What is an Open API?

SAP Ariba has opened the API and we explain what this means for your business

What is an API?

An API is a software intermediary that makes it possible for application programs to interact with each other and share data. It’s often an implementation of REST that exposes a specific software functionality while protecting the rest of the application.

What is an Open API?

Open APIs are published on the Internet and shared freely.

A start-up software company, for example, might publish a series of APIs to encourage third-party developers in vertical industries to be innovative and figure out new ways to use the start-up’s software product. In theory, it’s a win-win business arrangement.

Benefits of Open APIs

Most of the current companies from start-ups to the larger like Twitter, Foursquare, or Facebook are providing Open APIs. The Open APIs are helping for innovation by leveraging the creativity and know-how of hundreds of thousands of developers around the world using your API to create cool apps and make big breakthroughs.

• Open APIs now make it possible to add-in specific new features without swapping out an entire end-to-end system.
• With open APIs, organizations using streaming platforms have the option to add in specific feature solutions from outside vendors to address any nagging shortcomings they experience in using an end-to-end platform from a single provider.
• Taking advantage of an open API program, any developer can create an app that generates new value for both themselves and the API provider.
• A directed approach may be to run a contest or a hackathon and an incentive to build against your API. The automotive industry, for example, has successfully used this approach to solve It extends R&D budgets and resources beyond the borders of your business and spurs innovation on a broad scale.

Benefits of Open ARIBA API’s for Partners  

• Speed, Agility, Flexibility
  • Speed of delivery is crucial to the hyperconnectivity and real-time data and information businesses demand
  • Agility to customise to meet needs of customers and their user experience and mobility needs
  • Flexibility to address business challenges to optimise your business
• The Developer Portal
  • Allowing self-service from idea through to build and publish
  • API Documentation to steer and assist with speed of development cycle
  • Developer Tools such as Mock data, Jams, and Community Forums.