to create applications faster while reducing the need for extensive coding expertise.

OpenText Thrust APIs, a core component of the OpenText ecosystem, provide access to a wide array of OpenText technologies. These APIs unlock capabilities in content management, process automation, capture, and other crucial areas. By combining OpenText Aviator Thrust's low-code platform with the versatility of OpenText Thrust APIs, developers can craft targeted, user-friendly tools designed to address specific business challenges.

Here are some sample applications built by OpenText to highlight how to get the most out of OpenText Thrust Services APIs on the OpenText Cloud Platform.

For example, a company could use OpenText Aviator Thrust and OpenText Thrust APIs to build a custom application for managing customer onboarding. The application could integrate with OpenText document management solutions to store and unlock the value of business documents, OpenText™ Process Automation software to automate onboarding workflows, and OpenText™ Capture to extract data from onboarding forms.

OpenText Aviator Thrust and OpenText Thrust APIs provide a powerful combination for building innovative applications that leverage the full capabilities of OpenText technologies. By using these tools, businesses can streamline processes, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive advantage.

Sign up for an OpenText Thrust Services trial

Get AI ready with OpenText Thrust APIs

OpenText Thrust APIs play a crucial role in preparing your applications for the transformative power of AI. By facilitating the seamless integration of AI capabilities into your applications, OpenText Thrust APIs unlock new possibilities for innovation and efficiency.

  • Data orchestration for AI: OpenText Thrust APIs enable the creation of a secure and governed data feed, merging structured and unstructured data from various sources. This comprehensive data foundation empowers AI platforms to deliver meaningful insights without compromising data security.
  • AI-powered app development: OpenText Thrust Services accelerate the delivery of secure generative AI applications. Developers can leverage these services to build apps that harness the power of AI for tasks such as intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and personalized user experiences.
  • Trustworthy AI orchestration: OpenText Thrust APIs provide a secure and customizable AI orchestration layer, ensuring responsible and reliable AI implementation. This layer allows developers to manage and control AI functionalities effectively.
  • Data control for optimal AI performance: OpenText Thrust Services enable granular control over data access for AI models. This ensures that AI platforms receive the necessary data for peak performance while preventing oversharing and protecting sensitive information.
  • Expert assistance for AI implementation: OpenText offers a wealth of resources—including expert guidance and tools—to help businesses effectively implement AI. This assistance lets organizations leverage AI capabilities even without extensive in-house expertise.
  • Agile app development for a changing landscape: OpenText Thrust APIs promote agile development practices, allowing businesses to rapidly adapt to evolving market demands. This agility empowers businesses to create solutions that meet current needs while staying ahead of future trends.

API integration use cases across diverse domains

The versatility of OpenText Aviator Thrust and OpenText Thrust APIs extends across a wide range of applications:

  • Information storage and management: Streamline content management, enhance information accessibility, and ensure secure storage.
  • Capture and process automation: Automate data capture from various sources, optimize business processes, and improve operational efficiency.
  • Cognitive flows and messaging: Integrate cognitive capabilities into workflows, automate communication processes, and enhance collaboration.
  • Metadata creation and record management: Enrich content with metadata for improved searchability, and manage records effectively for compliance and governance.
  • BI and reporting and data governance: Gain valuable insights from data through comprehensive reporting and analytics, and ensure data quality and integrity.
  • Risk management and security: Strengthen security measures, protect sensitive information, and mitigate potential risks.

See how OpenText customer One Fox cut its time to market for new products and expanded its potential customer base 10x with OpenText Thrust APIs and OpenText Cloud Platform Services.

Developer-friendly tools and resources

OpenText provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources that help developers build and deploy applications with OpenText Aviator Thrust and OpenText Thrust APIs:

By combining the low-code capabilities of OpenText Aviator Thrust with the versatility of OpenText Thrust APIs, businesses can unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and agility in their application development initiatives.

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Footnotes