APIs have been around for a long time, but over the past few years they have become an increasingly indispensable tool for CIOs and organisations of all types.
Forbes recently described them as the “essential connective tissue that enables companies to securely and quickly exchange data and information with the outside world”, with potential to improve business results by almost 50%.
In this episode of The CIO Australia Show, we talk to CIOs and a leading analyst about the evolution of the API space, where they’re having greatest impact at the moment, and how to develop the best strategic framework for maximising their value.
Sandeep Sharma, research manager, APeJ software with IDC explains some of the drivers for double digit growth of API/integration tools across Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) as well as in Australia, which accounts for the largest share of spending on software integration via API technologies.
Angela Donohoe, CIO at BPay reveals how the payments group adopted a strong focus on innovation and took a leading role in exposing APIs to its more than 60,000 billers and more than 170 banks and financial institutions.
“We had to get much better at customer experience and user generated design,” she says.
Interestingly, Donhoe also notes that the major impetus for BPay to invest more energy and money in its API ecosystem was demand from the market.
“Good design is ageless,” says ANZ Bank’s tech lead for responsible banking, Leigh Gibson, adding that one of her biggest challenges is maintaining a focus on simplicity in the face of so much complexity being built up “at scale over time”.
