If you want a time-efficient way to implement API solutions, API as a service (AaaS) could be what you’re looking for. It takes the heavy lifting out of designing, securing, deploying and monitoring APIs, so all you need to do is work out how to integrate these cloud-based solutions with your infrastructure. It means you can scale, flex and get to market faster, more easily and more efficiently. Let us show you how.
What is an API as a service?
API as a service companies make it easier and less time-intensive for businesses to implement API solutions. They do provide cloud-based platforms and tools that you can use to design, secure, deploy and monitor APIs far more easily than if you did it in-house. You need to do little more than work out how to integrate APIs with your own software architecture. Hosting, management, maintenance and even security, versioning and scaling become the concern of API as a service companies instead.
The degree to which responsibility for these functions is abstracted away depends on which API as a service example you consider. Some providers are going all out and offering an API as a premium service model, with everything from automated endpoint generation, no-code API builders, automated documentation creation and pre-built APIs all just a few clicks away.
The API as a service business model means that organizations can reduce the complexity and cost of their API program while getting products to market faster. We’ll explore these benefits – and others – in a moment. First, let’s look at how we got from APIs to the emerging API platform as a service model.
What types of API services are available?
API services are branching in two distinct directions, both presenting significant time and cost efficiencies. The first is platform engineering, which – when implemented well, using a platform-as-product approach – delivers automation, reusability and efficiency at scale. The second is AaaS.
API services vs API microservices
Microservices have played a role in the emergence of AaaS. Containerized microservices have enabled organizations to move away from monoliths, swapping silos for more flexible modification potential, reusability and easier troubleshooting and debugging. APIs are the glue that holds everything together, enabling swift and seamless communication between different services, particularly when you add a microservices API gateway into the mix.
Why is API as a service important?
API as a service is important for a range of reasons:
- It delivers a host of practical benefits (see below)
- It enables developers to do more with less budget
- It can save time as well as money
From no-code GraphQL solutions to buying in an API integration platform as a service, developers who embrace the concept of AaaS can achieve, innovate and get products to market faster and for less.
What are the benefits?
The AaaS model delivers plenty of rewards. Let’s dive into some of the headline benefits.
Scalability and flexibility
Being able to scale up – and down – swiftly and efficiently is key to business success in the modern marketplace. This is a major benefit of API as a service, where the cloud-native nature of the service makes it easy to respond to shifts in customer demand by scaling your services rapidly. When times are lean, you can do the reverse. This flexible approach to scaling can deliver notable cost benefits.
Efficiency
Does your business have limitless time and resources? No? Then the efficiencies that API as a service companies deliver are likely to appeal. By going down the AaaS route, you can use the resources you’ve got efficiently, buying in the elements you need without having to invest in a whole heap of hardware, software and developer time.
Cost-effectiveness
The fact that many API as a service companies charge for their services using subscription pricing models, or usage-based pricing, means you can keep a close eye on costs and budget for precisely what you need. Another strong argument in favor of the AaaS approach.
Faster time to market
Freeing up developer time means you can focus your team on innovation, supporting the speedy creation of new products and features. By taking the time-consuming, complicated elements out of achieving what you need to with APIs, AaaS enables you to race to market ahead of your competitors and enjoy the profits that roll in as a result.
Simplicity
Building an enormous API empire can be quite an undertaking, whether you’re a new business starting from scratch or an older organization with a heap of legacy spaghetti to sort through. API as a service offers a simple alternative – one where the headaches associated with security and with ensuring that APIs meet regulatory compliance obligations all sit on the AaaS company’s To Do List instead of your own.
The degree of simplicity that this affords, combined with the lack of technical debt, means there are plenty of reasons to take a long, hard look at precisely how an AaaS approach could benefit your business.
Common use cases for API as a service
AaaS has the potential to benefit any organization that needs simplified integration to get its products to market in an efficient and cost-effective manner. As such, use cases for AaaS encompass any business that is looking to innovate rapidly without incurring unnecessary technical debt – which in a competitive world could mean any organization with vision, drive and a dynamic approach!
How to choose an API as a service provider
When choosing an AaaS provider, look out for:
- Simplicity – everything should be slick and seamless
- Clear pricing – both initially and as your demands increase
- Security and compliance – grill potential AaaS providers on these to ensure their products meet your data security obligations and will keep your regulators happy
- Customer service – you need to know that your AaaS provider has your back
Wrap up
API as a service is a powerful solution for businesses that need to harness the potential of APIs in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. It can deliver efficiencies, support rapid scaling and help organizations get to market faster – all while developers are less stressed.
AaaS is a trend with the potential to shape the technological future. Why not discover five other trends that are changing the way we think about API management and explore how they are likely to shift the digital landscape over the coming years?
