It seems every enterprise organization is undergoing digital transformation —modifying business processes for greater efficiency and to meet customer needs. Establishing a formalized API program is an essential part of digital transformation. But what does it take to transition to a successful API-led business? First, let’s consider the growing need for APIs. The increasing use of software as a service has led to a paradigm shift in enterprise infrastructure . Rather than embracing a monolithic architecture with centralized business processes, businesses are adopting microservices that can be added as needed. Deploying microservices enables more agility , but for every service there is a separate API. Organizations adopting microservices to drive digital transformation now cope with API sprawl—where APIs proliferate without concern for consistency, compliance, or governance. Companies that embrace an API-first approach are seeing numerous benefits such as greater agility, easier integration, and shorter time to market. However, API adoption must be mapped out to maximize benefits and prevent API sprawl. To successfully adopt an API-forward approach and manage the API lifecycle, enterprise organizations should consider five key elements: 1. Gain Executive Sponsorship Too often, an enterprise API program starts when the IT staff is tasked to integrate existing […]