Abstract

This IDC Perspective is an introduction to the use of business-enabling APIs to create new product and service revenue opportunities, grow customer bases, and rapidly scale product development capabilities. It is designed to help CIOs and line-of-business technology executives understand different types of APIs, how they can be used to monetize business assets, and what key components are needed in a strategy to leverage APIs.

"For many CIOs and their enterprises, mastery of APIs — first for internal uses and second for business purposes — will be a necessary competency — in fact, a price of admission to competing on the digital business battlefield," says Marc Strohlein, adjunct research advisor with IDC's Research Network. "Business-enabling APIs are a fundamental prerequisite to rapidly scaling and evolving business endeavors to meet tomorrow's customer and market needs."

Coverage